Health Services FAQ

When should I keep my child home from school?

To help maintain a healthy learning environment, our clinic follows communicable disease guidelines established by the Indiana State Department of Health and recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Healthy children are better able to learn, participate, and succeed at school.

Please keep your child at home if they have any of the following symptoms, as these conditions may affect their ability to participate in school activities and could increase the risk of spreading illness to others:

• A fever, including a fever accompanied by a new rash.
• Vomiting more than two times within a 24-hour period.
• Diarrhea that causes accidents, contains blood, or results in more than two additional bowel movements above the child’s normal pattern within a 24-hour period.
• Skin sores that are draining fluid on an exposed area of the body and cannot be completely covered with a bandage.
• Respiratory virus symptoms that are worsening, not improving, or cannot be attributed to another cause such as seasonal allergies.

Thank you for helping us keep our students and staff healthy and safe.

What is the SMCSC fever/illness guideline?

Students may be sent home due to illness at the discretion of the school nurse. Reasons for exclusion from school may include, but are not limited to, a fever of 100.4°F or higher, vomiting, or diarrhea.

Students with a fever should remain at home until they have been fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication. This helps ensure the student is well enough to return to school and reduces the risk of spreading illness to others.

How do I give permission for the nurse to administer school-supplied stocked medication?

Over-the-counter medications may only be administered to students in grades Pk-6 with written permission from the parent, and medication must be provided and delivered to the office by the parents. The full use of the medication policy can be found in the student handbook.

Parents of students in grades 7–12 may authorize the school nurse to administer stocked medications during student registration by completing the Form F Health Authorizations section in PowerSchool.

What is needed in order to have my child take medications at school?

To ensure the safe transportation and administration of medication, all prescription and over-the-counter medications must be delivered to the school clinic by a parent or guardian. Students are not permitted to carry medication at school unless written authorization is provided by a licensed healthcare provider and approved by the school.

Any medication remaining in the clinic after the last student day of the school year must be picked up by a parent or guardian. Unclaimed medications will be properly disposed of in accordance with school policy.

Medication kept at school must include the following:

Prescription Medications

• A properly labeled prescription container displaying the student’s name and dosage instructions.
• A written medication order from the licensed healthcare provider.
• A signed parent/guardian permission form on file with the school.

Non-Prescription (Over-the-Counter) Medications

• The medication in its original, unopened container.
• A signed parent/guardian permission form on file with the school.

 

What vaccines are required to attend South Madison Schools?