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Guidelines for Dismissal or Reasons to Keep Child home

In an effort to minimize the spread of contagious illness, the Hamilton Wenham Regional School District has developed the following guidelines for determining whether your child needs to be sent home or stay home from school. This list is a guideline. The School Nurse reserves the right to dismiss students who, in their professional opinion, are possibly contagious or are too ill to be in school: 

  • Fever (elevated temperature of 100.0 or higher). Must remain home until fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medicines, such as Acetaminophen (Tylenol) or Ibuprofen (Motrin or Advil).
  • Vomiting or diarrhea. May return to school 24 hours after the last episode.
  • Generalized rash of unknown origin. Must be evaluated by a doctor and provide a note for re-entry into school.
  • Live head lice. Must be treated at home, and then re-checked by the school nurse, preferably with a parent/guardian present, upon return to school.
  • Red or pink itchy eyes with crusty and/or green/yellow drainage. May return to school when there is no drainage and/or on medication for 24 hours.
  • Strep throat.  May return 24 hours after beginning antibiotic treatment and feeling better.
  • Uncontrollable cough or symptoms that make your child unable to function in the classroom.

COVID-19 Guidance for K-12 schools

Children and staff who test positive for COVID-19 or other respiratory viral illness may return to school when they have been fever free without the use of fever-reducing medicine for 24 hours and their symptoms are improved.   They should wear a mask when indoors around other people for the next 5 days, frequently wash their hands, and cover their cough/sneeze.

 
Dr. Michael Yoon, School Physician
Lea Tabenkin, BSN, RN, NCSN, District Nurse Leader, and HWRHS Nurse
Darlene Budds MSN, RN, NCSN, Cutler School Nurse
Jessica Baker, BSN, RN, NCSN, Winthrop School Nurse
Lisa Druskat, BSN, RN, NCSN, Buker School Nurse
Maribeth Ting, MSN, RN, NCSN, MRMS Nurse
 
Revised 10/16/24