Illness Guidelines

There are times when a student should remain at home for his/her own welfare and for the protection of other students.

The following criteria can be used to determine when a child should remain at home: 

  1. Has a cold in the contagious stage (first few days) 

  2. Sore throat and swollen neck glands accompanied by a fever 

  3. Undiagnosed rash or skin eruptions 

  4. Earache, red eyes or drainage from eyes 

  5. Any communicable disease (see paragraph below) 

  6. Fever of 100 degrees or higher during the past 24 hours 

  7. Vomiting or diarrhea within the past 24 hours

If your student develops a communicable disease, e.g., chicken pox, strep throat, scarlet fever or fifth disease, please notify the school nurse. This will enable us to monitor your child's progress and other student's exposure. Students should remain at home a minimum of one day following the resolution of an acute illness. Please check your child’s temperature; a child should be "fever free" for twenty-four hours without taking a fever reducing medication such as Tylenol or Advil before returning to school. Remember that the essentials of good health are good nutrition, plentiful fluids, regular exercise and plenty of rest.

The school nurse should be notified by the parent/guardian of any:

  • Serious injury,  illness, or hospitalization

  • Planned surgery

  • Communicable diseases such as chicken pox, strep throat, scarlet fever or fifth disease

  • New diagnosis or change in your child’s health status

  • Fracture, sprain, stitches, cast, or crutches  (A Physician note is required for crutches and/or a wheelchair to be used on the school premises.)

  • New medication and/or dosing change.

  • Need to be excused from Physical Education.   

  • Head Lice

In order to minimize the spread of infectious disease and to provide for a safe environment, the BPS Health Care Policy has been created to assist you. Please review this document as the nurses are required to adhere to these guidelines to help support the health of the entire school community.

Some key points of the illness guidelines about when to keep your child at home include the following:

  • Child has had a fever greater than 100 within the last 24 hours (fever should be under 100 for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications before returning to school)

  • Child has experienced vomiting/diarrhea within the last 24 hours

  • Child has a communicable disease

  • Child has an upper respiratory illness with significant coughing and/or nasal discharge

  • Child has pain that requires the use of narcotic medications 

** This is a partial list highlighting the most common reasons children should be kept home - please refer to this document for further illnesses or reasons your child may be required to stay home **