Health Office

Each year, district 303 schools partner with KCHD to track acute respiratory illnesses. ARI is a non-specific syndrome that can be caused by infection with different respiratory pathogens that typically involve the airways within the nose and throat. It may or may not include fevers. Generally it is defined as the presence of 2 or more symptoms such as fever, cough, nasal congestion, runny nose and or sore throat.

We are asking for your assistance when calling your child in as ill, that you be as specific as you can with the symptoms your child is having. This will help us to better capture the information needed to track these viral infections. Thank you in advance for assisting us to make this school year as healthy as possible.

When to keep your child home

Nurses have been caring for a number of students experiencing coughs and other cold-like symptoms. We are also aware that some students are absent from school because they have been diagnosed with the flu and other influenza-like symptoms. Preventative measures remain the most effective way to reduce the spread of influenza.

Students who present to the Health Office with a fever or are feeling poorly are sent home. To prevent widespread flu in the school, we recommend that your child stay home from school if experiencing flu or cold symptoms. To decide whether or not to send your child to school, please consider the following guidelines:

Consider keeping your child at home for an extra day of rest and observation if he or she has any of the following symptoms:

• Very stuffy or runny nose and/or persistent cough

• Mild sore throat (no fever, no known exposure to strep)

• Headaches

• Mild stomach ache

Definitely keep your child at home for treatment and observation if he or she has any of these symptoms:

• Fever (greater than 100 degrees)

• Vomiting (even once)

• Diarrhea (even once)

• Chills

• General malaise or feelings of fatigue

• Frequent congested, croupy (barky) cough or if it is productive

• Nasal congestion with frequent blowing of nose

To help prevent the flu and other colds, teach your children good hygiene habits:

• Wash hands frequently

• Do not touch eyes, nose or mouth

• Blow your nose often

• Cover mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing, use a paper tissue, throw it away and then wash hands

• Avoid close contact with people who are ill

Colds are the most contagious during the first 48 hours. A child who has a fever should remain at home until "fever free" for a minimum of 24 hours without medication. A child who has started antibiotics needs to be on medication for 24 hours before being considered non-contagious and able to return to school. Keeping your ill child at home will minimize the spread of infections and viruses in the classroom.

** If your child has not fully recovered or hasn’t remained home for the recommended length of time, parents may be called and asked to take the child home.

Thank you in advance for assisting us to make this school year as healthy as possible!

1. HEALTH REQUIREMENTS

Please turn in the Illinois state mandated health forms to the Health Office! If your student is missing any health records you will be contacted for noncompliance.

Kindergarten- Physical, Vision, Dental, Health survey

2nd Grade- Dental

3rd Grade- Updated Health Survey

New students to Illinois: Physical and Immunization, Dental and Vision on Illinois forms.

2. MEDICAL FORMS AND MEDICATION

PLEASE NOTE ALL MEDICATION, including any and all over the counter medications, vitamins and cough drops need a doctor’s authorization/order to be administered here at school.

If your child requires medication, any action plans or medical accommodations your child will need new physician orders and action plans completed annually with every new school year. Forms can be found below under section titled "Health Conditions & Care Plans" or under the health services page on the D303 website. All forms will need to be completed in full before any medications can be administered.

MEDICATION AUTHORIZATION

ASTHMA

LIFE THREATENING ALLERGIES

DIABETES

SEIZURE ACTION PLAN

3. Activity Restriction From PE/Recess Protocol Reminder:

Please send all Doctor or Parent notes regarding Activity Restrictions to the Health Office.

Students may be excused from participation in Physical Education and/or recess due to illness or injury for up to 3 consecutive days with written permission from a parent.

Students who are to be excused from Physical Education and/or recess for longer than 3 consecutive days of time must present a written and signed excuse note from a health care provider explaining the reason and duration of the restriction.

• Students will not be allowed to return to activity without written consent.

• Consent must be from the same health care provider

• Consent must state that the student is cleared to return to activities.

Students with an illness or injury requiring exclusion from Physical Education will automatically be restricted at recess, but will go outside for fresh air.

4. HEALTHY SNACK

To keep our student brains active and ready to learn each day, you are encouraged to pack a healthy snack for your child each day. Please note, a snack will not be provided if snack is forgotten.

5. EXTRA CLOTHES

Remember to pack extra clothes if you do not want your child to wear school issued clothes in the event their clothes get soiled. Please send a spare in your child's backpack.

Please reach out if you have any questions. Feel free to send any communication, including health forms, to bel-nurses@d303.org to ensure that all of our Bell Graham nurses receive this important information pertaining to your student(s)The health office direct line is 331-228-2104.

Thank you in advance for helping make this year at school as healthy as possible!

Nurse Kerisa and Nurse LeeAnna