North Elementary School

What if I notice my child is ill either in the evening or the morning prior to departing for school? OR I a staff member of the school, how should I proceed if I am feeling ill?

If your child has any symptoms that could keep them out of school for the next school day (fever, diarrhea, vomiting) you can email the School Nurse or leave a voice mail at 508-324-3170. The School Nurse will return your call as soon as  possible to discuss the most reasonable timeline to return your student. 
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What are the symptoms of Covid-19 and should my child be tested?

The single most important thing to do if any of the following symptoms are present is to STAY HOME. Our collective health relies, in part, on individual attention and responsibility. Note that some symptoms of COVID-19 are the same as the flu or a bad cold; please do not assume it is another condition. When in doubt, stay home.   
 
Please STAY HOME if you have any of the symptoms listed.
 
Below is the full list of symptoms for which caregivers should monitor their children, and staff should monitor themselves:[1] [2]

• Fever (100.0° Fahrenheit or higher), chills, or shaking chills (CDC has lowered the temperature from 100.4 to 100.0)

• Cough (not due to other known cause, such as chronic cough)

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath

• New loss of taste or smell

• Sore throat

• Headache 

• Muscle aches or body aches

• Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea

• Fatigue, when in combination with other symptoms

• Nasal congestion or runny nose (not due to other known causes, such as allergies) when in combination with other symptoms

Testing, while strongly recommended and highly encouraged, is not mandatory to return your child to school.  Children should return to school when they are having a relief in their symptoms.  For those who are vomiting or having diarrhea, please keep them home 24 hours after the last episode.  for those who have had fevers, they may return when their temperature has  been below 100 F for 24 hours without medicine. 

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When can my child return to school after having Covid? 

All persons with Covid must remain in isolation for 5 full days, with Day 0 being the onset of symptoms OR day of testing for asymptomatic individuals.  They may return on Day 6 provided they can wear a mask on Days 6-Days 10 when around others in school.  If your child has a negative test on Day 5, they may return to school without a mask through Day 10.  

When does my child need to stay home from school?

*Your child should stay home from school if he/she has had a fever >100F within the last 24 hours.  If your child is dismissed with a fever >100F please keep them home until they are <100F for 24 hours WITHOUT the use of medication to bring their fever home.  Please DO NOT medicate your child and send them to school.  This can often mask symptoms and make it difficult to determine if your child is ill.  

*RASH: If your child has a rash that is draining, has open areas, or causing uncontrollable itch, they should remain at home. If your child has additional symptoms along with their rash, they should also remain at home. 

*Vomiting/Diarrhea:  If your child has been vomiting or has had diarrhea, please remain home for 24 hours after the last episode.  The child should also be tolerating solid foods prior to return. 

*Cough/Runny Nose: Minor cold symptoms are common and should not interfere with school attendance.  A frequent/persistent cough and/or constant nasal drainage may affect your child's classroom performance and they may be more comfortable at home.

*Conjuctivitis/Strep Throat: If you suspect your child has "pinkeye" or strep throat, they should be evaluated by a physician.  A student needs to be on antibiotic medication for 24 hours before returning.  A doctor's note is REQUIRED to return your child with a diagnosis of strep/pinkeye. 

Can I send my child to school with cough drops/OTC medication?

No, absolutely not . Per district regulation guidelines, please refrain from sending your child to school with ANY medication (OTC or prescription) either on their person or in their backpack. Cough drops are a choking hazard and can be picked up or taken by other students.  If you need to deliver medication to the school for your child, please send a responsible adult.  ALL medication (including OTC treatments that have an active ingredient) need to be ordered by your child's physician to be administered here at school.  This is including:  Vaseline, cough drops, cough medicine, hand or body lotion, Motrin, Tylenol, Benadryl, etc.  Please print out and return the Medication Administration/Parental Consent form to the Health Office if you wish your child to receive medication or treatments here at school.  

Will I be notified if there is a case of head lice in my child's class?

Mostly likely, no.  Head lice (pediculosis) are not considered an infectious and do not transmit disease. They are, however, a nuisance.  We CANNOT exclude a student from access to education because of head lice.  Routine checks have also not been shown to reduce the rate of transmission.  For students with longer hair, tying it up or wearing it in braids may help reduce the risk. Also, preventative hair treatments, such as tea tree oil or rosemary can also help reduce the risk.  

It has been determined that my child will need medication during the school day, either as needed or scheduled.  What do I do?

1) A physician's order is required for each and every medication that your child will need at school.  You can get this in person as a written order from the doctor or they can fax it directly to me.  Please see the Contact Me page for my confidential fax number. 

2) Parents must consent for the nurse to administer medication ordered by the physician.  A copy of this form can be found on my Forms page. Please only fill out the top half of the form.  

3) Medication CANNOT be sent in with your student.  It must be brought to school by a responsible adult and handed directly to the nurse.  It also must be in a pharmacy dispensed bottle with your child's name and prescription label directly on it.  

**All medication orders expire on the last day of the school year.  A new doctor's order and parental consent form is required for each school year**
**Nebulized anti-asthmatic medications are NOT being given this year in the Health Office.  The risk of transmitting Covid-19 is greatly increased when conducting aerosol generating procedures**

What screenings will be done on my child during their elementary years? 

Vision screening will be done annually on all students grades PK-5.

Hearing screening will be done annually on all students grades PK-3.

BMI screenings are done in grades 1 & 4.  You can opt your child out of this. 

Postural screenings are done in grade 5.  You can opt your child out of this.