The Spring Hill School (TSHS) Illness Policy

General Guidelines

We work hard to keep children and adults at school healthy and safe. Please use the following guidelines in the event of illness.

Inform our office and your child’s teacher of any chronic health problems.
Inform our office and your child’s teacher if you will be traveling without your child, and provide clear instructions on whom to contact in case of any illnesses or emergencies.
If medication is to be given to a child at school (requires a medication permission form), it is the parents’ or guardians’ responsibility to ensure medications, EpiPens, inhalers, etc., are kept current and packed appropriately.

When to keep a student home from school

A student should stay home (or go home) from school when any new illness or symptom:

prevents them from participating meaningfully in school activities;
results in a need for care that is greater than the staff can provide without compromising the health and safety of other children; OR
exhibits any of the following symptoms:
- a fever of 100.4°F or higher within the previous 24 hours;
- vomiting or diarrhea within the previous 24 hours;
- a new or unusual rash;
- signs of conjunctivitis (pink eye); OR
- head lice

Under California law, a child may be required to stay home (or go home) from school in specified circumstances where an apparent illness presents a significant risk to other children or school personnel. (Education Code § 49213; Education Code § 49451.)

Notify TSHS if your student stays home

Call and email us to let us know that your student is sick and will be staying home from school.

Preschool Campus - Notify Preschool Director Amy Tanti via email or phone (707-763-9222), and mark your child absent on the Playground App
Lower Elementary Campus & Main Campus - Notify K-8 Office Manager Claudia Diaz via email or phone (707-782-7836)

When a child becomes ill at school

We will take the child’s temperature and try to identify their symptoms.
We will call the parents first. If we do not hear back within 5 minutes, we will begin calling the emergency contact numbers.
If necessary, we will isolate the child until someone can take them home. Children in isolation will be properly supervised at all times.
A child being sent home sick must be picked up within 30 minutes to ensure the proper care and supervision for all students on campus and the ailing child. We do not have facilities to care for sick children at school.
In the case of a severe medical condition, we will call 911 and then notify the parents.

Returning to School

A doctor’s note is NOT necessary for returning to school for most illnesses.

In general, a student can return when they meet ALL the following conditions:

Symptoms are improving, and the student is feeling better and can meaningfully participate in routine school activities.
Staff can meet the student’s care needs without compromising the health and safety of other students and staff.
Specific symptoms (like fever or vomiting) have met the return recommendations listed in the table below.

Special Instructions for COVID-19

Based on guidance from the California Department of Public Health issued on January 9, 2024, CDPH Isolation Q&A updated on January 9, 2024, and The Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Prevention regulations adopted on February 3, 2023.

Confirmed cases of COVID-19

A “Confirmed Case” is a person who has received a positive result of the presence of SARS-CoV-2 virus as confirmed by a COVID-19 viral test or clinical diagnosis.

Notify TSHS

Call or email us to let us know that your student has tested positive for COVID-19. Let us know when/if they developed symptoms and tested positive.

Preschool Campus - Notify Preschool Director, Amy Tanti, via email or phone (707-763-9222)
Lower Elementary Campus & Main Campus - Notify K-8 Office Manager, Claudia Diaz, via email or phone (707-782-7836)

If symptoms are present

Stay home if you have COVID-19 symptoms until you have not had a fever for 24 hours without using fever-reducing medication, AND other COVID-19 symptoms are mild and improving. Wear a mask when you are around other people indoors for the 10 days* after you become sick or test positive (if no symptoms). You may remove your mask sooner than 10 days if you have two sequential negative tests at least one day apart. Day 0 is the symptom onset date or positive test date.

If asymptomatic

If you do not have symptoms, mask when you are around other people indoors for 10 days* after you test positive. You may remove your mask sooner than 10 days if you have two sequential negative tests at least one day apart. Day 0 is the symptom onset date or positive test date.

*The potential infectious period is 2 days before the date of symptoms began or the positive test date (if no symptoms) through Day 10. (Day 0 is the symptom onset date or positive test date).

Confirmed close contact, in general

"Close Contact" means the following:

In indoor spaces of 400,000 or fewer cubic feet per floor, close contact is defined as sharing the same indoor airspace for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period (for example, three individual 5-minute exposures for a total of 15 minutes) during a confirmed case's infectious period.
In large indoor spaces greater than 400,000 cubic feet per floor, close contact is defined as being within 6 feet of the infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period during the confirmed case's infectious period.

Spaces that are separated by floor-to-ceiling walls must be considered distinct indoor airspaces.

If you have new COVID-19 symptoms, please test and mask indoors until your symptoms improve.

Confirmed close contact, within a household

An infected person who cannot separate from others in the home should mask when around others indoors for 10 days (or until the person has two sequential negative tests at least one day apart), AND

Household close contacts without symptoms should:

mask in the home to protect themselves when not separated from the infected person for 10 days; AND
mask when indoors around uninfected people for 10 days.

Household contact with symptoms

A household contact with symptoms should wear a mask indoors and test right away to see if they are infected. Test again 1 day later if the first test is negative. If the second test is negative, consider a third test at least a day later or consult with your healthcare provider.

Rebound COVID-19

For COVID-19 rebound (characterized by a recurrence of symptoms or a new positive viral test after having tested negative), persons should re-isolate and follow the recommended actions in the CDPH COVID-19 Isolation guidance.

A General Guide for When to Keep Your Child Home from School by Illness

Differences Between Common Colds and the Flu
COMMON COLD The common cold is a contagious respiratory infection caused by cold viruses. It is the most frequent childhood illness. Symptoms can last 7 to 14 days. A child with no fever, mild symptoms, and otherwise feeling well may be fine at school. WHEN TO KEEP A CHILD HOME FROM SCHOOL: A child with heavy cold symptoms such as deep, uncontrollable coughing or significant lack of energy belongs at home even without a fever, sore throat, and influenza.		FLU (INFLUENZA) The flu is a highly contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses and can cause mild to severe illness. A person with influenza can be contagious up to one week after symptoms appear. Children are one of the biggest sources for spreading the flu. To help decrease the spread of regular seasonal flu and novel H1N1 flu: WHEN TO KEEP A CHILD HOME FROM SCHOOL: A child with flu-like illness (fever and cough) must stay home from school for at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever or signs of a fever, without the use of fever-reducing medicine. A fever is defined as a temperature of 100.4°F or higher. If symptoms occur while at school, the student must be picked up as soon as possible to go home. Contact a medical provider with severe symptoms if the ill person is pregnant or has a chronic medical condition that could make them vulnerable to influenza complications.
Symptoms	Usually Come on gradually	Symptoms	Usually come on quickly
Cough	Mild, hacking cough	Cough	Often, can be severe
Headache	Rare	Headache	Sudden onset, can be severe
Muscle aches	Mild	Muscle aches	Usual, can be severe
Tiredness/weakness	Mild	Tiredness/weakness	Can last two or more weeks
Extreme exhaustion	Never	Extreme exhaustion	Sudden onset, can be severe
Vomiting/diarrhea	Never	Vomiting/diarrhea	Sometimes
Runny nose	Often	Runny nose	Sometimes
Sneezing	Often	Sneezing	Sometimes
Sore throat	Often	Sore throat	Sometimes
COUGH: A mild hacking cough often starts after the first few days of a common cold. A child with mild symptoms, no fever, and otherwise feeling well may be fine at school. WHEN TO KEEP A CHILD HOME FROM SCHOOL: A child with deep or uncontrollable coughing belongs at home even without a fever. A child with a cough and fever must stay home from school for at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever or signs of a fever, without using fever-reducing medicine.

DIARRHEA/VOMITING: Vomiting (throwing up) and diarrhea (frequent, watery bowel movements) can be caused by viruses, bacteria, parasites, foods that are hard to digest (such as too many sweets) and other things.

WHEN TO KEEP A CHILD HOME FROM SCHOOL: Children who have vomited or had diarrhea should be kept at home and return to school only after being symptom-free for 24 hours.

EAR ACHE: Consult a medical provider for earaches. Ear infections may require medical treatment.
WHEN TO KEEP A CHILD HOME FROM SCHOOL: A child should stay home until pain-free.

FEVER: Fevers are a common symptom of viral and bacterial infection. Children are likely to be contagious to others when they have a fever. If there is no thermometer, feel their skin with your hand- if it is much warmer than usual, they probably have a fever. Please do not give your child fever-reducing medicine and then send them to school. The medicine will wear off, the fever will probably return, and you’d need to pick them up anyway.
WHEN TO KEEP A CHILD HOME FROM SCHOOL: Any child with a fever of 100.4°F or higher should not attend school and should not return until they have been fever free for 24 hours without using fever-reducing medication.

FREQUENT SYMPTOMS: Sometimes children pretend or exaggerate illness to stay home. However, frequent complaints of tummy aches, headaches, and other symptoms may be a physical sign that a child feels emotionally stressed, a common experience even in children. Consult a medical provider to evaluate symptoms. Stress-based complaints cause some children to miss a great deal of school unnecessarily. It is important to check often with your children about how things are going. Share concerns with school staff so they can support you and your child to help make attending school a positive experience.

HEADACHES: A child whose only complaint is a mild headache does not usually need to stay home from school. Complaints of frequent or more severe headaches should be evaluated by a medical provider, including a vision exam if needed.
WHEN TO KEEP A CHILD HOME FROM SCHOOL: A child with a significant headache belongs at home until feeling better. A child with a mild headache paired with another symptom, especially one from a different body system, should stay home.

HEAD LICE: Head Lice are tiny insects that live only on human scalps and hair. They do not cause illness or carry disease. An itchy scalp is the most common symptom. Adult lice are reddish brown, about the size of a sesame seed, and can be hard to see. Lice lay nits (eggs) on hair strands close to the scalp. Nits are easier to see than lice, look like tiny tan or white dots, and are firmly attached to the hair. Nits are usually near the scalp behind the ears, at the nape of the neck, and under bangs. The most important step for removing head lice is daily careful nit removal for at least 14 days using a special lice comb and by “nitpicking.” In addition, over-the-counter and prescription treatments are available. Identification and treatment or go to: www.headlice.org or http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/lice/head/index.html

WHEN TO KEEP A CHILD HOME FROM SCHOOL: Keep your child home until they are nit free. Your child must check in with the main office for a head check before being cleared to return to the classroom.

IMPETIGO: is a contagious bacterial skin infection that usually begins with small fluid-filled blisters that cause a crust on the skin after bursting. Having these symptoms evaluated by a medical provider is important because untreated infection can lead to serious complications. Impetigo is no longer contagious 24 hours after starting prescribed antibiotics.
WHEN TO KEEP A CHILD HOME FROM SCHOOL: Students may attend school if drainage can be effectively kept covered and is not extensive.

CONJUNCTIVITIS (Pink Eye): Pink Eye is a common infectious disease of one or both eyes which can be caused by viruses, bacteria, allergies, or irritants. The eye typically appears very red and feels irritated. There may be drainage of mucus and pus or clear liquid. Prescription medication may be needed to treat a bacterial infection. Virus-caused pink eye will not respond to antibiotic treatment.
WHEN TO KEEP A CHILD HOME FROM SCHOOL: A child with the above symptoms should be kept at home until evaluated by a medical provider. They may return to school after a medical provider has cleared them, or they are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications, and their eye(s) no longer have yellowish discharge, are crusting, matted, or pink in color, or it has been 24 hours since the began antibiotic eye drops (only for cases of bacterial pink eye diagnosed by a physician).

RASHES: A rash may be one of the first signs of a contagious childhood illness like chickenpox. Rashes may cover the entire body or be in only one area and are most contagious in the early stages.
WHEN TO KEEP A CHILD HOME FROM SCHOOL: Do not send a child to school with a rash until a medical provider has said it is safe to do so- especially with additional symptoms like itching, fever, or appearing ill.

SORE THROAT: A child with a mild sore throat, no fever, and otherwise feeling well may be fine to attend school.

WHEN TO KEEP A CHILD HOME FROM SCHOOL: Keep a child at home and contact a medical provider for a severe sore throat and if white spots are seen in the back of the throat, with or without a fever.

STREP THROAT: A significantly sore throat could be strep throat, a contagious illness. Other symptoms may include fever, white spots in the back of the throat, headache, and upset stomach. Untreated strep throat can lead to serious complications.
WHEN TO KEEP A CHILD HOME FROM SCHOOL: Keep your child home from school with the above symptoms and contact a medical provider. A child diagnosed with strep throat is no longer infectious and can return to school 24 hours after starting antibiotic treatment.

STOMACH PAIN: Stomach pain in kids can be caused by various common reasons, such as overeating, needing to go to the bathroom, or anxiety or worry.

WHEN TO KEEP A CHILD HOME FROM SCHOOL: Consult a medical provider, and do not send a child to school with a stomach ache that is persistent or severe enough to limit activity. If vomiting or diarrhea occurs, keep the child home until symptom-free for 24 hours.

TOOTHACHE: For tooth pain, contact the dentist to have the child evaluated as soon as possible.
WHEN TO KEEP A CHILD HOME FROM SCHOOL: A child with a significant toothache should not attend school until feeling better.

HAND, FOOT & MOUTH DISEASE (HFMD): HFMD is a mild, contagious viral infection common in young children. The usual period from initial infection to the onset of signs and symptoms (incubation period) is three to six days. A fever is often the first sign of hand-foot-and-mouth disease, followed by a sore throat and sometimes a poor appetite and malaise. One or two days after the fever begins, painful sores may develop in the mouth or throat. A rash on the hands and feet and possibly on the buttocks can follow within one or two days. Symptoms may include fever; sore throat; feeling of being unwell (malaise); painful, red, blister-like lesions on the tongue, gums, and inside of the cheeks; a red rash, without itching but sometimes with blistering, on the palms, soles and sometimes the buttocks; irritability in infants and toddlers; loss of appetite

WHEN TO KEEP A CHILD HOME FROM SCHOOL: Keep children home until their fever goes away and their sores have healed.

WHEN TO CONTACT A MEDICAL PROVIDER:

Be sure to contact a medical provider whenever there is concern about a child’s health.

In children, emergency warning signs for a flu-like illness that need urgent medical attention include:
- Fast breathing or trouble breathing
- Bluish or gray skin color
- Severe or persistent vomiting
- Not waking up or interacting
- Being so irritable the child does not want to be held
- Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough

Other reasons to contact a medical provider include but are not exclusive to:

When a child looks or acts really sick, with or without a fever
Cold symptoms for longer than 10-14 days or getting sicker, or there is a fever after the first few days
Chronic coughing, uncontrollable coughing; wheezing
Rashes; eye drainage; earache; toothache

Illness Policy