Thetford Elementary School

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September 5, 2006

Dear parents,

We hope you and your family have had a wonderful summer and are ready for a new school year. It is the goal of the Health Office to work closely with you, your child and Thetford Elementary School staff to support your child’s health and well-being in a school setting. To that end, we would greatly appreciate your attention to the following points:

Attendance and Illness: Regular attendance is essential for learning, but children should not come to school if they have any contagious illnesses or symptoms such as fever, vomiting, diarrhea, frequent cough, persistently runny nose, etc. In the long run, overall attendance and the general public health of the school will be greatly impacted by your consideration of this standard.

Contagious diseases: Some, though not all, contagious diseases are reportable to the Vermont State Health Department, so please let us know if your child comes down with any contagious illness. Listed below are responses to the following infections:

1. Chicken pox or exposure to chicken pox. The child with chicken pox may return to school when all spots are crusted over.

2. Streptococcal infections, impetigo, conjunctivitis (“pink eye”). Return to school is permissible the day after antibiotics have been started.

3. Pertussis (‘whooping cough”) Return to school is permissible after the student has been treated with antibiotics for a number of days.

Safe medication Administration: Any prescription medication dispensed by the Health Office must be accompanied by a physician’s order ( see enclosed physician order form). Please bring the medication in a pharmacy labeled container with only the number of meds needed and a parent’s written permission.

Health Information Card and Health Records: Enclosed is a pink, two-sided Health Card which includes permission for the Health Office to give your child Tylenol and/or Motrin. Please fill both sides out and notify us ASAP of changes in telephone numbers, names of those designated to pick up your child from school when sick or any other information pertinent to your child’s health. *Please keep us updated about immunizations, physical exams, or health screening follow-up.

We are looking forward to working with you to ensure a wonderful school year for your child. Please feel free to stop by the Health Office with any concerns or simply to chat and ton let us get to know each other.

All the best,

Joette Hayashigawa, School Nurse

Wendy Cole, Health Assistant