Health Services

Don't send your child to school if:

Don't send your child to school if:

they have vomited within the last 24 hours.

they have had a fever within the last 24 hours. If your child is running a fever of 100.5 or more, do not send them to school. They must be fever free for 24 hours, without the use of tylenol or ibuprofen, before they can return.

If you are unsure whether your child should be in school, please do not hesitate to reach out to the school nurse.

Many of our youth acquire childhood illness or disease during the school year. It is the policy of the school district to provide a safe, healthy environment for the students. Therefore, we ask the following cooperation from the parents/guardians. Please work with a healthcare professional for diagnosis and treatment if your child is ill. If your child has:

FEVER – exclude from school with re-entry 24 hours after fever has subsided.
VOMITING during the night – stay home the following day
STREP THROAT – Symptoms are fever and sore throat. Treatment consists of antibiotics as prescribed by a physician. Child must remain out of school until 24 hours after medication is started.
PINKEYE – (Conjunctivitis) is an inflammation of the thin, transparent outer tissue layer of the eyeball and the inner surface of the eyelids. The inflammation causes redness, tearing, and occasionally the formation of a pus discharge. The student may complain of “itching or burning” eyes. The most common causes are bacteria, viruses, and allergies. If your child wakes in the morning with eyes “crusted and matted”, you should have him/her checked by a physician before sending him/her to school. Treatment consists of antibiotic eye drops or ointment obtained from a physician. The child should remain out of school for 24 hours after treatment has begun.
MONO – exclusion is not indicated for cases or exposed students.
HEAD LICE – Obtain “Nix” or “RID” from the store and follow specific instructions for treatment. Be sure to fine comb hair after treatment. The best way to get all nits out is by hand. It is necessary that your child be “Nit-free” before returning to school. You will need a note from the school nurse, clinic nurse, county health nurse, or any qualified professional stating your child is “Nit-free”.
HAND, FOOT, AND MOUTH DISEASE – This illness can cause painful sores in or on your mouth, and/or on the hands, feet and sometimes buttocks and legs. The illness usually lasts 7 -10 days. Symptoms include fatigue, sore throat, or a high fever. In some cases, a rash appears before blisters do. The blisters may break open and crust over and usually last about a week. The disease is most likely to spread within the first week. Wash hands frequently and keep children home who have a fever or open blisters.
RINGWORM – Ringworm appears on the arms, chest, abdomen, and more rarely, the face. It starts as a tiny red spot that slowly grows in a circular fashion, clearing in the center as it enlarges. The edges remain reddish and scaly. No scabs, pus, or crusts are formed. Treat with medications such as Tinactin or Lotrimin as prescribed by a physician. Student is non-contagious after 1st treatment and may be in school after 1st treatment while sores are healing.
SCABIES – Scabies is caused by a mite too small to be seen by the naked eye. Since the mites live underneath the skin, contagion takes rather prolonged contact. All that is required for safety is washing the hands after touching a child with scabies. Typically, the scabies mite makes a white bump that causes intense itching, particularly at night. As a result of scratching, a scab appears on the skin. The scab tends to be linear rather than round. Scabies is commonly found on the backs of the hands, the webs between the fingers, the inner side of the wrist and forearms, and the chest and abdomen. It can also be found on the upper arms and legs, and the neck. It is practically never on the face, on the small of the back, between the shoulder blades, on the palms of the hands, or soles of the feet. It will often be found on more than one family member. Diagnosis is usually done by a physician. Treatment consists of a prescription medication with repeated application 7-10 days later. A child with scabies presents no immediate emergency and need not be kept home.
CHICKENPOX – Chickenpox is a highly contagious childhood illness. The child is contagious from 24 hours before the onset of fever until the drying of all crusts. Chickenpox first appears on scalp, face, chest, and abdomen, and spreads to the arms and legs. You will see a tiny, clear blister with redness around it. The blisters rapidly form crusts and scab over. Aveeno or oatmeal baths may help with itching. Tylenol is recommended for fevers. The child must stay out of school until all crusts are dry – usually 5 to 7 days.
FIFTH’S DISEASE – This is a very mild skin disorder caused by a virus. A fine, red rash first appears on the face like a “slapped cheek”. It then spreads to the chest, abdomen, arms and legs. It is contagious 2 to 3 days prior to the onset of the rash. It is not contagious when the rash appears, therefore the child does not need to stay out of school unless he/she has a fever. If the child does have a fever, he/she should remain out of school until 24 hours after the fever is gone. There is no specific treatment for the rash. Usually, a pain and fever reducing medication like Tylenol is all that is needed. The rash may last a week or more and will appear worse when the child is exposed to heat, cold, or sunshine.
CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) – Symptoms include: cough, fever or chills, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, muscle or body aches, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell, diarrhea, headache, new fatigue, nausea or vomiting, congestion or runny nose.

The county health department may provide additional guidance and rules for conditions not listed. The school will notify parents in the event such conditions and rules arise.

Medicine at school

Medicine At School

Over the Counter Medications: If you would like your child to receive any over-the-counter medication such as Tylenol, cough drops, etc. without the need for the nurse to call you asking permission, you can obtain a standing order for the school nurse. The permission form can be obtained from the school office, school nurse, or school website. This form needs to be filled out by a parent or guardian, signed, and returned to the school nurse. This gives the school nurse or the designee permission to give the requested over-the-counter medication.

Prescribed Medication: If your child requires medication, that has been prescribed by their healthcare provider, to be given at school, you will need a form filled out by your child’s healthcare provider and signed by them and a parent/guardian. The required form can be obtained from the school office, school nurse, or school website. The completed form is to be given to the school nurse along with the medication in the original container.

All medication is kept in a locked cabinet in the nurse’s office. Medication administered is documented in a health office visit or on a recorded medication form.

FOR SAFETY REASONS, PLEASE DO NOT SEND ANY MEDICATION TO SCHOOL WITH YOUR CHILD without going through the proper procedure.

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In This Section

Thompson Falls Schools are fortunate to have a full time school nurse. She is shared among the three schools.

Contact Nurse Becky

Don't send your child to school if:

Illness at school

Common Illnesses

CHILDHOOD ILLNESSES

Medicine at school

Health Forms

MEDICATION ADMINISTRATON FORM

STANDING ORDERS FOR OVER THE COUNTER MEDICATIONS

RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION STATEMENT

Vaccinations required for school entry

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Our Mission: To work together as a school and community to provide every child an educational experience that will empower them to grow as a person and discover their individual potential.