Sick/Absent Questions
- What if my child needs to take medicine at school?
- When should I keep my child at home?
What if my child needs to take medicine at school?
Administering Medication to Students
School nurses are not permitted to dispense medication without a
doctor's written instructions. A doctor may prescribe medication
that can be given to a child during school hours. Only those
medications that meet the child's health needs for a specific
period of time may be given during the school day. Guidelines
for administering medication in school are as follows:
Only written orders from the doctor are acceptable. They should
include beginning and discontinued dates. They also should
include the diagnosis of the disease. If the medication is to be
given on a continuing basis, a doctor's note must be provided at
the beginning of each school year. A written note from
parents/guardians is also necessary when any medication is
to given by the nurse.
All medication must be pharmacy-labeled and with the child's
name, medicine identification, dosage, time to be given, and
dates. The doctor's and pharmacy's telephone numbers are needed
in case there are unanticipated side effects.
Parents/guardians must bring the medication to the nurse along
with the notes from them and the doctor.
All nonprescription drugs are to be handled the same as
prescribed drugs. Therefore, the nurse will administer drugs such
as aspirin, Tylenol,or nonprescription cough syrup ONLY upon
receipt of written notes from the doctor and parent/guardian. A
labeled bottle of the over-the-counter medication also must be
provided.
When should I keep my child at home?
Children should attend school each day they are well. Every
absence, even part of a school day, interferes with your child's
progress. Each subject is taught in sequence, which builds
understanding and correct habits of study.
In order to be ready for new steps in learning, your child must
have mastered the previous steps and be sufficiently ready to
profit from new materials.
For the protection of your child and others, please do not send
your child to school with symptoms of any of the following:
a) An upset stomach
b) Runny nose with a cold
c) Sore throat
d) Fever 100 or above
e) Rash
f) Swollen glands
g) Diarrhea
h) Earache
i) Persistent cough
k) Other communicable illness
Please call the school as soon as possible when your child is
absent and send a note to school the day your child returns.
District policy is that a child must be fever free for 24 hours
without the use of tylenol or advil before they return to school.
If a child is injured or becomes ill at school, the parents will
be notified. If parents are not available, then the person
designated to be called in an emergency will be contacted. Be
sure to keep the school notified of any changes in telephone
numbers, addresses, place of work, and emergency contacts.
Each child has a permanent Health Record on which pertinent
health information is recorded. Please keep the school notified
of any health problems. All information is held confidential.
Please contact the school to discuss any health problems or
attendance concerns.
