The goal of Prairie Hill School and the health office is to help improve attendance and enhance academic performance. Health problems and issues may interfere with a student's ability to learn. We attempt to lessen health-related barriers to learning, by providing conditions that allow students to return to class ready to learn.
Should I send my child to school?
What are the policies for an excuse from physical education?
What if I discover head lice on my child?
Should I send my child to school?
A frequent health concern that parents face is the question, "Should I send my child to school?" Children should remain at home when exhibiting any of the following symptoms:
fever of over 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit (Children should be home and should be fever free for 24 hours.)
nausea or vomiting (during the night or in the morning)
skin rash or sores
diarrhea
moist, productive cough
inflamed, red, itchy or swollen eyes
diagnosis of strep infection (Children may return to school after taking antibiotics for at least 24 hours.)
The school nurse is required to report instances of communicable disease to the Winnebago County Department of Public Health. The two most commonly reported communicable diseases are chicken pox and strep throat. Strep throat is only reportable if the disease has been confirmed by a laboratory test (throat culture).
The school nurse is available to consult with parents about return to school after a communicable disease.
Return To The Top Of The Page
What are the policies for an excuse from physicial education?
A parent may request that their child be excused from physicial education for three consecutive days. If the child needs to be excused for more than three consecutive days, a physician's order should be obtained. This order should be obtained in any case of removal from physical education, such as an orthopedic problem (sprain, fracture, etc.), or as a result of an illness, such as mononucleosis or pneumonia.
If a student is excluded from physicial education, the exclusion shall also cover recess at school.
Return To The Top Of The Page
What if I discover head lice on my child?
About 6-10 million children get head lice each year. Anyone can get head lice. Don't be embarrassed and please encourage your children to be understanding of those who have it. Prompt treatment helps prevent spreading.
Lice do not hop, jump or fly, but are transmitted by head-to-head contact, clothing contact, and by sharing combs, hats or towels. Head lice are wingless parasites about the size of a sesame seed and are reddish-brown in color. Nits are tiny yellowish-white oval eggs firmly attached to the hair shaft and will not flake off the hair shaft. The main symptom of head lice is intense itching.
The National Pediculosis Association recommends the following in the treatment of head lice.
+ Manual removal is crucial, whether or not commercial products are used. Divide the hair into sections, and work each section individually. Be consistent and diligent about manual removal.+ Wash bedding and recently warn clothing in hot water and dry in a hot dryer. Combs and brushes should be soaked in hot water for 10 minutes. Vacuum upholstered furniture, rugs, stuffed animals, and car seats.
+ None of the commercial products kill 100% of the nits or lice. Manual removal is the best option.
+ Don't "overtreat" your child. These products are pesticides. Use manual removal.
+ Never use "lice sprays" on rugs or furniture. Spraying is unwarranted and can pose potential health threats.
+ Do not use chemical treatments on anyone who does not actually have lice or nits. No treatment will prevent a child or adult from getting head lice. Fight the urge to treat the whole family as a "preventive" measure.
The school nurse is available to consult with parents about students or adults with head lice.