Joel Barlow High School

Following are some guidelines to help decide when to keep your child home:

• Vomiting/Diarrhea can be very uncomfortable. If your child has these symptoms they need to stay home until the illness passes. Your child must be 24 hours free from vomiting or diarrhea before they return to school.
• Common Cold/Cough  - If your child develops symptoms of a cold (nasal drainage, nasal congestion, an intermittent cough) - extra fluids and rest are advised - the common cold is highly contagious,and a day of rest may be beneficial if the symptoms interfere with your child's ability to work in class. 
• Fever is a temperature of 100°F or higher. If your child has a fever they must stay at home until they have a normal temperature for 24 hours without taking any medication. A child with a temperature of 100 or higher will be sent home from school.
• Strep throat is highly contagious, you must keep your child home until they have been on antibiotics for 24 hours. In addition, they must be fever free for 24 hours.
• COVID – For confirmed cases of COVID, we follow CDC guidelines; this means students must be fever free for 24 hours without medications, and have improved or resolved symptoms. 
• Pink eye your child must be on antibiotics for at least 24 hours before returning to school, along with minimal drainage.
• Mononucleosis — As advised by your  physician (usual considerations: fever-free for 24 hours, rested, eating normally and able to sustain at least a half day of academic activity).
• Varicella (Chicken Pox) — Children with chickenpox are contagious for 1-2 days before the rash appears and continue to be contagious until all the blisters are crusted over (usually 6-8 days).
• Pediculosis (Head Lice) — CDC guidelines are followed - Up to the discretion of school personnel (school nurse & principal)

Hand washing is your best defense against all illnesses!  If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s health please contact us.

Due to the amount of students with life-threatening peanut and tree nut allergies, all classrooms at RES are designated as peanut- and tree nut-free areas. We are following the same practices as JRMS. Please do not pack classroom snacks that contain peanuts and/or tree nuts. Your child may still enjoy peanuts and/or tree nuts during his/her lunch period in the cafeteria. We only ask that snacks eaten in the classroom do not contain such products, as the cafeteria has additional procedures and special precautions to follow for children with food allergies. Students are encouraged to engage in safe practices in the cafeteria, which includes refraining from sharing or swapping meals and snacks. If food is being allowed at a classroom celebration, food products must be accompanied by the original packaging so that ingredients can be checked.

Health Assessment Requirements

All physical exams and immunizations must be reviewed and approved by a school nurse prior to enrollment in school. The physical exam must be on the State of Connecticut Early Childhood Assessment for Pre-K/ Speech/IT students and Health Assessment record (blue form) for K-12 students. Kindergarten students can start school with a 4 year old physical and all required immunizations must be met prior to starting school. In addition parents must submit a 5 year old physical after their child's 5th birthday in order for your child to attend school.

Please contact the School Nurse if you have any questions. 

• A written medication order from an authorized prescriber and parent/guardian written authorization are required, for school nurses, or in the absence of a nurse, other designated personnel to administer medication, including over-the-counter medications. (The permission form for this can be found in the Forms tab)
• Medications must be in the original, properly labeled container.
• Over-the-counter medications must be delivered in an unopened, properly labeled container.
•  ALL medications must be delivered to/from school by a parent or guardian.
• All medication will be destroyed if not picked up by the last day of school.

All students attending school with a cast, sling, splint, immobilizer, or on crutches must:

1. Report to the nurse upon arriving at school.

2. Present written orders from a physician specifying injury, any restricted activity, the duration of restriction and if a wheelchair or elevator is needed while in school.

3. For the child to return to full activity another MD note is required, stating that the child is cleared to participate in PE and sports. 

• State of Connecticut Department of Education Health Assessment Record (HAR-3 REV. 1/2022)

• Healthcare Provider’s Certification of In Process Required School Immunizations

• Authorization for the Administration of Medicine by School Personnel

  Under Connecticut General Statutes, Section 10-212a, only school nurses or trained staff can administer medications, prescribed or over-the-counter, at school. A completed Authorization for Administration of Medication by School Personnel form, signed by an authorized practitioner, is required. Medication forms are available in the Health Office or its website. Medications must be delivered to school by a responsible adult, not the student, and handed directly to the school nurse or designated administrator. Students are prohibited from carrying medications without nurse approval. For self-administration of medication, consult the school nurse.