When to Keep Your Child Home from School

We have experienced a lot of illness this school year and would like to take this opportunity to remind parents of the Future Scholars' Sickness Policy, which you read and agreed to adhere to upon enrollment. The policy can found in your Parent Handbook or in the Policies section of our website. 

In addition to the Sickness Policy, please read the information below as a quick way to decide whether or not your child should be excluded from school and stay home. The only way we can keep our students and staff members healthy is to keep those who are sick home. 

When to Keep Children at Home
There are three reasons to keep sick children at home:

1. When your child has a contagious or communicable disease.
2. When your child is exhibiting any of the signs or symptoms listed below or has an illness for which temporary exclusion is recommended for the health and safety of your child as well as other children.
3. When your child does not feel well enough to comfortably participate in their normal school activities.

Children with the following symptoms or illness should be kept (excluded) from school:

What can I do to help prevent the spread of contagious diseases in my home?

• Remind your children to wash their hands often.
• Reinforce the practice of coughing or sneezing into a sleeve or upper arm instead of hands.
• Throw away tissues immediately after each use and immediately wash hands.
• Remind your children not to drink or eat after others, including family members.
• Circulate fresh air through the house at least once a day.
• Provide your children with a balanced diet.
• Keep bed times regular. School aged children need 8-10 hours of sleep each night.
• Encourage at least 60 minutes of daily exercise and daily trips outdoors.
• Encourage your children to dress appropriately for the weather. Layering clothing so they may remove and add as their activity level warrants.
• Take your child to the doctor if the symptoms persist.
• If you use over the counter medications—use only those that are specific for your child’s symptoms. NEVER give children aspirin, adult medications, someone else’s medication or medication left over or outdated.
• Increase fluid intake (juices and water).
• Allow your child to rest and fully recover before sending him/her back to school.

REMINDER:
The ONLY medication the school can administer is medication prescribed by a physician. Permission forms, signed by the parent and physician, giving school personnel permission to administer medications to students may be obtained from the front office. The form and the medication (in the original container, properly labeled) is to remain in the front office until the medication is depleted or discontinued by the physician.

Thank you for your cooperation and willingness to help keep our students, families, and staff healthy!