Absence

Reporting an Absence

It is important to notify the school when your child will be absent from school.  To report an absence, please use the form provided through the following link: 

https://forms.gle/2HMjmaJQecaX7eoZ7

 

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When Should Students Stay Home from School?

Regarding Covid-19 infections, the NJ Department of Health has reviewed and released some guidance to allow updated CDC recommendations to be applied to Covid-19 cases in K-12 schools. 

https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/documents/topics/NCOV/PH_Recommendations_K-12_Childcare_Camp.pdf

Covid-19 Compatible Symptoms

Please refer to the guidelines below to determine if your sick child has symptoms compatible with covid-19 illness. Many viruses and seasonal allergies have symptoms that also meet criteria for covid-19 illness. Without testing, it is impossible to determine whether the symptoms your child is experiencing are related to covid-19, another illness or allergies.

Therefore, if your child has symptoms that meet criteria for Covid-19 compatible illness, please keep them home from school, notify the school nurse for guidance and perform a Covid-19 at home antigen test. Please send a picture of the test result with your child’s name and test date visible in the picture to the following email: 

  [email protected]

Covid-19 Compatible Symptoms

At least One of the following symptoms: 

  • fever (T>99.4) 
  • cough 
  • shortness of breath or difficulty breathing 
  • new olfactory disorder (loss of smell) 
  • new taste disorder (loss of taste)

    OR

At least Two of the following symptoms: 

  • chills,
  • rigors (shivers),
  • myalgia (muscle aches),
  • headache,
  • sore throat,
  • nausea or vomiting,
  • diarrhea,
  • fatigue,
  • congestion or
  • runny nose

Child with Covid-19 Compatible Symptoms tests Covid-19 NEGATIVE 

Please follow up with the nurse following receipt of your child’s Covid-19 test result. The test result will need to be submitted to the St. Cassian School nurse’s office. A discussion will then take place to determine when your child can return, based on symptoms. The guidelines we follow for illness absence that is not Covid-19 related will apply. 

COMMUNICABLE DISEASES

The school nurse or office should be contacted immediately if your child has a communicable disease such as measles, chicken pox, German measles, mumps, scarlet fever, influenza (flu) or pink eye.  A doctor’s note is required for readmission after said communicable disease.

HEALTH OFFICE GUIDELINES (COVID-19 Negative Children Only)

  • Any student with a fever (a temperature of 99.5 degrees or above) must remain home a full 24 hours fever free before returning to school. This must be fever free without the use of fever reducing medications.
  • Any child who vomits or has diarrhea at home will remain home for at least 24 hours after last episode of vomiting or diarrhea. They must be tolerating food and fluids prior to return.
  • If a child has been diagnosed with strep throat, he/she must be on medication for at least 24 hours and be fever free for 24 hours before returning to school.
  • If a child has been diagnosed with Conjunctivitis (pink eye,) he/she must be on medication for 24 hours before returning to school and must have a note from the primary care provider.
     

Covid-19 Positive Individual- Isolation (Asymptomatic on Day 5)

A shorter isolation period is allowed for Covid-19 positive individuals who are asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic at the onset of infection but for whom the symptoms quickly resolve and the covid-19 positive individual is asymptomatic by Day 5 of isolation. Asymptomatic means no symptoms or fever for 48 hours. Day 0 is the day when symptoms begin or Covid-19 test was performed, if asymptomatic. In order to return on Day 6, the Covid-19 positive individual MUST meet the return to school requirements:

Asymptomatic on Day 5 (no symptoms or fever for 48 hours)

Mask: Must wear a mask around others (at home, at school, in public) for another 5 days (Days 6-10). If the individual can’t wear a mask properly around others, they will isolate for 10 days.

Limit Extracurricular Activities: Limit participation to those activities where masks can be worn consistently and correctly. No basketball practice or games until Day 11. 
 

Covid-19 Positive Individual- Isolation (Symptomatic on Day 5)

If the Covid-19 positive individual is symptomatic on Day 5 (ongoing symptoms or fever over the last 48 hours), they will continue to isolate. The student may return to school once their symptoms resolve and they meet the following criteria: 

COVID-19 Antigen Test= Negative (at home test or testing site)

Fever Free & Symptoms Resolved: No fever (T<99.5) without fever reducing medication for 48 hours.

Mask: Must wear a mask around others (at home, at school, in public) for another 5 days (Days 6-10). If the individual can’t wear a mask properly around others, they will isolate for 10 days.

Limit Extracurricular Activities: Limit participation to those activities where masks can be worn consistently and correctly. No basketball practice or games until Day 11. 

 

Siblings/Immediate Household Contacts of Covid-19 Positive Individual

Please notify the school nurse if any household contacts tested Covid-19 positive. Household contacts quarantine away from the covid-19 family member and monitor for symptoms of illness. No quarantine period is required for asymptomatic siblings. Monitor daily for fever or symptoms of illness and keep your child home if fever or any symptoms develop. Report the findings to the school nurse.

Asymptomatic siblings who are attending school while a household family member is positive, MUST wear a mask for 10 days. Test with a covid-19 at home antigen test on Day 5. Please send a picture of the test result with your child’s name and test date visible in the picture. Day 0 is the day of symptom onset or Covid-19 positive test result (asymptomatic cases) for the covid-19 positive family member.

If symptoms develop among other household siblings during the watchful period, please keep the ill child home and notify the school nurse. Perform a Covid-19 test with a Covid-19 at home antigen or PCR test to determine the next action. If a Covid-19 positive test result is received, then the individual will follow the Covid-19 Positive Individual Isolation recommendations. 

 
Thank you for your patience and understanding during these difficult and often confusing times. If any of the above NJDOH quarantine guidelines for K-12 schools are updated and changed, we will review and adapt accordingly.

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