Covid19 and the flu have so many similar symptoms and it will be difficult for the doctors to tell the difference between the two viruses when the flu season hits. The flu develops within 1-4 days after exposure and Covid19 can develop from 2-14 days after exposure. Covid19 is more contagious, a person is contagious longer and there are more serious complications with it. The CDC is concerned about people getting both viruses as the immune system will be weakened, so OLV’s school nurse, Mrs. Dorsett, strongly encourages all families to get a flu shot this year. Please talk to your family’s doctor about getting flu shots! Continue to wash hands, wear masks and stay away from crowds while social distancing.

If your child received a vaccination recently, please email their records to mshaw@fwps.org and Mrs. Shaw will update your child’s records. If immunizations are not current they will not be allowed to attend school in-person when remote learning comes to an end. This is according to the laws of Washington State.

Families who marked that their children require medications at school will need to be ready when we return to in-person schooling. We encourage families to reach out to their doctor to have medication orders ready for the school nurse when school begins. All medications needed at school must be in their original containers with the student’s name on it. Orders from the doctor will also require a parent’s signature. If parents have any questions please reach out to the school nurse, Becky Dorsett, MSN, RN at bdorsett@fwps.org or by calling the office.

Often parents wonder when it is appropriate to send their child to school. If your child has any of the following symptoms, please keep him/her home, or make appropriate child care arrangements.

APPEARANCE/BEHAVIOR-unusually tired, pale, lack of appetite, difficult to wake, confused or irritable.

EYES-thick mucus or pus draining from the eye or the eye is red, waters profusely and feels irritated-please contact health care provider or clinic

FEVER-temperature of 100 degrees F or higher in the past 24 hours

GREENISH NOSE DISCHARGE AND/OR COUGH– contact your health care provider for appropriate treatment

SORE THROAT-especially with fever or swollen glands in neck, please contact your health care provider or clinic. If strep throat, the student may return to school after on antibiotics for 24 hours and feeling better.

DIARRHEA-two or more watery stools in a 24-hour period, especially if the child acts or looks ill.

VOMITING-vomiting two or more times within the past 24 hours

RASH-body rash, especially with fever or itching – student can return when rash has cleared or has physician diagnosis and treatment.

EAR INFECTIONS WITHOUT FEVER-do not need to be kept home unless experiencing other symptoms as noted above. Contact health care provider as untreated ear infections can cause permanent hearing loss.

LICE, SCABIES-children may not return to school until they have been treated and are free of lice and nits (eggs). Children with scabies can be admitted to school after treatment has been initiated by health care practitioner or clinic.
Bringing a child to school with any of the above symptoms places other children and staff at risk. Keeping sick children home will result in faster recovery and, in the long run, result in having stronger, healthier, and happier children-and fewer lost work days and illness for parents.

Please note that there are no options for students to stay indoors for recess if they have been ill. Getting fresh air is helpful for the children but please do send your child to school with appropriate outdoor clothing-coat, hats, and gloves.