Healthy School Resources

The Newmark Leadership Team and School Nurse are dedicated to providing timely information about Health & Safety for students, parents and staff.  Please refer to this section for current updates and resources.

Keeping Safe

According to the CDC, the best protection against viral transmission is frequent handwashing.
 
Recommended Hygiene Practices - To minimize the spread of respiratory viruses, the CDC recommends the following:
 
  • Students who are ill with respiratory symptoms, flu-like illness, or diarrhea/vomiting should stay home for 24 hours fever free or without diarrhea/vomiting. Please report your child’s absence and such symptoms to our School Nurse and contact your child’s primary health care provider.
  • Wash hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.
  • If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and warm water if hands are visibly dirty.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.

When you may have a respiratory virus...‎

Stay home and away from others (including people you live with who are not sick) if you have respiratory virus symptoms that aren't better explained by another cause. These symptoms can include fever, chills, fatigue, cough, runny nose, and headache, among others.*

  • You can go back to your normal activities when, for at least 24 hours, both are true:
    • Your symptoms are getting better overall, and
    • You have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication).
  • When you go back to your normal activities, take added precaution over the next 5 days, such as taking additional steps for cleaner air, hygiene, masks, physical distancing, and/or testing when you will be around other people indoors.
    • Keep in mind that you may still be able to spread the virus that made you sick, even if you are feeling better. You are likely to be less contagious at this time, depending on factors like how long you were sick or how sick you were.
    • If you develop a fever or you start to feel worse after you have gone back to normal activities, stay home and away from others again until, for at least 24 hours, both are true: your symptoms are improving overall, and you have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication). Then take added precaution for the next 5 days.

 

When Children Should Stay Home From School:

  • Fever is the body's way of destroying the germs making it sick, and it's a common symptom of infections such as flu. Keep your children home if their temperature is 100° F or higher. Wait until children are fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medications before letting them return to school.

  • Diarrhea is often the result of infection, food poisoning, or a side effect to medications like antibiotics. Keep children home until stools are formed and your doctor gives the okay. Make sure your sick child stays well-hydrated.

  • Vomiting is another way for the body to rid itself of the germs making it sick, and is usually caused by a stomach virus or stomach infection. Keep children home if they've vomited twice or more in the last 24 hours. Children should tolerate meals before returning to school. They can return to school after symptoms clear up or your doctor says they're no longer contagious.

  • Severe cough and cold symptoms should keep kids home from school. A serious cough could be a sign of contagious conditions like whooping cough, viral bronchitis, or croup. It can also be a sign of asthma or allergies.

  • Sore throats can be a symptom of strep or a common cold. If your child has been diagnosed with strep throat, keep your child at home for at least 24 hours after starting antibiotics. If your child has a mild cold, it's okay to go to school.

  • Pinkeye (conjunctivitis) is contagious, and children should stay home from school for the first 24 hours after treatment begins. Symptoms of pinkeye include eye redness, irritation, swelling, and pus.

  • Headaches can be a symptom of contagious conditions like viral, gastroenteritis, flu, meningitis, and strep throat. Opinions differ on whether a child should be kept home. If your child doesn't have any other signs of illness, and feels okay, your child can go to school.

  • Rashes can be the sign of contagious conditions such as chickenpox, bacterial meningitis, or impetigo. Children should be kept home until they're diagnosed. They can return to school after symptoms are gone and their doctor gives the okay.

  • Earaches aren't contagious. There's no need to keep a child with a mild earache home, as long as your child feels well enough to concentrate.

  • Mild cold or respiratory symptoms are no reason to keep children at home so long as their nasal drainage is not excessive and clear, and their cough is mild.

 

Call your doctor’s office for advice if you are not sure about your child’s condition or have questions about whether or not your child should stay home from school. Physicians have an answering service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Even after hours, you should be able to reach someone for assistance.

Medical or Health Related Questions:

Contact: Nurse Carroll at 908-753-0330 or ecarroll@newmarkeducation.com