Daily Health & School Policies

To keep our classrooms healthy and productive, we ask all families to partner with us in monitoring their children’s health daily. Our goal is to provide a safe environment for all students and staff.

When to Keep Your Child Home

Not sure if your child is “too sick” for school? Please follow these Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) guidelines. Keep your child home if they have:

• Fever: A temperature of 100.0°F (37.8°C) or higher. Students must be fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication (like Tylenol or Motrin) before returning.
• Vomiting or Diarrhea: At least one episode within the last 24 hours.
• Persistent Cough: A cough that is disruptive to the student’s learning or others, or is accompanied by shortness of breath.
• Undiagnosed Rash: Any new or spreading rash, unless a doctor provides a note stating it is non-contagious.
• Sore Throat: Especially if accompanied by fever or swollen glands. If your child is diagnosed with Strep Throat, they must stay home until they have been on antibiotics for a full 24 hours.

Medication at School

For the safety of all students, District 76 follows strict guidelines for the administration of medication during school hours.

1. Authorization Required: Both Prescription and Over-the-Counter (OTC) medications (including ibuprofen, cough drops, and allergy relief) require a Medication Authorization Form signed by both a parent and a licensed healthcare provider.
2. Original Packaging: All medication must be delivered to the school office by an adult in its original, pharmacy-labeled container. We cannot accept medication in plastic bags or unlabelled bottles.
3. Self-Carry (Asthma/Epi-Pens/Diabetes Supplies): Students may self-carry inhalers or epinephrine auto-injectors only if the “Self-Carry” portion of the authorization form is completed by a physician and parent.
   • Medication Authorization Form (English)

Concussion and Injury Protocols

If your child sustains an injury (at home or at school) that requires physical restrictions, please notify the school nurse immediately.

• Concussions: If a student is diagnosed with a concussion, a doctor’s note outlining “Return-to-Learn” and “Return-to-Play” protocols is required. We will work with teachers to ensure academic accommodations are met during recovery.
• PE/Recess Restrictions: Any student who needs to be excused from Physical Education or Recess for more than two consecutive days must have a written note from a physician.

Reporting an Absence

If your child will be staying home due to illness, please call the school’s main office by the start of the school day. Please be specific about symptoms (fever, cough, etc.) as this helps our health team monitor for outbreaks in the classroom.

• Diamond Lake: 847-566-6601
• West Oak Intermediate: 847-970-3544
• West Oak Middle School: 847-566-9220

Head Lice

The District follows guidance from the Illinois Department of Public Health regarding head lice. To minimize disruption to learning, students will not be excluded from school solely for the presence of nits (lice eggs). If live head lice are identified, the parent/guardian will be notified and provided guidance regarding appropriate treatment. Students may return to school after treatment, in accordance with District procedures and public health guidance. The student will need to be re-examined by the nurse before they return to the classroom.

Head Lice Guidance:

Step 1: Treatment & Combing

• Initial Treatment: Treat your child with a special lice-killing shampoo. Alternatively, oil-based treatments (like olive or coconut oil) can be used to suffocate live lice—let sit for at least one hour.
• Daily Combing: Use a fine-toothed nit comb to remove dead nits and bugs. Divide hair into sections and comb from scalp to ends, wiping the comb on a white paper towel after each pass.
• Maintenance: DAILY combing is essential for 3–5 days. For the best results, repeat the full treatment on days 5 and 11 to ensure any newly hatched nits are caught.

Step 2: Home Cleaning Checklist

• Clothing: Put on clean, laundered clothes immediately after the initial treatment.
• Bedding & Towels: Wash all sheets, pillowcases, blankets, and towels used before the treatment in HOT soapy water.
• High Heat: Place pillows in the dryer on a high setting for 30 minutes.
• Accessories: Wash all hairbrushes, combs, hats, and coats in hot soapy water.
• Environment: Vacuum all carpets, floors, and upholstered furniture.
• Stuffed Animals: Place stuffed animals in a sealed garbage bag for 2 weeks.

Fast Facts for Parents

• Direct Contact: Lice are mostly spread through direct head-to-head contact. They do not jump or fly.
• Check Everyone: All household members should be checked; anyone with an active infestation should be treated at the same time.
• Hygiene Myth: Lice are not a sign of poor hygiene; they actually prefer clean hair!

When to Return to School

To prevent the spread of lice within the classroom, please follow these re-entry guidelines:

1. No Live Lice: Students may return to school once they have been treated and there are no live lice present in the hair.
2. Contact the Nurse: Before sending your child back to class, please contact the school nurse at your child’s campus. Our health team will provide guidance and may perform a quick re-check to ensure your child is ready to return to the learning environment.