Elementary•Middle School

Keeping our schools healthy and safe is a community effort. Please help our school communities remain as healthy as possible by following these recommendations if not feeling well.  Please consult your healthcare provider if you have any questions or concerns about symptoms or if symptoms persist. 

Practicing the following simple prevention strategies will help in this effort.

• Please stay home if you are ill
• Please practice proper hygiene (handwashing, cough etiquette, and cleaning of surfaces)
• Please consider physical distancing, masking, and steps to improve the air quality in your space while you are symptomatic
• Please discuss immunizations with your healthcare provider.

If you are sick and wondering if you should stay home or not, please follow the recommendations in RED.

Fever

100.0° Fahrenheit or higher
REMAIN AT HOME until fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication.

Respiratory Viruses (Influenza, RSV, Covid-19)

Respiratory virus symptoms may include runny nose, sore throat, coughing, sneezing, watery eyes, fever, malaise, and headache, among others. If symptoms are associated with a fever or they do not readily improve, please consult your healthcare provider. Sometimes symptoms can be serious, especially for immunocompromised individuals, infants, and older adults. Learn more about respiratory viruses (Influenza, RSV, Covid-19).

REMAIN AT HOME for at least 24 hours and until both are true:

• Your symptoms are getting better (and you will have the stamina to make it through the school day)
• You have been fever-free for at least 24 hours (without use of fever-reducing medications)

When going back to normal activities, take added precaution over the next 5 days. Use strategies to decrease the spread of illness including practicing good hygiene,physical distancing, taking steps for cleaner air, wearing masks if needed, and/or testing when you will be around other people indoors.

• Keep in mind that you may still be able to spread the virus that made you sick, even if you are feeling better. You are likely to be less contagious at this time, depending on factors like how long you were sick or how sick you were.
• If you develop a fever or you start to feel worse after you have gone back to normal activities, stay home and away from others, restarting the remain at home policy. 

Persistent cough, difficulty breathing, wheezing, shortness of breath 

If not associated with a pre-existing condition consult your healthcare provider 
REMAIN AT HOME until evaluated by a healthcare provider and the individual has the stamina to make it through the school day. 

If associated with a pre-existing condition
REMAIN AT HOMEuntil the individual has the stamina to make it through the school day. 

Sore Throat

A sore throat in conjunction with a fever, headache, or stomach ache may indicate strep throat. If diagnosed with strep throat,: REMAIN AT HOME until both are true:

• a minimum of 24 hours after antibiotics have started  (105 CMR 300.200)
• fever-free for 24 hours without use of fever-reducing medications 

Rash

A rash is usually a symptom of an underlying condition or disorder; a rash can be caused by a viral illness or an exposure to an irritant. Learn more about rash.

REMAIN AT HOME for any unusual rashes or a rash associated with a fever and contact your healthcare provider.  

Vomiting and Diarrhea 

There are many causes for vomiting and diarrhea, viruses being one. Take extra care with handwashing on return to school, especially after using the bathroom. Learn more about vomiting and diarrhea.

REMAIN AT HOME until symptom-free for 24 hours and at least two regular meals have been consumed without symptoms returning.  

All medications, prescriptions and over-­the-­counter, are to be set up for administration by nursing staff. Medications may be administered by staff who have been trained in dispensing procedures.

In the absence of a physician’s note, the nurse on duty will determine whether a student is to remain in the Health Center for illness or be excused from a specific class or sport. If a student has been excused from class for the day, he or she will not be permitted to participate in afternoon activities.

A complete, up-to-date annual physical examination is required for your child to enter school and must be kept current, within 13 months, for participation in school activities and athletics. It should be reported on the "Physical Examination & Immunization Form" (see link in Medical Forms below), or one provided by the examining physician, and include a record of all required immunizations. Without this examination, we cannot enroll your child. 

PLEASE NOTE: Failure on the part of parents/guardians to meet these requirements will render us unable to register your child in our programs. This policy applies to all students, whether new or returning, and will be strictly enforced.

In accordance with the School Immunization Law, Chapter 76, Section 15 of the General Laws of Massachusetts, you are asked to read the following. The Law specifically requires a completed IMMUNIZATION RECORD, unless the physician has determined that the child’s health would be endangered by these immunizations and has sent a written authorization to that effect.

*SECTION 15

“No child shall, except as hereinafter provided, be admitted to school except upon presentation of a physician’s certificate that the child has been successfully immunized against diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, measles, and poliomyelitis and such other communicable diseases as may be specified from time to time by the Department of Public Health.”

“A child shall be admitted to school upon certification by a physician that he has personally examined such child and that in his opinion the physical condition of the child is such that his health would be endangered by such vaccination or by any of such immunizations.  Such certification shall be submitted at the beginning of each school year to the physician in charge of the school health program.  If the physician in charge of the school health program does not agree with the opinion of the child’s physician, the matter shall be referred to the Department of Public Health, whose decision will be final.”

“In the absence of an emergency or epidemic of disease declared by the Department of Public Health, no child whose parent or guardian states in writing the vaccination or immunization conflicts with his sincere religious beliefs shall be required to present said physician’s certificate in order to be admitted to school.”

If your child returns to school with a new medication, has been hospitalized, or has been seen by a physician for any reason that requires continued care (i.e., illness, orthopedic injury) a physician’s written explanation of diagnosis and treatment must accompany your child and be brought to the Health Center to ensure continued and correct treatment. No verbal explanation by the student will be accepted.