The peak of the cold and flu season is upon us.  To prevent widespread flu in the schools, we recommend that your child stay home from school if experiencing flu or cold symptoms.  To decide whether or not to send your child to school, please consider the following guidelines:

Consider keeping your child at home for an extra day of rest and observation if he or she has any of the following symptoms:

• Very stuffy or runny nose and/or cough
• Mild sore throat (no fever, no known exposure to strep)
• Headache
• Stomach ache

Definitely keep your child at home for treatment and observation if he or she has any of these symptoms:

• Fever (greater than 100 degrees and your child may return to school only after his or her temperature has been consistently below 100 degrees, by mouth, for a minimum of 24 hours)
• Vomiting (even once)
• Diarrhea
• Chills
• General malaise or feelings of fatigue, discomfort, weakness or muscle aches
• Frequent congested (wet) or croupy cough

Your child should be physically able to participate in all school activities. Keeping a sick child at home will minimize the spread of infections and viruses in the classroom.

According to our school physician's orders, a child sent home from the nurse's office with a fever or due to vomiting, CANNOT return to school the next day.

Please reach out to your school nurse or Nurse Maryann Rivera, District Nursing Coordinator, if you have any questions or concerns.