List of 4 items.

• COVID-19 Symptoms & Testing

  • COVID-19 Symptoms: If your child has any one of the following COVID-19-related symptoms, please do not bring them to school. If your child comes to school with one or more symptoms, they will be sent home with instructions to visit your family physician or pediatrician to be tested for COVID-19. Your child cannot return to school without documentation of a negative test result unless:
  • SNHD Update: If your child has a preexisting condition that is documented with the school nurse or has a confirmed condition other than COVID-19, a note from your family physician or pediatrician listing the specific diagnosis and symptoms will be accepted. 
  • To reiterate: The options to return to school if your child shows one or more COVID-19-related symptoms are a negative test or documentation from a physician of a confirmed non-COVID alternative diagnosis or condition.
  • Negative test result: If your child receives a negative test, they may only return to school once they are fever-and symptom-free without the use of medication for 24 hours, and if they have not had exposure to someone with COVID-19 during that time.
  • Masking symptoms: Please do not attempt to mask your child’s symptoms with fever-reducing medications. If your child has a fever, keep them home, see your pediatrician, and get tested for COVID-19. 

• Informing the School if Your Child is Out Sick

  • It is imperative that families notify the School if your child is absent for any reason. All unexcused absences will be followed up by a phone call from the School to ensure the reason for the absence is not related to illness.
  • UPDATE: Our program support team – Kristen Kissel for grades 5-8, Jan Brazell for grades 1-4, and Jessica Jennings for EC through kindergarten – will screen all sick calls and/or emails and will ask specific questions about your child’s symptoms so our school nurse may follow up with the proper protocols. Please contact your child’s program support team member to report an absence rather than your child’s teacher. This way, any sensitive health-related information is kept confidential and shared only with the school nurse.   

• Guidelines For Sick Days

  If a student becomes ill while at school, the School Nurse will assess and care for the student in the school health office until the family is notified and the student is picked up. Parents are expected to notify the School if a student becomes ill with a communicable illness, like chickenpox or strep throat. Students returning to school after a communicable disease should present a note from the doctor certifying that the student can resume normal activities and is no longer contagious.
  
  Please read the following guidelines when considering whether or not to send your child(ren) to school.

  Consider keeping your child(ren) at home for a day of rest and observation if they have any of the following symptoms*:

  • Very stuffy or runny nose and/or a persistent cough
  • Mild sore throat (no fever and no known exposure to strep)
  • Headache
  • Mild stomach ache

  (*If these symptoms prevent them from participating in class and school activities.)

   

  Keep your child(ren) at home for treatment and observation if they have any of these symptoms, and seek further evaluation as needed by your physician as symptoms persist:

  • Students experiencing symptoms similar to COVID-19 but related to another illness (flu, strep throat, etc.) should stay home until they are fever-free and symptom-free for at least 72 hours or cleared by a physician with a physician's note provided to the school nurse. For a list of these common illnesses, please see the Dawson Student & Family Guide.
  • Vomiting and/or diarrhea: Your child may return to school only after 24 hours have passed without any vomiting and/or diarrhea. 
  • General malaise or feelings of fatigue, discomfort, weakness, or muscle aches
  • Frequent, congested or croupy cough
  • You think your child may be contagious to other children
  • Your child is not feeling well enough to participate in class or school activities

• Seasonal Influenza (Flu)

  Seasonal Influenza (Flu) - Although the symptoms above may be caused by bacterial/viral illnesses, they may also be from the flu. If you are concerned your child may have the flu, contact your physician, as they may recommend testing for proper treatment. Please keep your child home to rest and prevent the spread of any illnesses, and always follow your physician’s guidelines.

   

  To help prevent the flu and other colds/illnesses, teach your child(ren) good hygiene habits:

  • Wash hands frequently
  • Do not touch eyes, nose, or mouth
  • Cover mouth and nose with a tissue, or use the “elbow rule” when sneezing or coughing
  • Make sure to get plenty of exercise and sleep and eat healthy foods
  • The CDC recommends vaccinating children for seasonal influenza (flu)