This page contains answers to common questions from students and parents.
Contact the School Building your Student attends & leave me a message for non-emergency needs. Or you can always e-mail me with questions & concerns @ jnorris@usd353.com. WHS 326-4310 WMS 326-4320 Roosevelt 326-4330 IF you have an EMERGENCY or URGENT need - Please tell the school you are calling to contact me with your information - If you do not hear from me, please call back!Back to Top
When should I keep my student home if I think they are ill?
General guidelines to follow are: Students should stay home if they have vomiting or diarrhea or a temperature of 100.0 or higher. They should stay home for 24 hours after their last temp. of 100 or more, without the use of fever reducing medicines such as Tylenol or Ibuprofen & until diarrhea & vomiting have stopped for 10-12 hours. Students with a temperature of 100 degrees or more will be sent home from school.Back to Top
How long should my student stay home for strep throat?
Generally the doctors recommend that your student be on antibiotics and not have an elevated temperature (100 degrees or higher) for at least 24 hours, without the use of fever reducing medications such as Tylenol or Ibuprofen, before returning to school.Back to Top
How do we do we know if our student needs a Td booster shot? (Tetanus)
Those students who are due for the booster will be notified by mail. Students who were 11 years old on August 31st were required to have a TDAP booster this year. If your student is older than 11, they may be required to receive a booster(Tdap) shot every 10 years. This is a state law. The shots are available at the Sumner County Health Department or at your Doctors office. If your student is injured, needs stitches from a cut, has a deep scrape or other skin injury check with your doctor or the health department & they will give them a Td boooster. Send the school a copy of the students record showing the date the booster was given.Back to Top
What is Pink Eye? (bacterial conjunctivitis)
Pink Eye is an infection/irritation of the eye &/or eyelid. It is easily passed between students. If you think your student has pink eye, keep them home and arrange an appointment with your Eye Doctor or Family Physician. Treatment is usually antibiotic eye drops. Students who are seen at school by the nurse with potential cases of pink eye will be sent home until they are seen by their Eye Doctor or Family Physician. They may return to school the day following the start of treatment (common treatment is antibiotic eye drops).Back to Top
What is Ringworm & how would my student get it?
Ringworm is a fungus that is spread by skin to skin contact. This skin to skin contact is usually rough, involving friction & is most common in contact sports such as gymnastics & wrestling. However it can also be present at anytime, on anyone and in any sport, physical education class or event. To spread ringworm, one of the participants must also have the fungus on their skin. This fungus can also be spread from cats to humans. Cats with the ringworm fungus will have bald areas on their coat & must be treated with pills obtained from your Vet.Back to Top
How do we prevent or reduce the spread of Ringworm?
Stress to your athlete that their personal hygiene is very important. Showering with soap & water after each practice & competition is a must! Wearing clean practice clothes & uniforms for each practice or competition. Keep dirty practice clothing out of bags used to transport clean clothing. Regular inspection of skin & reporting of red areas, rashes, or blisters to coaches, parents, or the school nurse for evaluation will help with identification & control. Coaches & teachers must also monitor students skin conditions & the regular cleaning of equipment/mats they use.Back to Top
What is the treatment for Ringworm?
Ringworm on the body can be treated with an antifungal ointment. This usually does not have to be a prescription medication, ask the pharmacist what product they recommend. The ointment must be applied 3-4 times throughout the day, until the area is healed. Ringworm on the scalp, however, will take a trip to the doctor to cure with an oral medication.Back to Top
What can I do about Head Lice & how often can I shampoo?
For Distict Policy on Head Lice go to the Head Lice page. The most important things to do when your student has head lice are: Follow ALL label directions on the shampoo you use (DO NOT use it more frequently than directed!). Make sure that ALL NITS are removed from the hair shafts and clean/launder all clothing, bedding, etc. throughly. Check the Head Lice page for more information.Back to Top
It is usually seen as a red rash on the face (first) with white or pale skin around it. It is commonly referred to as the "slapped cheek" appearance. It is caused by the Parvovirus B19 and spread by respiratory secrections such as through coughs or sneezing. It can take from 4-21 days for a person to know they have the virus. It is easilest to pass on before the rash is visible and probably not communicalbe after the rash is seen. Students are not excluded from school once the rash appears as they usually feel the worst before the rash shows up. For more information to to www.webmd.com and search for Fifth Disease.Back to Top