At Wincopia Home Montessori (WHM), we understand that many of our parents are working professionals, and we strive to be accommodating to the best of our ability. However, the health and well-being of the children under our care and our staff is of utmost importance. Therefore, we maintain a strict wellness policy to ensure a safe environment.
We kindly request that parents assist us in upholding this policy by keeping sick children at home. While we do consider recommendations from physicians, it ultimately remains at our discretion to determine when a child may return to the center.
WHM reserves the right to temporarily deny admission to any child who exhibits obvious signs of illness or request early departure if symptoms become apparent during the day. If a child is unable to fully participate in our program due to any reason, we will ask for them to be sent home. This precaution is in place to safeguard the well-being and health of all individuals at our center.
When a child may not attend school
- Fever: Children will be sent home if their temperature is 99.5 or higher and must stay home the next day for observation. Children must be free of fever (any temperature under 98.6 degrees) for at least 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication. The same policy applies if your child develops a fever at home. They must be fever free (any temperature under 98.6 degrees) for at least 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication.
- Rash: Any rash other than a common diaper rash or skin irritation will require that the child be sent home for an evaluation and diagnosis from their doctor in writing of exactly what is affecting them. They may return to school based on a written doctor’s evaluation and clearance that their condition is not contagious.
- Conjunctivitis (pink eye): Children will be sent home if there appears to be an unusual amount of discharge from or irritation to their eye(s) and must stay home the next day for observation. Before returning to school they will need an evaluation and diagnosis from their doctor in writing of exactly what it is.
- If the diagnosis is BACTERIAL CONJUNCTIVITIS children must have received at least 24 hours of treatment.
- If the diagnosis is VIRAL CONJUNCTIVITIS your child may return AS LONG AS THERE IS NO DISCHARGE.
- If in fact they do not have “pink eye” we need a doctor’s note with a diagnosis and a clearance that it is not contagious.
- Thick White, Green or Yellow Discharge: Children will be sent home if they appear to have any thick white, green or yellow discharge. This is often indicative of an infection and they must stay home the next day for observation. Before returning to school they will need an evaluation and diagnosis from their doctor in writing and at least 24 hours of treatment. If in fact they do not have an infection, we need a doctor’s note with a diagnosis of exactly what it is with a clearance that it is nothing contagious. The Department of Health and most doctors are of the opinion that once on antibiotics for 24 hours, the discharge is no longer contagious even though it may persist for up to two weeks.
- Diarrhea: Children will be sent home if they have three or more loose bowel movements in one day and must stay home the next day for observation. Before returning to school (after the day of observation) children must be free from diarrhea for 24 hours with at least 1 regular bowel movement. If your child has one or more loose bowel movements on their first day back, they will again be sent home.
- Vomiting: Children will be sent home if they vomit and must stay home the next day for observation. Before returning to school (after the day of observation) children must symptom free with no vomiting for at least 24 hours.
- Persistent Hacking Cough: Children will be sent home if they have a persistent hacking cough and must stay home the next day for observation. Before returning to school they will need an evaluation and diagnosis from their doctor in writing and at least 24 hours of treatment. If in fact they do not require any treatment, we need a doctor’s note that it is not contagious.
- Lice: Children will not be readmitted until 24 hours after treatment and must be nit free. We will make an evaluation and determine if the child can be readmitted.
- Contageous Disease: Children will not be readmitted until 24 hours after treatment and must be nit free. We will make an evaluation and determine if the child can be readmitted.
Common cold policy
Children suffering from a common cold will be assessed on an individual basis.
Factors of consideration include the developmental level of your child in congruence with our ability to limit the spread of germs.
The younger your child, the more difficult it is to limit the spread of germs. For example: hand to face contact, mouthing of toys, uncontrolled nasal discharge, uncovered sneezing and coughing etc.
Medication Administration Policy
Medications both prescription and over the counter are rarely given at school; the only exceptions involve special or serious problems where it deemed absolutely necessary by the physician that the medication be given during school hours. The parent is urged, with the help of your child’s physician, to work out a schedule of giving medication at home, outside school hours whenever possible.
IF MEDICATION IS TO BE ADMINISTERED AT SCHOOL, ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS MUST BE MET
- A signed request from a licensed physician/dentist specifying the condition for which the medication is to be given, the name, dosage, route, side effect and specific instructions for emergency treatment must be on file at school. School staff is not authorized to determine when an “as needed” medication is to be given. Specific instructions are necessary.
- A signed request from the parent/guardian must be on file at school.
- Medication must be in your child’s original, labeled pharmacy container written in English.
- All liquid medication must be accompanied by an appropriate measuring device.
- A separate form is required for each medication.
- We do not administer over the counter medicine which includes any medicine for allergies, fever, cold, cough or any pain medications without a doctor’s note and signed forms along with instructions.
Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Outbreak Update
We, at WHM, have implemented few new policies and procedures by adopting guidelines published by OCC, MSDE and CDC.
- Parents and / or visitors are not allowed to enter into WHM. Parents must drop-off their child at the door.
- Parents must bring a thermometer and take child’s temperature while dropping off your child.
- Parents are strongly recommended to use face covering / mask during drop-off and pickup. Children under 5 years of age are not expected to wear face covering / mask.
- If child is coughing continually / more often, we will ask you to keep your child home.
During this pandemic, please use your best judgement BEFORE deciding to send your child. We have firm policy for the safeguard of all other children and safety of center’s staff. We will not allow sick child to attend the center.
These guidelines may change based on new policies of OCC and MSDE.
If you have travelled out of country/state or attended large gatherings or used public transportation, please consider keeping child home for 48 hours and monitor before returning to the center.
Meanwhile, please see following guidelines from CDC for coronavirus (COVID-19).
www.cdc.gov/COVID19
For updated information on operational guidance, please visit
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/child-care-guidance.html