All children attending PreSchool Family need to be up to date with their childhood immunizations. Further information about PreSchool Family immunization requirements can be found here.
PreSchool Family teachers are concerned when children who are not well attend school. Health and education laws in California require that children be excluded from school when they have any communicable illness. If a child does not appear completely well, s/he should remain at home. A child with a contagious illness puts not only classmates and the teacher “at risk,” but also participating parents and anyone who may be immunocompromised. It is the parents' responsibility to consider the health and well being of all children, students and staff when sending their child to school. Listed below are guidelines to help determine whether a child is well enough to attend school:
Fresh Colds
The period during which cold viruses are contagious ranges from one to three days. Since it is impossible to determine which virus caused a particular cold, children should remain at home for at least three days from the onset of symptoms.
Conjunctivitis (“pink eye”)
There are two forms of conjunctivis commonly seen in preschoolers. One is bacterial and requires antibiotic treatment. The other form is viral and is highly contagious. Parents of children with conjunctivitis should consult a physician before allowing them to return to school.
Strep Throat
Strep throat is a bacterial infection requiring antibiotic treatment. Twenty-four hours after treatment as begun strep throat is no longer considered communicable. However, children often do not feel well enough to return to school after the 24-hour period. They should not come to school until their energy level is back to normal.
Fever
Following any fever over 100 degrees, a child should remain at home until s/he has been without fever for at least 24 hours without fever-reducing medication. Note that during the early morning hours, a child's temperature will often register at normal, whereas later in the day it may rise again. This is one reason why a child needs a period of at least 24 hours without an elevated temperature before returning to school.
Vomiting and Diarrhea
Children who have been suffering from vomiting or diarrhea need a period of time to regain strength before returning to school. Children should be kept at home for a minimum of 24 hours after the last bout of vomiting and diarrhea and not return to school until their energy level is back to normal.
Lingering Coughs
Lingering coughs associated with cystic fibrosis or following bronchitis are not contagious. For all other lingering coughs, parents should seek advice from a physician before returning children to school.
Common childhood diseases
Many common childhood diseases are contagious. Parents should contact their child's physician and follow his/her recommendations.
COVID-19
We follow county guidelines for COVID-19. See the County’s website for flowcharts on how to respond when exposed, positive, or symptomatic.
Communicable diseases
Other communicable diseases such chicken pox, hand-foot-mouth disease, and lice also need to be reported to the school so the office can issue County of Santa Clara exposure notices to the rest of the class.
Keeping Healthy
When you arrive at school, wash or sanitize you & your child's hands. Before and after snack, you'll also wash/sanitize and again at the end of the class before you go home.
PreSchool Family reserves the right to determine whether a child is well enough to attend school. Sick children will be sent home. The goal is to ensure the health and well being of all children, parents and staff participating in PreSchool Family.
