Dear Parents,

          The NJ Department of Health has requested that we communicate the number of absences in our schools so they can track the spread of the flu and other communicable diseases throughout the state. In order to provide the Department with this information we need your help. We would appreciate when you call the absence hotline, if you would also provide a short description of your child’s symptoms (e.g., vomiting, fever, head cold, sore throat, cough, etc), or the reason for their absence if it not for an illness. Thanks for your cooperation.

         Now that winter has finally arrived, cold and flu season is in full swing.  We are asking for your help in controlling those inevitable infectious diseases. Imagine it’s a Monday morning, and your child tells you they are not feeling well. How do you decide when to keep your child home? Here are our district guidelines for when to keep your child home from school:

A fever of 100 degrees or above. Children must be fever free for 24 hours without Tylenol or Motrin to return to school.

 Vomiting or diarrhea. Children need to be symptom free for 24 hours before   returning to school.

 A persistent sore throat. Children with strep throat may return to school after they have been on antibiotics for 24 hours.

 Red inflamed eyes with discharge. Seek medical attention.

 A very runny nose or productive or persistent cough.

To help your family stay as healthy as possible we recommend:

           -Frequent hand washing (please reinforce this)

-Covering noses or mouths when coughing or sneezing.

          -Eight hours of sleep at night.

          -Eating plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables

          -Carrying tissues and chap-stick

          -Wearing hats and gloves. Students go out for recess

               except in the rain and extreme cold.