Hello SHS families!

We are so excited to have your students back in the building for the 2023-2024 school year! As your school nurse consultants, we want to remind you of ways you can help us maintain a consistent and healthy learning environment for our school community this year.

  • STAY HOME WHEN ILL
    • The most important thing you can do is to keep your student home from school if they are sick. Please refer to the attached chart for symptom-specific guidance. If they are sick, we recommend you consult with their medical provider to seek treatment if needed.
  • ENCOURAGE AND SUPPORT HEALTHY HYGIENE HABITS AT HOME
    • Wash hands using soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds OR sanitizer if soap/water isn’t available.
    • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
    • Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue (or sleeve) and then throw the tissue in the trash.
    • Disinfect frequently touched surfaces and shared items at least once a day.
    • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
    • Eat healthy foods, exercise often, get outside time, get adequate sleep, and stay current on vaccinations.
  • CURRENT COVID-19 GUIDANCE (Guidance is now similar to other illnesses.)
    • If your student tests positive:
      • They should stay home until 24 hours after fever is gone without the use of fever-reducing medications and other COVID-19 symptoms are improving. They are recommended to mask when they are around other people for 10 days since symptoms started.
    • If your student has been exposed to COVID-19:
      • Watch for symptoms for 10 days after their last exposure. They are recommended to test after day 5 since exposure.
    • We have COVID-19 testing available for you.
      • At home COVID-19 tests: Please ask your school for home tests if you need them for your student.
      • BinaxNOW diagnostic COVID-19 tests: If you are picking your student up from school because they are sick, we can test them before they leave! You will need to sign a consent when you pick them up (before testing). We will never test your minor student without your consent.
  • STAY INFORMED
    • We will be sending Cohort Exposure Notifications to those cohorts that have communicable disease outbreaks as identifiable (including flu, COVID-19, RSV, etc.).
      • Please let us know if your child is diagnosed with a contagious disease, including these: chickenpox, COVID-19, flu, RSV, Hand Foot and Mouth, Mono, measles, mumps, pertussis, rubella, scabies, tuberculosis, etc.
    • Refer to the SFSD Website (https://silverfallsschools.org/) for our current Communicable Disease Response Plan.
  • OTHER HEALTH-RELATED REMINDERS
    • Please notify the school if your student requires medication during school hours.
      • Follow school protocols for medication at school.
      • If your student’s illness requires antibiotics, the student must be on antibiotics for at least 24 hours before returning to school.
    • Please notify the school if your student has an UNDERLYING OR CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITION..
    • We will work with you to address the health condition so that the student can learn, likely building a health protocol for them.

We are looking forward to a great year where we can support your students in their health and learning. Please reach out with any questions or concerns you may have—our contact information is below, and we are happy to help! For more detailed information ​on what symptoms to look for when keeping a student home from school, please click here to view a current chart of symptoms.

Thank you!
Angie Lindstedt, RN, BSN
SFSD School Nurse Consultant
503-873-6331 ext 3856

Amy Hollis, RN, BSN
SFSD School Nurse Consultant
503-873-6331 ext 3856