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Health Office / COVID

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The promotion of wellness and the prevention of illness in students and the entire school community is a key focus of the health office at Thetford Academy.

The school nurse is available Monday though Friday to support students and provide care for illness and injury with the goal of helping students stay in school and minimize absences whenever possible.

STUDENT ILLNESS

What to do when your student is ill:

  • If your student is sick, please let the Main Office or School Nurse know what symptoms they are having when you call in. If your child has: a fever over 100.0 degrees, vomiting, headache, sore throat, nausea, diarrhea, significant congestion (that’s not allergies), communicable rash (scarlet fever, impetigo) they must stay home.
  • If there is a concern that a student might have Covid, please contact the School Nurse and follow the Covid exposure procedure outlined below.
  • If your child is ill or injured and not able to attend school, please contact the School Nurse.
  • Take home Covid test kits and N95 masks are available in the Health Office and TA’s Main Office.

Medications and Health Conditions:

Prescription medications:

  • Must be kept in the Health Office.
  • Parents/guardians must get a current medication order to the School Nurse before medication can be given at school.
  • The student’s provider must send in permission (to the Health Office) to self-carry an inhaler or epi-pen.

 

Over-the-counter medications:

  • A student needs written parent/guardian approval to take over-the-counter medications at school; students can bring a written note or have parents email permission to the School Nurse.
  • Approved over-the-counter medications will be administered in the Health Office or in the Main Office (in the event that the School Nurse is unavailable).

COVID INFORMATION FOR FAMILIES

When a student has Covid:

  • If a student is diagnosed with Covid, they should stay home for five days, returning to school on day six if symptoms are improved and the student has had no fever for 24 hours.
  • The Vermont Department of Health recommends that individuals isolate immediately after a positive Covid test result. This applies to both vaccinated and non-vaccinated individuals and regardless of symptoms. Isolation means staying home and away from other people for at least five days from the date of a positive test or the start of symptoms, whichever is earlier.

When a student is exposed to Covid:

  • Per the CDC, students exposed to Covid should wear a well-fitting mask for 10 days and test right away if any symptoms to develop. Families may contact the School Nurse with any questions.

When a student returns to school after Covid:

  • When a student returns to school after Covid, they do not need to mask if they are testing negative.
  • If a student returns to school after the five day waiting period but is still testing positive, they will need to wear a mask from day 6-10. After day 10, students no longer need to wear a mask, the chance of passing the virus after 10 days–even when testing positive–is almost zero.

TESTING

  • In-school Covid testing and at-home Covid tests are available from the Health Office.

Ellen Gnaedinger

School Nurse

[email protected]
802-785-4805 x226

Important Links

2022-2023 Health Card

Medical Guidance for Return to Play After Covid Infection – Form

Covid-19 Vaccine Clinics: Vermont Dept Health

Prescription Medication Order & Permission Form

Religious Immunization Exemption Form

HOW THE COVID VACCINE WORKS

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our VALUES

Excellence

We set high expectations. we challenge all members of the school community to reach their highest potential.

Commitment

We value initiative, courage and dedication. We take personal responsibility for the goals we set and work hard to achieve them.

Cooperation

We work and learn together. We see teachers as coaches, students as team members, families as partners, and learning as practice and action.

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Diversity

We respect differences among people. We welcome the contribution of varied perspectives to a rich and flexible school culture.