Welcome to the Nurse’s Office at School No. Eight!
      In addition to caring for your children when they are injured or ill, I will also screen their hearing, vision, height and weight, and blood pressure. Our school physician, Dr. Lukenda, will provide health and scoliosis screenings to certain grades. Each grade receives special health-oriented lessons throughout the year.

When To Keep Your Child At Home
     Even though you do not want your child to miss school, you cannot send a sick child to school to “share” his illness. Here are some guidelines to follow when your child is sick:

• A runny nose can be due to illness or allergy. If the discharge is green or yellow, keep your child home. (Teach your child how to blow his nose and use tissues properly)
• A bad cough can indicate a severe cold, bronchitis, flu or even pneumonia. If it is frequent, or if the child is coughing up mucus, keep him home.
• Fever (100 ° or more) is a symptom of infection. Your child MUST stay home with a fever and for 24 hours after the fever has passed (without needing Tylenol to be fever-free). If your child is sent home from school with a fever, he must stay home the next day.
• Diarrhea and vomiting is an indication of an intestinal infection and the child MUST stay home during, and for 24 hours after the symptoms have stopped. (Please do not assume that these symptoms are due to something your child ate)
• Strep throat is very contagious and your child MUST remain home until any fever is gone and he has been on the antibiotic for a FULL 24 HOURS .
• Conjunctivitis or pinkeye is also very contagious. Your child MUST stay home if he has red and draining eyes. He must be on an antibiotic eye drop for a full 24 hours with no more drainage present.
• Ear infections can cause permanent hearing damage if untreated and are very painful. Again, follow the 24 hour rule for fever and antibiotic therapy.
• Head lice can quickly spread through a class or an entire school! You must notify the school immediately if you find lice in the household. The child must be treated and kept home until no more lice or nits (eggs) are present. Before returning to class, the child must be examined by the school nurse.
• Chicken pox is contagious even before the rash appears. Once diagnosed, you child must stay home for six days and until all spots are scabbed and dry. He must have a doctor’s note to return and he must be cleared by the school nurse.
• Any skin rash must be diagnosed as non-contagious before admitted to class. A doctor’s note is required.
• Any injury must be reported to the nurse. A doctor’s note must be provided with the diagnosis and any activity restrictions. Our school cannot accommodate students with crutches or in wheelchairs and special arrangements need to be made.

**Please remember to call the office if your child is absent, and to send a note in upon his return. An absence of three days or more requires a doctor’s note.

**Do not send ANY medications to school with your child. This includes prescription as well as over-the-counter drugs such as Tylenol, Advil, cough and cold medicine, eye or ear drops, skin creams, even cough drops. A written order from a doctor is required, as well as parent permission. You must contact the nurse to arrange for any medication which needs to be given during school hours.

     Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns as well as any helpful information regarding your child. Hopefully we will enjoy a healthy, fit, well-nourished and happy school year!

          Rebecca Kolar, R.N.
           rkolar@linden.k12.nj.us
            (908) 862-4397