ILLNESS AND SCHOOL ATTENDANCE

Consider the following guidelines when deciding whether your child is well enough to attend school. Colds, flu, and childhood diseases are inevitable; however, your help will minimize the problem. We need your cooperation in keeping children home when they are really not healthy enough to be at school. Children who are not feeling well are usually uncomfortable and unhappy at school and are likely to spread germs to their teachers and classmates.

1. Children with a fever should remain at home until their temperature has remained "normal" for a full 24 hours. Remember that a temperature will often be low in the morning, but will rise again in the afternoon.
2. Keep your child at home if he or she has an earache, open "cold sore", draining ear or sore throat. Children with ear infections or strep throat are no longer contagious after 24 hours of antibiotic treatment.
3. Although children have frequent "runny noses" which do not always require medical attention, please keep your child out of school if his or her nose is running frequently or if the discharge is not clear.
4. Consult a physician whenever a child shows any of the following symptoms: rash; head lice; persistent sore throat or cough; redness, itching, discharge or discomfort in the eyes.
5. Diarrhea, nausea and vomiting are reasons for remaining at home. Children need to be symptom free for 24 hours before returning to school.
6. Let the school office know whenever your child has an infectious illness (e.g., conjunctivitis, chicken pox, rubella, hepatitis, meningitis, and head lice). Children must remain out of school until any of these conditions have been treated and completely healed.
7. People with chicken pox are contagious from 2 days before the rash appears until the last blister has developed crusts. It takes about 10 to 21 days from the time of exposure until a person develops the symptoms of chicken pox. Children with chicken pox should remain at home for one week after the rash first appears (and until all blisters are crusted over and dry).
8. The classroom teacher and any member of the board of directors are authorized to send a child home who is not well enough to attend school.

If your child's health is marginal and you are not sure whether or not he or she should come to school, err on the side of caution and compassion for other children and the teacher.

ABSENCE POLICY

If your child will not be at school on a regularly scheduled school day, please call the school office at 787-4740 and leave a message indicating the reason for your child's absence. We have an answering machine, so you may call when it is convenient for you, day or night. Please be sure to leave your child's name, your child's teacher's name, your name, the reason for the absence, and when you expect your child to return to school. While the school can only be responsible for children who have been signed into the classroom upon arrival, we are concerned about your child's health and well being. We appreciate you taking the time to keep us informed.

MEDICATIONS

Medications will be placed in a locked box located in the storage room across the hall from the kitchen or, if refrigeration is necessary, in The School of Grace refrigerator (located in the same room). All medication must be signed in and out by the parent. The form on page D-3 will be attached to the bottle by rubber bands.

INJURY AND 'BOO-BOO' REPORTS

In case of a major injury, an injury report will be filled out and sent home. A copy of this report will be kept on file. A parent must sign and return a copy to the school. See example of form on page D-4

In case of a minor injury, (scrapes and cuts) a 'Boo-Boo' report will be filled out and sent home. A copy will be kept on file.

PERMISSION TO ADMINISTER MEDICATION FORM

INJURY / ACCIDENT REPORT

PROCEDURE FOR FIRE DRILL OR ACTUAL FIRE EMERGENCY

Signal to Leave Building

The director/ teacher will devise a loud and obvious signal, such as a whistle or alarm bell, which will be sounded for a period of two to four minutes.

Leaving the Building

Classes will immediately follow the teacher to the door and out of the building to a point 200 feet from the building (against fence behind the swings), as shown on the map displayed in the classroom. An alternate route is also listed.

Assistant or helping parent closes classroom doors and follows the rest of the group. Teacher immediately takes a head count to assure that all children are accounted for.

Returning to the Classroom

Upon receiving a signal from the director, the adults and children will return to the classroom.

PROCEDURES FOR TORNADO DRILL OR ACTUAL TORNADO WARNING

Signal for Tornado Warning

In the event that weather conditions appear favorable for tornadoes, the weather radio will remain in the alert mode.

When a tornado warning is issued, the teacher/director will signal the children by lowering the lights, issuing a loud signal such as a whistle, and directing them to gather together.

Taking Cover

The teacher/director will lead children to an interior room, away from all windows, such as the area used for opening circle.

The assistant or parent helper will obtain the weather radio to monitor weather conditions.

Returning to the Classroom

When the weather conditions have improved and the tornado warning is lifted, the teacher/director will lead the children back into the classroom space to resume activities.