Plan for Management of Infectious Diseases (Updated July 2024)
It is our effort to protect all children from contagious illnesses. If your child has any of the following symptoms, we will contact you to pick him/her up from school (within 1-1.5 hours) both to prevent infection of the other children and to provide comfort to your child.
Fever of 100.0 or higher.
Diarrhea or loose stools inconsistent with usual bowel movements, accompanied by other symptoms.
Any suspicious rash.
Vomiting.
Any illness accompanied by open, oozing bacterial infections.
Any contagious illness, such as COVID19, Influenza, Strep throat, Chicken pox, Whooping cough, Measles, Conjunctivitis, Scarlet fever, etc. as noted below under “Contagious Diseases” excluding ringworm (tinea).
Your child must be kept home for a minimum of 24 hours (without symptoms) before returning to school. SSAES understands that it is difficult for a parent to leave or miss work, therefore it is suggested that alternative arrangements be made.
Please consider keeping your child home for about 72 hours to help reduce the spread of illness.
When returning your child to school after an illness, please remember:
A child must be free from fever, vomiting & diarrhea without fever reducing medication, for 24 hours before returning to school.
Any child prescribed an antibiotic must take it for 24 hours before returning to school.
A child MUST be able to participate in all activities (including outdoor recess) upon returning to school.
For respiratory illnesses, it is strongly recommended the child wears a mask for at least 5 days from the start of illness when indoors.
*The school will send a note to the parents every time there is a case of a contagious illness, such as COVID19, Influenza, Strep throat, Chicken pox, Whooping cough, Measles, Conjunctivitis, Scarlet Fever, etc. as noted below under “Contagious Diseases” excluding ringworm (tinea).
Contagious Diseases:
Parents are asked to voluntarily report if their child has a contagious disease including:
Vaccine-Preventable Diseases: Chickenpox, Diphtheria, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), Hepatitis A, Measles, Mumps, Pertussis (Whooping Cough), Pneumococcal disease, Polio, Rubella and Tetanus.
Diseases Spread through the Intestinal Tract: Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter, E. coli, Giardia, Norovirus, Pinworms, Hepatitis A, Hand-Foot-and-Mouth syndrome (Coxsackie virus).
Diseases Spread Through the Respiratory tract: Influenza, COVID19, Group A Streptococcal infection (strep throat, scarlet fever), Fifth disease, Meningitis, Severe acute respiratory syndromes (SARS), Mononucleosis, Cytomegalovirus infection, Tuberculosis (TB).
Diseases Spread through Direct Contact: Impetigo, Ringworm (Tinea), conjunctivitis (pink eye), scabies, pediculosis (head lice).
If you have specific questions, please discuss them with your child’s pediatrician prior to school attendance. The students’ information will be kept confidential.
Reference: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/staying-home-to-prevent-the-spread-of-respiratory-viruses