Guidelines for Returning to School

Communicable Diseases/Conditions

If a student is diagnosed with a communicable disease such as mono, strep throat, chicken pox or conjunctivitis, contact the school nurse. This information is vital to help protect the students and staff who may be medically at risk from exposure to these diseases. Students need to stay home until they are no longer contagious. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact the Health Office.

Chicken Pox

Notify the school nurse immediately if your child is diagnosed or suspected of having chicken pox. There are MA Department of Public Health guidelines that govern your child's return to school.

Conjunctivitis or "Pink Eye"

Conjunctivitis is not an emergency, so students who are identified as having conjunctivitis at school do not need to be sent home from school that day. Inform parents/guardians that the symptoms were noticed, and permit infected students and staff to return the day after any indicated treatment has begun for bacterial conjunctivitis. Parents/guardians should notify the school if the health care provider decides not to prescribe medication. Individuals with viral conjunctivitis should still be presumed contagious until symptoms have resolved, but transmission can be controlled with adequate hand hygiene.

Pediculosis (Head Lice)

Children need not be excluded or sent home early from school because of head lice. Parents/guardians of affected children should be notified and informed that their children must be properly treated and may return to school on the day after treatment. Other close contacts should be checked to determine if there are other cases. If a school is having a recurrent problem with head lice, morning head checks should be conducted as students arrive at school. Removal of nits is difficult, and the majority of nits will be killed by the appropriate treatment. "No nit" policies have not been demonstrated to be effective in controlling head lice transmission. Children who have been treated should be checked for new nits every day for 10–14 days after treatment.

Cold or Influenza

Sick students should stay home from school until they have been without fever (100.4) for 24 hours without having taken Acetaminophen (i.e. Tylenol) or Ibuprofen (i.e. Motrin) within the last 24 hours, to help prevent spreading illness to others.

Strep throat

People with strep throat should not return to school until at least 24 hours after beginning appropriate antibiotic treatment and resolution of their fever. Mildly ill students can continue to attend school while awaiting the results of a strep culture.

Vomiting and Diarrhea

When students have uncontrolled, severe, or bloody diarrhea and fever or vomiting, he or she should be symptom free for at least 24 hours before returning to school. When students or staff have mild diarrhea, take special precautions should be taken. Please contact school nurse.