Dear WPS Families,
We would like to send you a message with a reminder of our illness policy. We are noticing that more students are arriving at school with minor symptoms (sore throat, congestion etc.). Please do not send your child to school if they are experiencing any symptoms. Children who develop symptoms during the day will need to be picked up in most cases.
If your child is ill and you keep them home – thank you! The nurses are extremely busy in the mornings and waiting until you hear from them regarding next steps might not be the most efficient path. Please follow the steps below if your child is sick.
What should I do if my child is sick?
● Keep them home
● Check in with their pediatrician
● Visit the WPS Nursing Website and schedule a PCR test when applicable (even minor symptoms need to be tested)
● PCR tests can be done at Project Beacon, urgent cares, pediatricians, CVS etc. (*Please note we do not accept home tests/rapid tests*)
● Results need to be sent to your school nurse before your child can return to school
When can my child return to school?
● Negative PCR result (when applicable)
● Symptoms are improving
● Fever-free for 24 hours without medication
● Can keep a mask on for the duration of the school day (if your child is very congested keep them home until they have minimal symptoms)
If your child is ill over the weekend, please contact their provider for guidance and do not return to school unless there is written documentation that they are clear to return to school. Emails are not checked over the weekend, the nurses will respond to email inquiries as soon as they are able to the day following a weekend or holiday.
When a student arrives at school ill, they are potentially exposing multiple students to illness (Covid or other). We are noticing an increase in colds, GI bugs, and Strep. Please continue to monitor your child and if you have any questions please reach out to your school nurse during school hours.
Lastly, a reminder that each child should have multiple extra masks. We have a limited number of masks here and we are going through them quickly.
Thank you for helping us keep our schools safe and healthy.
Sincerely,
The WPS Nursing Department