Cold & Flu Season: Keeping Our Scholars Healthy
Dear Parents and Guardians,
As we settle into the new school year, we want to remind our school community that cold and flu season can increase illnesses among students and staff. With scholars spending more time together in classrooms, germs can spread quickly. As your School Nurse, I want to share a few simple ways we can work together to keep our scholars, families, and staff healthy and safe.
🦠 HELP STOP THE SPREAD OF GERMS
Please encourage your scholar to:
- Wash their hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially before eating and after using the restroom, coughing, sneezing, or blowing their nose.
- Use hand sanitizer when soap and water are not available.
- Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or their elbow—not their hands.
- Avoid sharing food, drinks, utensils, lip products, or personal items.
- Keep frequently touched personal items clean.
- Avoid touching their eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Drink plenty of water, eat nutritious meals, and get adequate sleep.
- Stay up to date with recommended vaccinations, including seasonal influenza vaccination when appropriate.
🌡️ KNOW WHEN TO KEEP YOUR SCHOLAR HOME
Before sending your scholar to school, please take a few minutes to check how they are feeling.
Please keep your scholar home if they have:
- A fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher or low grade 99
- Fever accompanied by chills, body aches, or significant fatigue
- Vomiting or diarrhea
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- A persistent or worsening cough
- Significant sore throat or difficulty swallowing
- Symptoms that are severe enough that the scholar cannot comfortably participate in normal school activities
- A contagious illness for which they have been advised to stay home
Important: Please do not give your scholar fever-reducing medication simply to lower their temperature so they can attend school. A fever can be a sign that the body is fighting an infection. If your child has a fever, allow them to rest, drink fluids, and monitor their symptoms.
Generally, a child should be fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication before returning to school. Please also follow your child’s healthcare provider’s recommendations and our school’s illness policy.
Connect with Me
Email: dwills@rhodesschool.org
Sincerely,
Demetria Wills
Campus Nurse Aide