Is my child too ill to attend school?

Parents are often confronted with this decision when their child complains of not feeling well. Please consult your doctor for specific medical advice, but the tips below are the policy and protocols that Weakley County Schools follow.

Fever - 100 degrees or higher - A fever is a sign of illness. A child with a temperature of 100 degrees or higher should not attend school. The child should be free of fever (without the aid of Tylenol or Motrin) for 24 hours before returning to school.

Sore Throat/Colds/Cough - Minor cold symptoms are common and usually don't interfere with school attendance. A persistent, frequent cough and/or constant nasal drainage may affect your child's performance at school, and he/she may be more comfortable at home.

Rash - A rash may cover the entire body or only one area. A child that has a rash that is draining, has open areas or is causing the child to itch excessively should not attend school. A rash accompanied with other symptoms such as: a fever, sore throat, irritability, vomiting, etc. should not attend school.

Vomiting/Diarrhea - A child who has vomited should wait 24 hours and be able to retain solid foods before returning to school. A child who is having frequent diarrhea stools should not attend school. If there is cramping/abdominal pain with diarrhea, the student may be more comfortable at home.

Eyes – A child who wakes up with their eyes "glued" together may have "pink eye" or conjunctivitis. Other symptoms are redness (or pink) of the eye, gritty feeling in the eyes, itching and discharge of the eye. We are unable to determine here at school whether it is viral or bacterial pinkeye or even if it is contagious or non-contagious. This must be done by a doctor. Please keep in mind that "pink eye" is highly contagious and we need to work together to prevent an entire classroom from exposure. Your child needs to stay home on medication for 24 hours before returning to school. 

To stay healthy, please remind your child to:

*Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

*Wash their hands well and often with soap and water.

*Use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.

*Cover their mouth/nose with their elbow if they have to cough/sneeze.

*Keep their hands away from their eyes, nose and mouth so that germs don’t have a way in.

These actions are our best defense against transmission of harmful bacteria and viruses.

Our goal is to minimize the spread of germs and keep our students, staff and their families healthy!  

DES Medication Policy
Medication Delivery

All medication must be brought to the school in its original, properly labeled container by the parent or guardian unless other arrangements have been made.  

Most pharmacists will divide the medication into two labeled containers, one for school and one for home.  Only the amount needed for use in school may be brought.  Controlled medications will be counted when they are brought in.

Whenever possible, student medication should be administered at home.  However, there are times when it is either necessary or preferable for medication to be administered at school.

It is strongly recommended that the School Nurse be kept aware of all medication a student is taking. This information will be kept confidential unless a school official or teacher has a legitimate educational need to know, as set forth in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.

The School Nurse or her specifically trained designee will dispense all medication.

Prescription Medication
Long-term prescription medication that is to be administered on a daily or “as needed” basis through the school health office must have a medication administration permission form filled out from a parent or guardian.

Short-term prescription medication should be accompanied by written permission from the parent or guardian, and be in the original prescription container.

Non-Prescription Medication
Non-prescription (over the counter) medication must also be accompanied by a note from a parent or guardian giving permission for the medication to be administered.  A physician order is not necessary.  Non-prescription medication must also be in a properly labeled container from the pharmacy.