HEALTH & SAFETY

These guidelines are dynamic and may be updated as deemed necessary by the School based on current advice and guidelines. 

Families are asked to partner with the school to ensure strict adherence to our health and safety procedures and policies.

A child will be considered well and allowed to attend school if they meet all of the following daily health observations:

• They have a temperature reading of 99° or lower.
• They have not had a fever of 100° or higher within the past 24 hours
• No cough.
• No shortness of breath.
• No body rashes or eye discharge.

 

24-HOUR EXCLUSION POLICY

If a student is identified with the following symptoms, they will be excluded from the program for 24 hours starting the next day of exclusion:

• Fever of 100.0° or higher (during the school day).
• Continuous cough.
• Shortness of breath.

Students will be able to return to school once:

• Fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medications.
• Absence of continuous cough for 24 hours without cough suppressants.
• Absence of shortness of breath for 24 hours.
• The day the child is sent home from school is day 0.
• The day the child is free of symptoms (full day) without the use of medication is day 1 and the child can return on day 2 without symptoms or fever-reducing medication.

Students will be excluded from the program for 24 hours starting the next day of exclusions if they have any of these symptoms:

• Vomiting (without known cause).
• Diarrhea (loose stools 2-3 times during the day).

Students will be able to return to school once:

• Vomit-free for 24 hours.
• Diarrhea-free for 24 hours.

If a parent is called to come to pick up their child due to illness, they must be at school within one hour. No exceptions.

If a student is sent home, they MUST remain home for 24 hours (2 days) following the date they were excused. Doctor's notes will not shorten the exclusion policy for any reason. 

Two Nurses will be on campus, one primarily dedicated to the Big School and one primarily dedicated to the Little School.  

If a child presents with any symptoms that would exclude them from the program, the nurse will immediately take the child into quarantine and notify the parent in writing and/or by phone.

 

ISOLATION FOR SICKNESS

If a child falls ill while on campus they will be removed from the classroom and their parent/guardian will be notified. The child will remain with the school nurse, or other appointed school personnel until the parent/guardian arrives on campus. Parents must arrive on campus within one hour of notification.

Please notify the nurses at nurse@congressionalschool.org to report any diagnosed illnesses. Thank you.

COVID-19 GUIDELINES

In March 2024, the CDC updated its guidance on COVID-19 quarantine requirements bringing COVID-19 under the umbrella of common respiratory viruses, rather than issuing specific COVID-19 guidance. For COVID-19 symptoms or confirmed cases, please follow the requirements above in the 24-hour exclusion policy.