So what if it is almost time to send your youngster to school and they say that they feel sick? How do you decide to keep your child home from school? Consider using these guidelines...

• A temperature over 100.0 F. (Remember that Tylenol, Advil, etc can mask the effects of a fever). Try to take your child's temperature before you give fever-reducing medicine.
• Persistent vomiting and/or diarrhea.
• A severe cold with fever, sneezing, and thickened nasal discharge, especially for younger children, who do not remember to cover their mouth or wash hands.
• A cough that keeps a child awake at night, worsens with increased activity, or is combined with other symptoms.
• A persistent red sore throat, especially if the tonsils are enlarged.
• A severe and persistent earache.
• Redness in the whites of the eyes, yellow eye discharge and matted lashes are symptoms of conjunctivitis (pinkeye). A doctor should be consulted for treatment as this is highly contagious.
• Rashes can be difficult to evaluate. If they are all over the body, blistery, oozing, or painful, they could be a sign of a contagious infection, such as chicken pox or measles.
• Please consider checking with your child's doctor or the school nurse before you send your child to school.

Remember, the suggestions above should be considered a guide, if you are still unsure if you should send your son/daughter to school, please call your physician or the school nurse at 301-881-1824 ext. 313 for further guidance.   

Up to date CDC Flu Information  

IN THE EVENT IT IS REPORTED THAT THERE ARE CASES OF LICE IN THE SCHOOL, IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT EACH PARENT/GUARDIAN CHECK THEIR CHILD’S SCALP EVERY NIGHT (EVEN IF NIT FREE) FOR THE NEXT 14 DAYS – INCLUDING THE WEEKEND. All members of the family must be checked as well. The most common sign of head lice is intense itching on the back of the neck and head. The tiny yellowish white or grayish white nits are shaped like a tiny teardrop speck. The female attaches the nits to the hair shaft, close to the scalp with a glue-like substance that makes it nearly impossible to remove the nits. Ordinary combing, brushing or shampooing will not shake them. They must be removed manually by taking the nit between two fingers and pulling it off the hair shaft. PLEASE READ THIS: HOW TO CHECK YOUR CHILD’S HEAD FOR LICE

1. You will need a magnifying glass, pointed stick (a long Q-tip will do), and hair clips to separate the hair.
2. Under very bright light, or natural daylight, examine your child’s head. Start at the nape of the neck. Part the hair in a straight line and examine the exposed scalp. Study it for any speck. Look long enough for your eyes to focus and to spot any slight movement. Remember, lice are nearly invisible and they shy away from light. They also move quickly, but it is this nearly-vague movement that may catch your attention. Look specifically at the root of each hair, as lice will hide at the bottom and behind the hair shaft. Also look for the eggs of lice which are called nits.
3. Cover the entire head in this way, making parts ¼ inch from the previous one and examine the scalp as in step 2. If you have reason to believe your child has lice, but you have not found any upon first examination, go over the head again.

Lice are easily spread from one person to another by sharing articles, such as combs, brushes, towels, pillows and hats. Wash all lice-exposed clothes, towels and bed linens. Dry in a hot drier if possible. Soak combs and brushes in boiling water for 10 minutes. Items which cannot be washed, for example stuffed animals, can be sealed in a plastic bag for 14 days. Vacuum carpets (changing the vacuum bag after each use), upholstery, pillows, mattresses and car seats which have been exposed to persons with head lice.

If you discover head lice, please contact your health care provider and advise the school office. Please also contact any family that your child may have had contact with within a seven-day period of having head lice detected. Play dates should be re-scheduled for at least 14 days once head lice has been discovered.

AGAIN, ALL CHILDREN MUST HAVE THEIR SCALPS CHECKED FOR LICE AND/OR NITS FOR THE NEXT 14 DAYS.

WHEN YOUR CHILD RETURNS TO SCHOOL AFTER A CONFIRMED CASE HAS BEEN DISCOVERED, YOUR CHILD MUST BE SEEN BY THE APPROPRIATE SCHOOL PERSONNEL. THE PARENT WHO BRINGS THE CHILD TO SCHOOL MUST WAIT UNTIL THE EXAMINATION IS COMPLETE AND THE CHILD RECEIVES A CLEARANCE TO RETURN TO CLASS.

If your child is sent home from school with a suspected case of head lice and you do not find any nits upon examination, the child must bring a note from his/her health care provider stating that the child is nit free.

Until the school is nit free, no sweatshirts, fleeces, turtlenecks or sweaters may be worn. If your child might be cold in the classroom, we are suggesting that a tee-shirt be worn under the uniform. ALSO, ALL GIRLS MUST WEAR THEIR HAIR OFF THEIR COLLARS IN EITHER A PONYTAIL OR BRAIDS.

If you have any questions, please contact the school nurse at (301) 881-1824. Thank you for your cooperation.