As we are entering the cold and flu season, this is a reminder of the best health practices to decrease the spread and transmission of viruses in PWCS schools.
Please remember to cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and throw used tissues in the trash. If you don't have a tissue, cough, or sneeze into your elbow, not your hands. Wash hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds, dry hands with a paper towel, and use the paper towel to turn off the faucet. If soap and water are not available, hand sanitizers may also be used to perform hand hygiene. Remember to stay home when you’re sick until at least 24 hours without a fever or the use of fever-reducing medicine. Together we can help stop the spread of germs that may make you and others ill.
Reasons Your Child Should Stay Home From School Or May Be Sent Home By The Nurse During The School Day
| Illness/Symptom | Stay Home/Sent Home from School | Go to/Return to School |
| Fever* | Temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher | Fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication |
| Cold Symptoms (cough, runny nose, sore throat) | Cold symptoms accompanied by a fever or too sick to participate in regular activities | Fever-free**, well enough to participate in regular activities, and/or has been cleared by a healthcare provider |
| Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease | Mouth sores and/or skin rash on the palm of the hands and/or soles of the feet accompanied by a fever* without a healthcare diagnosis | Fever-free**, well enough to participate in regular activities, and/or has been cleared by a healthcare provider. Blisters must be dried with no drainage. |
| Head Lice | Unable to participate in regular activities due to severe itching | Appropriate treatment has begun |
| Impetigo | Lesions or blisters without a healthcare diagnosis | Fever-free** and after 12 hours of appropriate anticiotic therapy. All sores on exposed skin must be covered. |
| Pink Eye | Eye is pink or red with swelling of the eyelids and/or eye discharge without a healthcare diagnosis | Nonsymptomatic or has been cleared to return by a healthcare provider |
| Ringworm | Itchy, red, scaly or cracked skin, or ring-shaped rash without a healthcare diagnosis | Appropriate treatment has begun. All sores on exposed skin must be covered. |
| Rash | A rash with blisters that are draining, painful, look like bruises, appear suddenly or spread quickly, and/or if a fever* develops | Rash has healed and/or has been cleared for return by a healthcare provider |
| Strep Throat | A sore throat or difficult swallowing with fever* | Fever-free** and after 12 hours of appropriate antibiotic therapy |
| Upset Stomach (abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting) | Abdominal pain that continues for mroe than 2 hours along with fever* or other concerning symptoms, has more than three loose watery stools per day and/or sudden increase in frequency, has vomited 2 or more times in the last 24 hours | Symptom-free for 24 hours, if determined to be caused by a diagnosed non-communicable/non-infectious condition, and/or if stool frequency is no more than two times above normal and without fecal accidents |
*Fever: temperature of 100°F (38°C) or higher
** Fever-free: temperature below 100.4°F (38°C) for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications such as Tylenol, Ibuprofen.
For additional questions about student absence due to illness contact your school nurse.
All students should have up-to-date parent/guardian contact information and three local emergency contacts on file with the school in the event that contact needs to be made due to a student health emergency.
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Health Treatment Plans
If a student with allergies, asthma, diabetes, seizures or other conditions requires special treatment at school (including administration of the medications), please see the "Links" list on the right to have the appropriate forms completed by the physician. Make sure to include any emergency contacts where applicable.
Medications
Over-the-counter medications requiring administration greater than the dose or age on the label must have physician's signature on the authorization form (Ex: Advil tabs for >12 yrs). Prescription medications, of course, also require a physician's signature.
ALL forms must be updated every year. Medications must be picked up the last week of school or will be disposed of by staff.
If you have questions, please contact the school nurse or visit the immunization requirements webpage.