Sick Day Guidelines

Keep Sick Children Out of School – To report an absence or illness, please call the 24 hour Nurse voicemail at 847-990-4314 before 9:00 am to leave a message or send an email to aspen-attend@hawthorn73.org

Children who appear ill should not be sent to school. In order for your child to be available for learning and to maintain a healthy environment, it is very important for you to keep your child at home if he or she:
• Has an oral temperature of 100 degrees or more. He or she should not return to school until fever-free for 24 hours, without fever-reducing medications, since many children experience a recurrence of fever.
• Has become sick with flu-like symptoms, or experiences fast or troubled breathing.
• Is not drinking enough fluids.
• Is not waking up or interacting.
• Shows severe irritability.
• Experiences a return of flu symptoms with a fever and worsening cough.
Has a fever with a rash.
Has a persistent cough.
• Has been diagnosed with a bacterial infection, such as strep throat, conjunctivitis or impetigo. He or she should be on an antibiotic medication for at least 24 hours before returning to school.
• Has vomited more than once or has had persistent diarrhea during the night or into the morning. He or she should be without these symptoms for 24 hours before returning to school.
• Has chicken pox, he or she must be excluded from school until all lesions are crusted over.
• Has head lice. See the Lice Policy that follows.
• Has a rash of unknown origin.
The school nurse may require a note from the doctor stating that your child is not contagious and/or is clear to attend school.

Lice Procedure
Hawthorn follows a “No Live Lice” procedure. We recommend that parents/guardians treat children who are found with head lice using a pediculicide shampoo and that procedures are followed at home to ensure that lice do not remain on furniture, pillows, etc. The school nurse will help check students before returning to class. Students may return to class if no live lice are found, however, we recommend that parents/guardians continue to treat their child until no nits can be found, as well.