Illness Guidelines

Remember that the essentials of good health are good nutrition, plentiful fluids, regular exercise and plenty of rest.

Practice prevention: Teach students to wash hands, cover coughs, and avoid sharing items.

There are times when a student should remain at home for his/her own welfare and for the protection of other students. If your student's illness is preventing them from attending school, parents should call the school to inform school officials of the student's absence. If a student becomes ill while in school, the parent/guardian will be contacted so they can come immediately to the school to pick up the student.

Highlights

  • Keep your student home if within the last 24 hours, they have:

    • Had a fever of 100.4°F or higher

    • Vomiting or diarrhea

    • Other contagious symptoms

  • Notify the school nurse if your student has:

    • A communicable disease (e.g., chickenpox, COVID-19, influenza)

    • Health changes like injuries

    • New medications

  • Updated COVID guidelines:

    • No quarantine is required for positive tests

    • Students must stay home until symptoms improve and they are fever-free for 24 hours without medication

Staying at Home

The following criteria can be used to determine when a child should remain at home.

  1. Has a cold in the contagious stage (first few days)

  2. Sore throat and swollen neck glands accompanied by a fever

  3. Undiagnosed rash or skin eruptions

  4. Red eyes, or drainage from eyes

  5. Any communicable disease

  6. Fever of 100.4° or higher during the past 24 hours

  7. Vomiting or diarrhea within the past 24 hours

  8. New, unexplained, loss of taste or smell

  9. When the student is diagnosed by a physician to have a contagious infection and places the child on a prescription medication, the student may not return to school until they have taken the medication for a full 24 hours.

Please check your student's temperature; a student should be "fever free" for twenty-four (24) hours without taking a fever reducing medication such as Tylenol or Advil before returning to school.

When to Notify the Nurse

If your student develops a communicable disease, e.g., chicken pox, COVID-19, scarlet fever, Influenza or measles, please notify the school nurse. This will enable us to monitor your child's progress and other student's exposure. Students should remain at home a minimum of one day following the resolution of an acute illness.

The school nurse should be notified by the parent/guardian of any:

  • Serious injury, illness, or hospitalization

  • Planned surgery

  • Communicable diseases such as chicken pox, COVID-19, scarlet fever, influenza, or measles

  • New diagnosis or change in your child’s health status

  • Fracture, sprain, stitches, cast, or crutches (A Physician note is required for crutches and/or a wheelchair to be used on the school premises.)

  • New medication and/or dosing change

  • Need to be excused from Physical Education

  • Head Lice

Chicken Pox

Chicken Pox Notice (11/24/2025)

This message is to notify you that a confirmed case of chickenpox (also called varicella) has been reported at Missouri Ridge School. Your child may have been exposed on Thursday, and Friday November 20th and 21st. 

Chickenpox is a very contagious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV). It causes a blister-like rash, itching, tiredness, and fever lasting an average of 4 to 6 days. Most children recover without any problems. Chickenpox is spread from person to person through the air from an infected person’s coughing or sneezing or by direct contact with the blisters. A person with chickenpox can spread the disease one to two days before they get the rash until all of their blisters have formed scabs. It takes from 10 to 21 days after exposure to a person with chickenpox for a person to develop chickenpox. 

The North Dakota Department of Health (NDDOH)  strongly encourages you to make sure your child is up-to-date on his varicella vaccine: one dose is recommended for preschool-age children (12 months - 3 years) and two doses for school-age children.

If your child is diagnosed with chickenpox, you should notify the school nurse or secretary of the diagnosis. Do not allow your child to attend school or any school affiliated extra curricular activities until all of the blisters become crusted (about 4-6 days after rash appears) or until no new lesions appear within a 24-hour period. 

School exclusions are not required unless your child develops blisters in which case they would be excluded until all of the blisters become crusted (about 4-6 days after rash appears) or until no new lesions appear within a 24- hour period. 

For more information, please contact the Upper Missouri District Health Unit, 774-6400 or your Primary Care Provider. 

Measles

Pneumonia

COVID

Questions/Concerns?

If you have concerns or questions related to illness issues, please contact your school's nurse. You can find your school's contact information on our Contact Us page, and request the school nurse.

Exclusion guidelines of ill children are set by the North Dakota Department of Health. For more Information see the NDDoH Exclusion Guideline (PDF) or call 800-427-2180.

Additional Resources

Health & Wellness Page