Notes from your School Nurse | January 31st

Please stay home even for mild symptoms! 

Yes, it is normal for children to have mild cold symptoms or even tummy bugs but for now with the hopes of keeping all healthy and safe and to stop the spread of illness and COVID-19 we are asking you to keep your child home and seek COVID-19 PCR testing if you or a household member is experiencing any of the following:

  • Sore throat, even if mild
  • New onset headache, even if mild
  • Congestion or runny nose
  • New onset cough, even if infrequent
  • Feeling hot or cold, chills, feverish without an increased body temperature
  • Fever of 100.4 or higher
  • Fatigue
  • Muscle or body aches
  • Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Loss of taste or smell

Not sure?  Please call or email Lisa to have a conversation before sending your child to school!  Children should not need Tylenol/Advil/Motrin before coming to school to get through their day – it can mask sick symptoms!  Let’s have a conversation and work together 203-655-1323 ex 4203 or ligrant@darienps.org  

My child OR a household member is waiting for results from a COVID-19 test

We are now asking if anyone in your household is waiting for a COVID-19 test result with or without symptoms, please keep ALL family members home until test results are received! Please call or email Lisa to let her know.  Remote learning will be set up during the wait.

If your child has been tested for COVID-19 please call/email me as well as scan and email results to ligrant@darienps.org or fax results 203-656-9607 to be cleared to return to school. Your child must stay home until the results have been received and reviewed

My child has been named a contact

If your child has been in contact with someone who has tested positive (parent, relative, friend, nanny, teammate, extracurricular activity contact, neighbor, playdate etc) PLEASE STAY HOME! Call/email me 203-655-1323 ex 4203 or ligrant@darienps.org  You can even email on weekends and off hours!! We will talk through the contact and quarantine time frame.  If any member of your household has been diagnosed with COVID-19 do not come to school. Remote learning will be in place during quarantine. 

Travel

It is always an awkward situation when a child happily shares with their teacher that they have traveled but the health office has not been notified.  Let’s work together to keep all safe and healthy!

If your family has traveled outside of CT, NY, NJ or RI please:

  • Email or call me so that we can talk through the CT Travel Advisory and measures to be taken before returning to school 203-655-1323 ex 4203 or ligrant@darienps.org Results of COVID-19 testing can be scanned and emailed to me at ligrant@darienps.org or faxed to 203-656-9607. The results need to be received and reviewed before your child returns to school to avoid a child being sent home.
  • You have 3 choices post travel.
    • Your child can have a COVID-19 Rapid/Antigen test
    • Your child can have a COVID-19 PCR test (this test can take a few days and we will have remote learning in place).
    • Your child can quarantine at home for 10 days with remote learning in place.

Other illnesses do exist!!

  • COVID-19 concerns remain the highlight in our health office, but we are starting to see a few stomach bugs and common colds here as well lately.  Yes this certainly does make it tricky!  I’m always available to talk it out!  Luckily we have not seen any flu cases here!  Mask wearing, distancing and frequent handwashing could definitely be the reason!
  • Please remember to call or email me with any new diagnosis, new medications or new injury (stitches, braces, casts or splints). 

Don’t hesitate to reach out for any questions, concerns or to inquire where to get a COVID-19 test! 

Thank you!

Lisa Grant RN BSN ligrant@darienps.org 203-655-1323 ex 4203