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When to Keep Your Child Home for Illness

Contagious Illnesses

When you have verification of the fact that your child has a communicable disease, please call the school immediately so that we can inform other parents. Because school children are easily susceptible to communicable diseases, the school reserves the right to make judgment concerning the child's ability to participate in daily school activities. Please do not send your child to school when he/she is ill. We send sick children home!

Symptoms - The following is a list of symptoms to guide you in deciding whether your child should be sent to school. Please do not send your child to school on days when any of the following symptoms are present:

  • Fever
  • Rash
  • Cough
  • Discharge of discolored or profuse amounts of mucous from the nose
  • Diarrhea
  • Vomiting
  • Sore throat
  • Headache, body aches, general flu symptoms

If the children show any of the above symptoms, they are separated from the other children and allowed to rest. Parents are contacted to appraise the situation and determine what action is to be taken. If parents cannot be reached, then emergency numbers are called.

 

Medication

The State of New Mexico has very clear and simple guidelines for the administration of medication by state accredited schools.

  • All medication must be in the original containers.
  • The school cannot administer any non-prescription medication including aspirin, aspirin substitutes, or cough syrup without a written order from a physician or parent that includes the child’s name, the dose, schedule of administering, the physician name, if applicable, and the date. Containers must be labeled with child’s name and type of medication contained within.

In addition, The Montessori Elementary & Middle School/Casita requires that the following guidelines be followed by parents:

  • All medication(s) must be accompanied by a signed form. (See above below for forms)
  • The medication(s) and this permission form must be delivered to the school in a clear plastic bag.
  • All medications should be delivered by an adult to the front desk upon arrival at the school (not to the classroom teacher or sent in your child's bag/backpack).
  • All medications will be given per the schedule as class activities permit.

NEVER send medication with the child to keep in their lunch box, bag/backpack, school drawer, or cubby. There is a serious danger that the child or another child might take the medicine or an overdose.

 

Medication Forms

Printable Non-Prescription Medication Form  (for all over the counter medication)
Printable Prescription Medication Form

 

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