When to Keep your Student Home from School
-
Fever of 101 degrees. Student needs to be fever free for 24 hours.
- Diarrhea (multiple watery stools).
- Severe cough, wheezing or respiratory distress.
- Extreme redness of eye, accompanied by discharge or pain.
- Rashes of unknown origin.
- Severe sore throat or difficulty swallowing.
- Severe headache or stomach ache with vomiting.
- Severe itching of body or scalp.
- Untreated head lice infestation. (for more information on WCSD policy see forms section.)
Parents must call each day the student will be absent from school. Upon return to school, students must bring a note explaining the reason for the absence. The School Nurse or Family Resource Coordinator (FRC) will be contacted in the event of excessive absences.Students who are medically excluded from school must return with the exclusion letter signed by the doctor.
Tips for Keeping Students Healthy
Start the day off right. Eat breakfast. Children are continuously changing and growing every day. Studies show that students who eat breakfast:
- Learn better
- Achieve more
- Participate in class more often
- Behave better
- Attend school more
- Visit the school nurses less often
Teach your student proper handwashing techniques.
Keeping the hands clean is one of the most important ways of preventing illness and infection.
- Wet your hands with clean running water and apply soap. Use warm water if it is available.
- Rub hands together to make a lather and scrub all surfaces.
- Continue rubbing hands for 15-20 seconds. Need a timer? Imagine singing "Happy Birthday" twice through to a friend.
- Rinse hands well under running water.
- Dry your hands using a paper towel or air dryer. If possible, use your paper towel to turn off the faucet.
- Always use soap and water if your hands are visibly dirty.
General health measures to boost your child's immune system include:
- Drinking plenty fluids to keep well hydrated.
- Eating a nutritious, well balanced diet, with lots of fruits and vegetables
- Getting plenty of rest and a good night?s sleep.
- Exercising regularly.
Recommended hours of sleep per night for students:
- 3-5 year olds: 11-13 hours
- 5-12 years olds: 9-11 hours
- Adolescents: 8 ½ - 9 ½ hours
Recommended time of exercise per day for students:
The activity itself isn't as important as making sure it hits on the 3 criteria of healthy exercise: strength, endurance and flexibility.
- 4-5 year olds 1-2 hours
- 6-18 year olds 1 hour
Ways to improve your student's exercise habits:
- Be an active role model, exercise yourself
- Exercise together
- Pick kid friendly exercise options
- Reduce sedentary activities (watching TV, computer, or video games.