Health Policies & Guidelines
Keep your child home if he:
- Has a fever of 100 degrees or higher; must stay home until his fever has been gone for 24 hours without medication
- Has been vomiting
- Has a “pink eye” communicable diagnosis; must have a physician note to return to school and using prescription antibiotic eye drops for at least 24 hours
- Has a “strep throat” communicable diagnosis; must have a physician note to return to school and using prescription antibiotics for at least 24 hours
- Has a communicable skin rash and/or infection; must have physician note to return to school and using prescribed treatments; must cover infected area to remain in school
Keep your child home is he has the flu. The flu can be serious, which typically comes on suddenly, including:
- High fever
- Chills
- Headache, body aches, ear ache
- Nausea, vomiting
- Dry cough
A minor sore throat is usually not a problem to attend school if there is no fever. Strep throat can only be diagnosed by a throat culture and therefore, if suspected, call your physician for an appointment.
Coughs and colds can be contagious for at least 48 hours. Returning to school too soon may slow the recovery process and expose others unnecessarily to illness.
If your son requires prescription or nonprescription medication during school hours, the administration of this medication must be supervised by the school nurse. Any medication brought to school must be delivered to the Health Office where it will be kept in a locked cabinet. Students should not carry medication(s) on their person or keep it in their lockers or backpacks.
The school nurse must also be notified if the student is required to carry an inhaler.
When sending medication to school, please adhere to the following procedures:
- The Medication Authorization Form must be completed annually by a physician and a parent/guardian. It will be necessary to renew the form annually.
- Prescription medication must be brought to the Health Office in the original pharmacy container with the pharmacy label intact.
- Non-prescription medication, also known as over-the-counter medication, must also be in the original package with the student’s name affixed to the container.
- If medication doses or times change, a parent/guardian must notify the school nurse. A new Medication Authorization Form will be required.
- It is recommended that students who are required to carry an inhaler, keep an extra inhaler in the Health Office. (THE USE OF INHALERS REQUIRES AN INHALER AUTHORIZATION FORM TO BE COMPLETED).
- A Nebulizer Authorization Form is available if a student is required to perform such treatment during school hours.
- A Policy Statement of Liability for all medication(s) must be completed and signed by parent/guardian annually.
No medication can be given unless these guidelines are followed. The intent of these guidelines is to provide for the safest administration of medication. If you have any questions, please contact the School Nurse at 773.429.4350.
Students who require the use of crutches and/or orthopedic devices must report to the Health Office following injury and/or upon returning to school following a surgical procedure. Students will receive a Health Office pass and should maintain it in their possession during the use of such devices. Faculty/staff may check a pass to verify the student has reported to the Health Office.
When the student reports to the Health Office, the school nurse will instruct the student on safe crutch usage within the school building. Safety will be stressed including stairs, hallways, school entrances, floors, seasonal issues, assemblies, etc.
Accommodations (early classroom dismissal, assistance with books, assistance in the hallways between each class, premium classroom seating assignments) will be implemented for every student in this category. Physician orders are required to be excused from P.E. or swimming.
Additional accommodations (medications, icing, elevation orders, dress code alteration) may be implemented based on need.
For students requiring prescription medication in school
Required to allow over the counter medications to be administered to student
Required for freshmen physical with complete vaccine record.
Good for 13 months.
Needed for athletes in grades 10, 11 and 12.
Required for 9th graders
