Illness Policy

Please do not send your child to school when they exhibit any signs of fatigue or illness (see the following chart for guidelines on when to keep your child at home).

Sick children should be given enough time to recover before returning to school. Home is the best place for a sick child. If a child is well enough to attend school, the child will be expected to go outdoors with classmates for scheduled activities and playtime. Separate staff supervision cannot be provided for children whose parents request they stay indoors.

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 parents’ or guardians’ responsibility to ensure medications, EpiPens, inhalers, etc., are kept current and packed appropriately.

It is our desire to keep children and adults at school as healthy and safe as possible. We need your cooperation. Please use the following guidelines about your child’s health and attendance at school in the event of illness.

Spring Hill School’s “What If…” Guide

What if my child is experiencing symptoms of illness?

Keep your child home.
Call or Email the school to let us know your child will be out sick.
- Preschool Campus: Mark your child absent on the Playground App and send a message to your child’s teachers and Amy Tanti, the Campus Director.
- Kindergarten - 8th grade: Email Claudia Diaz, K-8 Office Manager
Your child may return once their symptoms are mild and improving as long as they are fever/vomit/diarrhea free for 24 hours without medication before their return and they are past their contagious period (if the period can be determined). A fever is considered 100.4°F or higher.
If your child’s symptoms can be attributed to a Reportable Communicable Disease and testing is available, we highly recommend testing before your child returns to school
Symptoms are considered “improving” when your child feels well enough to attend school, their symptoms do not interfere with participation in regular school activities, your child can manage their symptoms without significant support from teachers, and your child is no longer contagious
We highly recommend your child wear a well-fitting mask indoors until symptoms have resolved completely
We highly recommend follow-up testing 2-3 days following an initial test if symptoms could be attributed to COVID-19 and have not improved

What if my child is sick 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 possible, 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.

What if my child tests positive for or is diagnosed with a Reportable Communicable Disease such as COVID-19, Whooping Cough, or Chicken Pox?

Keep your child home.
Email the school to let us know your child is sick with a Reportable Communicable Disease so we can alert families to be on the lookout for symptoms and inform the Sonoma County Department of Public Health as required.
- Toddler & Primary Students: Call Preschool Office, 707-763-9222
- Kindergarten - 8th Grade Students: Email Claudia Diaz, K-8 Office Manager
Your child may return once their symptoms are mild and improving as long as they are fever/vomit/diarrhea free for 24 hours without medication before their return unless they have been diagnosed with a Reportable Communicable Disease. Then they will need either:
- a doctor’s note clearing them to return to school
- or proof of a negative test if testing is available
If your child has contracted COVID-19 they may return to school on “Day 6” or later if they have been fever-free for the preceding 24 hours, they have not experienced any vomiting or diarrhea during the preceding 24 hours, and their symptoms are mild and improving.
“Day 0” is the day symptoms began or your child tested positive, whichever came first.
We highly recommend your child wear a well-fitting mask indoors through “Day 10” when recovering from any Reportable Communicable Disease.
Symptoms are considered to be “improving” when your child feels well enough to attend school, their symptoms do not interfere with participation in regular school activities, and your child is able to manage their symptoms without significant support from teachers.

What if my child has been exposed to someone who has tested positive for or been diagnosed with a Reportable Communicable Disease?

Unless otherwise directed by a health care provider,

Monitor your child closely for symptoms
Your child may attend school provided your child remains asymptomatic
If testing is available, we highly recommend your child test negative before returning to school and then again a few days following exposure
We highly recommend your child wear a well-fitting mask indoors for a minimum of 10 days following exposure
If your child has a household exposure to COVID-19 and the positive case is unable to isolate away from your child fully, we require that your child test each morning through the exposure period before entering the classroom. Testing will be required until any positive cases within the household that are unable to be fully isolated are no longer considered contagious.

Click Here for a Full List of Sonoma County Department of Public Health Reportable Communicable Diseases.

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 HOLD 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 HOLD 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.

PINK EYE (Conjunctivitis): 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