Health & Wellness
Wellness Overview
The health and safety of our students is a top priority at CSKYWLA. Our school nurse, Mrs. Vivian Hill-Blair, partners with families to ensure students are supported, healthy, and ready to learn each day. To help us provide the best care possible, please keep the following important guidelines in mind:
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Keep contact information updated. Please ensure all phone numbers and emergency contacts are current in Infinite Campus so we can reach you quickly if needed.
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Return clinic forms. Medical forms should be submitted each year, including documentation of allergies to food or medication.
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Medication policy. Students may not carry any medication—including inhalers, over-the-counter pain relievers, ointments, or lotions—without a doctor’s order on file. All medications must be checked in with the school nurse.
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Cold and flu season reminders. Encourage frequent handwashing and monitor students for symptoms. Children must be fever-free for 24 hours without medication before returning to school. Please dress students appropriately for the weather.
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Immunization compliance. At age 16, students are required by the Department of Public Health to receive the Men-B and MCV4 vaccines. Families should review immunization records prior to birthdays to ensure compliance, especially for students who participate in athletics.
Thank you for helping us maintain a healthy and safe learning environment for all students.
Return to school guidelines
APS Student Illness & Return to School Guidelines
When a child is unwell, their ability to learn may be affected, and there is an increased risk of spreading illness to other students and staff. Using guidance from the Georgia Department of Public Health and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, APS provides the following guidelines to help families know when children should stay home and when they can return to school.
❗Important Notes
- These guidelines are for school attendance only and are not a medical diagnosis
- School nurses cannot diagnose medical conditions, but they may recommend that a healthcare provider evaluate the child before returning to school.
- School guidance may be based on a child’s diagnosis or symptoms, as well as school illness trends when a diagnosis is not yet known.
- If your child becomes ill at school or is too sick to benefit from instruction, you may be asked to pick them up.
📋Please make sure your school has:
- A current phone number where you can be reached during the day
- At least one emergency contact
- Updated contact information anytime it changes
🦠 Respiratory Illnesses
- COVID-19
- Influenza (the Flu)
- Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
- Strep Throat
- Pertussis (Whooping Cough)
- Common Cold
COVID-19
What is COVID-19?
- COVID-19 is a contagious respiratory illness caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
- Symptoms can range from mild cold-like illness to more significant respiratory symptoms.
- Common symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, fatigue, headache, muscle aches, and sometimes loss of taste or smell.
- Symptoms often overlap with flu, RSV, and the common cold.
How Does COVID-19 Spread?
COVID-19 spreads mainly through respiratory droplets and aerosols when a person breathes, talks, coughs, or sneezes.
When to Seek Medical Care
Seek immediate medical care for difficulty breathing, dehydration, chest pain, or symptoms that significantly worsen.
Learn More
When Can Your Child Return to School?
Your child may return when, for at least 24 hours:
- Symptoms are improving, and
- They have had no fever without using fever-reducing medication.
If a fever returns or symptoms worsen, keep your child home until they again meet the criteria above.
Steps to Take When Returning to School
For the next 5 days, help reduce spread by:
- Washing hands
- Covering coughs and sneezes
- Giving others space
- Considering a mask indoors
Report a Positive COVID-19 Test:
Influenza (the Flu)
What is Influenza (the flu)?
- Influenza is a contagious respiratory illness caused by flu viruses.
- Symptoms usually start suddenly and may include fever, chills, cough, sore throat, runny nose, body aches, headache, and fatigue.
- Vomiting and diarrhea may occur, especially in children.
How Does the Flu Spread?
- The flu spreads through respiratory droplets and aerosols when a person talks, coughs, or sneezes.
- Flu season typically begins in October and can last through May.
When to Seek Medical Care
Seek immediate care for difficulty breathing, dehydration, chest pain, severe fatigue, or symptoms that significantly worsen.
When Can Your Child Return to School?
Your child may return when, for at least 24 hours:
- Symptoms are improving, and
- They have had no fever without using fever-reducing medication.
If a fever returns or symptoms worsen, keep your child home until they again meet the criteria above.
Steps to Take When Returning to School
For the next 5 days, help reduce spread by:
- Washing hands
- Covering coughs and sneezes
- Giving others space
- Considering a mask indoors
Report a Positive Flu Test
Student self-report form
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
What is RSV?
- RSV is a common respiratory virus that affects the nose, throat, and lungs.
- Symptoms often include a runny nose, cough, fever, decreased appetite, and wheezing.
How Does RSV Spread?
- RSV spreads through respiratory droplets, close contact, and touching contaminated surfaces and then touching the face.
- RSV spreads in the fall and winter along with other respiratory viruses. It usually peaks in December and January.
When to Seek Medical Care
Seek immediate medical care for fast or difficult breathing, blue lips/skin, dehydration, or symptoms that significantly worsen.
When Can Your Child Return to School?
Your child may return when, for at least 24 hours:
- Symptoms are improving, and
- They have had no fever without using fever-reducing medication.
If symptoms worsen or breathing becomes difficult, keep your child home and consult a healthcare provider.
Steps to Take When Returning to School
Help reduce the spread by:
- Washing hands
- Covering coughs and sneezes
- Giving others space
Report a RSV Diagnosis
Student self-report form
Strep Throat
What is Strep Throat?
- Strep throat is a bacterial infection that causes a sudden sore throat, fever, swollen glands, and painful swallowing.
- It is different from viral sore throats and requires treatment with antibiotics.
How Does Strep Spread?
- Strep spreads through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks.
- Infections are most common during the school year, with peaks in winter and early spring.
Learn More
When Can Your Child Return to School?
Your child may return when:
- They have been on antibiotics for at least 12 hours, and
- They have no fever without using fever-reducing medication, and
- Symptoms are improving.
When to Seek Medical Care
Seek immediate care for difficulty swallowing, drooling, dehydration, rash, or symptoms that significantly worsen.
Report a Strep Throat Diagnosis
Student self-report form
Pertussis (Whooping Cough)
What is Pertussis (Whooping Cough)?
- Pertussis is a highly contagious bacterial illness that causes severe coughing fits.
- Coughing may lead to vomiting, difficulty breathing, or the classic “whoop” sound when breathing in.
- Symptoms can last for several weeks.
How Does Pertussis Spread?
- Pertussis spreads through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
- People with pertussis are most contagious in the early stages of the illness. They can continue to spread it for 2-3 weeks after the cough begins, or until they have completed 5 full days of appropriate antibiotics.
Learn More
When Can Your Child Return to School?
Return depends on treatment status:
- If treated with appropriate antibiotics:
Your child may return after 5 full days of antibiotics - If not treated:
Your child must stay home for 21 days from the start of the cough.
When to Seek Medical Care
Call the doctor if you think your child has pertussis or has been exposed to someone with pertussis.
Seek immediate care if your child has:
- Long or intense coughing fits
- Skin or lips that turn red, purple, or blue during coughing
- Vomiting after coughing
- A "whooping" sound when breathing in after a cough
Report a Pertussis Diagnosis
Student self-report form
Common Cold
What is the Common Cold?
- The common cold is a mild viral upper respiratory infection caused by many different viruses.
- Symptoms are generally much milder than flu, RSV, or COVID-19. Common symptoms include a runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, a sore throat, a mild cough, and a low-grade fever (or no fever).
- Most children recover within a few days and do not need medical treatment.
How Does the Common Cold Spread?
- Colds spread through respiratory droplets when a person talks, coughs, or sneezes, and by touching shared surfaces and then touching the face.
Learn More
When Can Your Child Return to School?
Your child may return when, for at least 24 hours:
- Symptoms are improving, and
- They have had no fever without using fever-reducing medication.
Children may still have a mild cough or runny nose when they return/ This is normal and does not require staying home as long as they are overall well enough for school.
When to Seek Medical Care
Call your child’s doctor if your child:
- Has symptoms lasting more than 10–14 days
- Can't keep food or liquids down or has trouble drinking
- Develops a high fever or symptoms that worsen
- Has trouble breathing or is unusually tired
🤒Symptoms
- Fever
- Vomiting or Diarrhea
- Cough
- Pain (headache, stomachache, sore throat, toothache, joint pain)
- Eye redness/drainage (non-infectious or uncertain)
- Allergies (environmental conjuctivitis)
- New Skin Rash (unknown cause)
- Existing or common skin rash (e.g., eczema)
Fever
What is it?
A temperature of 100.4°F or higher. Fever is a sign that the body is fighting an illness and may indicate contagiousness.
Keep your child home if:
- They have a fever of 100.4°F or higher
- They feel too unwell to participate in school activities
Return to school when:
- They have been fever-free for at least 24 hours, without the use of fever-reducing medication, and
- They feel well enough to participate
Vomiting or Diarrhea
What is it?
- Vomiting: New or unexplained episodes not caused by medications or known conditions.
- Diarrhea: Loose, watery stools occurring more often than usual.
- These symptoms may indicate a gastrointestinal infection such as norovirus.
Keep your child home if:
- They have vomited or had diarrhea within the last 24 hours
- Symptoms are frequent, persistent, or interfere with learning
Return to school when:
- They have had no vomiting or diarrhea for at least 24 hours, and
- They have had no fever for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication, and
- They feel well enough to participate
Cough
What is it?
- A cough may be caused by allergies, irritation, a cold, or a developing respiratory illness.
Seek Medical Care If:
- The cough lasts longer than 7-10 days
- Your child has difficulty breathing
- The cough produces significant phlegm/mucus
- A fever develops and does not improve
Keep your child home if:
- The cough is severe or persistent
- It interferes with participation in class
- It is part of a diagnosed illness (COVID-19, RSV, pertussis, etc.), and the illness-specific guidelines apply
Return to school when:
- The cough is mild and does not interfere with learning
- They meet return-to-school criteria for any diagnosed illness
Pain (headache, stomachache, sore throat, toothache, joint pain)
What is it?
New or persistent pain without another known cause.
Keep your child home if:
- The pain prevents them from participating in normal school activities
- The pain worsens or is accompanied by new symptoms (fever, vomiting, rash, etc.)
Return to school when:
- The pain is manageable and they feel well enough to attend
- A healthcare provider has evaluated them if symptoms persist or worsen
- The school nurse may request medical evaluation depending on severity
Eye redness/drainage (non-infectious or uncertain)
What is it?
Red or watery eyes with mild drainage that has not been diagnosed as pink eye. This may be due to irritation, allergies, or early signs of infection.
Keep your child home if:
- Eye drainage is thick, yellow/green, or crusting
- Eyes are stuck shut in the morning
- Symptoms interfere with learning
- A doctor or school nurse suspects an infectious cause
Return to school when:
- Symptoms are mild and do not interfere with participation
- A healthcare provider confirms it is not contagious, OR
- Drainage improves, and there are no signs of infection
No clearance is required unless symptoms are severe or concerning.
Allergies (environmental conjuctivitis)
What is it?
- Itchy, watery, pink, or swollen eyes caused by allergens—not infection.
- Allergic eye symptoms do not usually produce thick discharge or crusting like infectious pink eye.
Keep your child home if:
- Symptoms are severe enough to interfere with learning
- The school nurse recommends medical evaluation
Return to school when:
- Symptoms are managed with allergy treatment
- The child feels well enough to participate
No clearance is required unless symptoms are severe or concerning.
New Skin Rash (unknown cause)
What is it?
- A rash that is new, spreading, painful, blistering, draining, or any rash that appears with a fever.
Keep your child home if:
- The rash is unexplained, spreading, painful, or draining
- The rash is accompanied by fever
- A healthcare provider recommends staying home
Return to school when:
- The rash has been evaluated and cleared by a healthcare provider OR
- The rash has fully healed (no drainage, open blisters, or pain)
- Treatment has begun, if required for return
The school nurse may request a medical evaluation or documentation depending on the severity.
Existing or common skin rash (e.g., eczema)
What is it?
- A rash that is chronic, allergy-related, or part of a known medical condition.
Keep your child home if:
- The rash looks different than usual for your child
- The rash becomes painful, open, or draining
- The child is too uncomfortable to participate in school activities
Return to school when:
- The rash is consistent with the child’s usual condition
- Symptoms are managed and the child can participate in class
- Medical evaluation has occurred if symptoms are new, worsening, or unusual
The school nurse may request a medical evaluation or documentation depending on the severity.
🩹 Skin Conditions & Rashes
- Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD)
- Impetigo
- Ringworm (Tinea)
- Scabies
- Molluscum Contagiosum
- Fifth Disease (Parvovirus B19)
- Mpox
Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD)
What is it?
- HFMD is a common viral illness that causes fever, mouth sores, and a rash on the hands, feet, or buttocks.
- It spreads through respiratory droplets, saliva, and contact with contaminated surfaces.
Keep your child home if:
- They have a fever
- They have open mouth sores causing drooling or difficulty eating
- They feel too unwell to participate in school activities
Return to school when:
- They are fever-free for 24 hours without using fever-reducing medication, and
- Mouth sores and saliva/drooling are manageable, allowing them to participate comfortably, and
- The rash does not need to be fully healed, but must be fully covered with clothing or bandages
Learn More
Impetigo
What is it?
Impetigo is a contagious bacterial skin infection that often appears as red sores, blisters, or honey-colored crusts.
Keep your child home if:
- They have untreated impetigo
- Sores are draining or cannot be fully covered
Return to school when:
- They have completed 24 hours of prescribed antibiotic treatment, and
- Sores are dry or can be fully covered with a bandage, and
- They feel well enough to attend
Learn More
Ringworm (Tinea)
What is it?
- Ringworm is a fungal infection that causes a circular, itchy rash on the skin or scalp. It spreads through direct contact or shared items such as hats, brushes, or sports equipment.
Keep your child home if:
- Scalp ringworm is suspected but not yet treated
- Skin ringworm is oozing, widespread, or cannot be fully covered
Return to school when:
- Skin ringworm: After starting antifungal treatment, the rash must be covered
- Scalp ringworm: After starting prescribed oral antifungal medication
- They feel well enough to attend
Learn More
Scabies
What is it?
- Scabies is a skin infestation caused by tiny mites that burrow under the skin.
- It spreads through prolonged skin-to-skin contact. Symptoms include intense itching (especially at night) and a pimple-like rash.
Keep your child home if:
- They have symptoms of scabies and have not begun treatment
- A healthcare provider suspects or confirms scabies, and treatment has not started
- They are too uncomfortable to participate in school activities
Return to school when:
- Treatment has begun (typically a prescribed medicated cream or oral medication)
- The child feels well enough to attend
- Itching may continue for several days after treatment, this is normal and does not prevent return
Learn More
Molluscum Contagiosum
What is it?
- Molluscum contagiosum is a common viral skin infection that causes small, firm, flesh-colored bumps.
- It spreads through direct skin-to-skin contact or shared items like towels or sports equipment.
- The bumps are generally painless and not harmful, but they may itch or become irritated.
Keep your child home if:
- Bumps are open, draining, or infected
- They cannot be fully covered with clothing or a bandage, and contact with others is likely
- They are too uncomfortable to participate in activities
Return to school when:
- Bumps are covered with clothing or a bandage during school hours
- There is no open drainage
- They feel well enough to participate
Treatment is not required for return to school; many cases resolve on their own.
Learn More
Fifth Disease (Parvovirus B19)
What is it?
- Fifth Disease is a common viral illness that causes mild cold-like symptoms, followed by a “slapped-cheek” rash on the face and sometimes a lacy rash on the body.
- Children are usually no longer contagious once the rash appears.
Keep your child home if:
- They have a fever
- They have significant cold-like symptoms (fatigue, sore throat, malaise)
- They feel too unwell to participate in school activities
Return to school when:
- They are fever-free for 24 hours without using fever-reducing medication
- Cold-like symptoms are improving
- The rash does not require staying home, as the child is typically no longer contagious once it appears
- They feel well enough to participate
Learn More
Mpox
What is it?
- Mpox is a contagious infection caused by the mpox virus.
- It spreads through close skin-to-skin contact or contact with contaminated objects.
- Symptoms may include fever, swollen lymph nodes, and a rash that progresses into lesions that can scab and heal over time.
Keep your child home if:
- They have a new, unexplained rash, sores, or lesions
- They have fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes, or body aches
- A healthcare provider suspects or confirms mpox
Return to school when:
- All lesions have healed, scabs have fallen off, and new skin has formed, and
- They feel well enough to participate in school activities
- Clearance from a healthcare provider may be recommended
Learn More
🎒 Other Conditions
Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis)
What is it?
- Pink eye is irritation or infection of the eye.
- Symptoms include redness, tearing, itching, or discharge.
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Pink eye may be caused by viruses, bacteria, allergies, or irritants.
Keep your child home if:
- Eye discharge cannot be controlled with wiping
- They have a fever or symptoms suggesting a contagious infection
- They feel too uncomfortable to participate in school activities
Return to school when:
- Symptoms are improving, and
- Eye discharge is controlled, and
- If prescribed antibiotics (for bacterial conjunctivitis), they have completed 24 hours of treatment
Learn More
Head Lice
What is it?
- Head lice are tiny insects that live on the scalp.
- They spread through direct head-to-head contact.
- Lice do not spread disease but can cause itching and discomfort.
Keep your child home if:
- Live, active lice are present and treatment has not been started
Return to school when:
- Treatment has begun (the same day)
- No live lice are seen upon recheck at school
- Nits (eggs) may remain; they are not a reason to stay home if no live lice are present
- Nits and live lice should be combed out every morning