Vancouver Montessori School Parent Handbook: Illness and Medication Policy

Illness Policy

Children who are not well enough to go outside for playtime are not well enough to come to school. When classroom staff observe signs of illness in a child based on the following guidelines, then parents will be notified to come pick up their child promptly (within half and hour). These are:

An axillary temperature of 100 degrees or higher
Vomiting
Diarrhea
A draining rash
Discharge from the eye
Sore throat
Ear Pain
Stomach Pain
Fatigue or irritability that prevents participation
Communicable diseases which require treatment

Similarly, if a child exhibits any of these symptoms at home, they should not be brought to school. Children may not come to school after having been given a fever reducer at home only to have it wear off in a few hours, during which time they are still contagious to others. Children may return to school when:

Fever, vomiting or diarrhea have subsided for 24 hours
Medication ( in the case of antibiotics) have been taken for 24 hours
Rash shows no discharge
They have energy for full participation
Cold symptoms are decreasing

Slight coughs and runny noses are very common and do not, in themselves, dictate that a child stays at home. Keep in mind that fresh air is invigorating and does not cause illness, germs do! In fact, active play often helps to clear clogged lungs and sinuses and to raise a child’s spirits.