Guidelines for Going to School vs Staying Home

The Slinger School District uses the guidelines listed below, given by the Washington County Public Health Department, to assist parents in making an informed decision as to whether to keep a child home or send them to school: 

As a reminder, if your child is seen by a physician for illness or injury, and a medical excuse note is provided, days absent for illness/injury will not count against him/her.

COVID-19:

Please follow the directions for whatever symptoms below your student is experiencing.

Fever: 

A fever is a warning sign that something is not right with the body. Any child with an oral temperature of 100 degrees or higher should not be sent to school, even if given a fever reducing medication. Children should remain at home until they do not have a fever for 24 hours, without Tylenol or any other fever reducing medication. 

Colds: 

Children with a hacking/barking cough or heavy nasal congestion belong at home, even if no fever is present. Children with a sore throat and no other symptoms may go to school. If white spots are present in the back of the throat or a fever is present, keep the child home and call your doctor as this is a symptom of strep throat.  Children who have extreme chest congestion, nasal discharge and/or are experiencing fatigue should remain at home.

Vomiting and Diarrhea:

A child that vomits during the previous night or the morning of school should be kept home until he/she can keep food and liquids down. A child who vomits should not return to school until they are no longer nauseous and eating normally for 24 hours.  Children with diarrhea should be kept home as well, following these guidelines. Call your doctor if prompt improvement does not occur.

Pink Eye:   

A child with possible pink eye, also called conjunctivitis, should be seen, diagnosed and treated by a doctor.  Treatment must be administered for 24 hours and pink eye symptoms subsided before a child may return to school.

Antibiotics:

When a doctor prescribes antibiotic treatment for a condition, the State of Wisconsin Health Department recommends a child must be on antibiotics for 24 hours before returning to school.

Prescription drugs require a doctor's and parent's signatures and must be kept in the office in the original prescription bottle. The family should bring in non-prescription medications, too, with the parent's signature only on the consent form. All medications are to be given with adult supervision. The medication form needs to be updated and signed annually.