October 2020
Dear Parents/Guardians:
With COVID 19, cold and flu season upon us, I would like to share the NJ Department of Health guidelines to help you decide if you should keep your child/children home from school.
If your child has at least 1 of the following symptoms, they need to stay home from school
- COUGH
- SHORTNESS OF BREATH
- DIFFICULTY BREATHING
- NEW LOSS OF SMELL OR TASTE
OR at least 2 of the following symptoms, they need to stay home
- FEVER
- CHILLS
- SHIVERS(RIGORS)
- MUSCLE ACHES(myalgia)
- HEADACHE
- SORE THROAT
- NAUSEA OR VOMITING
- DIARRHEA
- FATIGUE
- CONGESTION OR RUNNY NOSE
PLEASE REFER TO THE "COVID-19 QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE FOR EXCLUSION CRITERIA IN SCHOOLS TO DETERMINE WHEN YOUR CHILD CAN RETURN TO SCHOOL BASED ON WHETHER OR NOT A COVID-19 TEST WAS/WASN'T DONE, THERE IS AN ALTERNATE DIAGNOSIS, OR THERE WAS A NEGATIVE/POSITIVE COVID-19 RESULT.
REPORT ALL POSITIVE COVID-19 TEST RESULTS TO THE NURSE.
ALL COVID-19 TEST RESULTS RESULTS SHOULD BE SENT TO THE SCHOOL NURSE.
OTHER ILLNESS CONSIDERATIONS
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A temperature of 100 degrees F or higher students must remain home until they are fever free without medication (like Tylenol or Advil) for 24 hours.
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Students who have been home sick for the day should not attend after school/evening events at the school.
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Bacterial conjunctivitis (pinkeye) with discharge from one or both eyes. Children must be kept home until appropriate therapy has begun and eyes are free of crusting, weeping or discharge.
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Children diagnosed with strep throat should remain home until they have been on antibiotic therapy for 24 hours and have also been fever free for that period of time.
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A child with a suspected contagious skin rash (i.e. chicken pox, impetigo, etc.) should be kept home until it can be determined that the rash is not contagious.
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If a child does not feel well, has diminished appetite, severe fatigue or just does not appear to be “himself/herself” please keep him/her home from school.
There will of course be other instances that keep a child home from school. If your child becomes sick at school, I will contact you to take him/her home. Please be sure we have accurate emergency contact numbers. You can update your information on the Oncourse portal.
Please also call the health office to report communicable illnesses such as COVID 19, flu like illness, strep throat, chicken pox or impetigo. Please remember to call the Telesafe line (609-737-4007 #2) each day your child will be absent or tardy (for any reason).
Thank you for your attention and cooperation.
Denise Elliott, BSN, School Nurse
609-737-4007x 7216 or option #3