Frequently Asked Questions

The School Health Services department works closely with the Chickahominy Health District to prevent disease transmission and maintain a healthy school environment. Parents and guardians can support these efforts by following the recommendations made in the answers to the frequently asked questions.

Q. When should I keep my child home from school?

A. When your child complains of being sick and has symptoms like sore throat, head cold, diarrhea, vomiting, or has had a fever greater than 100.0°F, in the last 24 hours, your child should remain at home. Keeping your child home when he or she is sick will permit your child time to recover and reduce the spread of illness to others. Please call and inform the school when your child is absent due to illness. If your child needs a dose of medication for the above symptoms in the morning, they need to stay at home. PLEASE DO NOT send your child to school after having had a dose of Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Motrin (ibuprofen) in the morning to reduce a fever, the effects will wear off during the school day and the fever will return. A more difficult call is when your child complains of being sick in the morning, but you do not see any symptoms. You will then need to use your best judgment.

Q. When reporting my child is sick, what should I report to school?

A. Let us know what is wrong with your child. Instead of saying he is sick, please be specific with symptoms such as a fever, vomiting and diarrhea or she has a head cold, etc. This will allow us to better keep track of the types of illnesses currently in the school. Please let us know if your child has been admitted to the hospital. Let us know when your physician informs you that your child has a contagious illness such as strep throat, mononucleosis, hepatitis A, pinworms, meningitis, shigella, ringworm, scabies, flu, or any of the childhood illnesses (chicken pox, scarlet fever or fifth disease).

Q. What is the policy for sending children home from school?

A. In general, children will be sent home if the illness prevents the child from participating comfortably in school activities or if the illness poses a risk of spread of disease to others. This includes children who are complaining of nausea, vomiting, stomachache, headache, sore throat and who appear sick (for example: sleeping, laying around quietly, not talking or interacting with others in the clinic). Children will be sent home with an oral fever at or above 100°F. Children may not ride the school bus home. Children must be fever-free (without taking fever-reducing medication) for 24 hours before returning to school. Children with conjunctivitis (pink eye) with drainage, rash due to possible communicable disease, open draining sores with pus will also be sent home. Children may be referred to their private health provider for further evaluation.

Q. When will children not be sent home?

A. Children will not be sent home who are complaining of nausea, vomiting, stomachache, headache, or sore throat, but who do not appear sick when lying down in the clinic (playful, talkative and active in the clinic).

Q. When my child has been home sick, when can he or she return to school?

A. Once the symptoms have stopped and the child is fever-free (oral temperature less than 100°F) for 24 hours, your child may return to school. If your child has had a fever the evening/night before, please do not send them back to school in the morning even if the temperature is down first thing in the morning. Often early morning temperatures are a degree or two below what it will be by afternoon.

Q. When will I be called by school health services staff?

A. You will be called if your child is sick (vomiting, diarrhea, temperature over 100°F), has head lice, or when a problem that has not been previously identified by you, is brought to the attention of the school clinic staff. For instance, if a child comes to the clinic with an unidentified rash that has not been previously noticed, the child states that the parent has not seen it because it just started, a parent will be called. Parents will also be called for any injuries of significance (small scrapes will be treated without calling), any changes in known health conditions, and any health conditions that are not responding as expected to medications/treatments provided in the clinic. We may also call because there is a concern about a behavior or behavior change seen in your child. If you are concerned about a particular aspect of your child's health/safety or would like to be notified regarding something in particular, please talk with your school nurse or clinic attendant so the two of you can work closely together for the benefit of your child.

Q. Why is it important to complete the Student Health History form each year?

A. Students may develop new health conditions or health needs during this period of rapid growth. It is important to provide clinic staff with the most up-to-date health information on your student at the beginning of each school year. This will assist staff in providing the best health care possible given each student’s individual medical needs. Updating the Student Health History for yearly also provides the clinic with current emergency contact information to assist in reaching a parent or guardian. If it becomes necessary to call an ambulance, and you cannot be reached, the child's current health history provides critical information to emergency personnel. If you have not completed a Health History form for the current school year, please ask the school nurse or clinic attendant for a form.

Q. Where can I get information about healthcare providers if my child does not have insurance?

A. CLICK HERE to learn more about FAMIS or contact your student's school nurse.

School Health Information

New Kent County Public Schools

New Kent County Public Schools

New Kent County Public Schools