Guidlines for Sickness

Burlington Public Schools

Below please find a few guidelines for you to follow when your child becomes sick.  These guidelines can be helpful when deciding whether or not to keep your child home from school.  They have been put in place to ensure the health and well being of all Burlington students and staff.

Red Light Symptoms: Children don’t attend school!  Fever (100.0 or higher), diarrhea, vomiting, or sore throat (sore throats could be strep, which is highly contagious).  Children need to be free from these symptoms for 24 hours before returning to school.  If a child is taking an antibiotic they need to be on it for a full 24 hours before returning to school.  Also, red or pink itchy eyes with crusty and/or green/yellow drainage should be evaluated by a physician -- child may return to school the day after he/she is examined by a physician and treatment has begun.  If your child has any type of flu symptoms (fever, chills, body aches, low energy) please keep them home from school.  The nurse also has the discretion to send a student home with a rash of unknown cause that needs physician evaluation and clearance to return to school.

Yellow Light Symptoms: Children could or could not attend school; you need to use your best judgment.  If your child has cold symptoms and you feel they should go to the doctor, please keep them home from school. If your child has a runny nose that is green and thick or a severe/hacking cough, they should stay home.  If your child has a bad cold, has no energy or requires any type of medicine to get through the day, they should probably stay home.  Remember, children are not available to learn if they aren’t feeling well.

Green Light Symptoms: Children can attend school. Your child has allergies and has a clear runny nose or mild cough. Your child has been sick but is feeling better and has been fever-free for 24 hours (not taking fever-reducing medication).  If your child has been sick and has been put on an antibiotic, they must be on the antibiotic for a full 24 hours plus fever-free for 24 hours (not taking fever-reducing medication).

We request that you call your child in sick if they are going to miss school.  Please include in your message what is wrong with your child.  This is helpful for us to track different types of colds, viruses and infections going around.  If your child has had a fever or is contagious, i.e. strep, please call your Nurse’s office

       Fox Hill Elementary School

Suzy Shields, RN, BSN 781-270-1792

Absentee Line 781-273-7638

Francis Wyman Elementary School

Jennifer Hazen, RN, BSN 781-270-1702

Absentee Line 781-270-1707

Memorial Elementary School

Lynn Sakey, RN, BSN 781-270-1724

Absentee Line 781-273-7647

Pine Glen Elementary School

Joanne Ferrick, RN, BSN 781-270-1713

Absentee Line 781-273-7644

Burlington Early Childhood Center

Jessica Gearin, MEd., BSN, RN 781-273-7622

Absentee Line 781-270-1808

Marshall Simonds Middle School

Tracy Nicholas, MSN, RN 781-270-1779

Absentee Line 781-273-7657

Burlington High School

Mary Sullivan, RN, BSN 781-270-1862

Absentee Line-Freshmen and Juniors

781-270-1838
Absentee Line-Sophomores and Seniors

781-270-1839

REV 9/17 BC/CW