New Parent Absence Reporting Online Form
Regular attendance is an essential part of the educational program for each student in our District. To report your child absent, please utilize the option that works best for you; either call the school or use our new online absence reporting form. You can report the absence any time before 9:15 A.M the day your child is out.
The new absence reporting form includes questions about your child’s illness symptoms, if they have had a COVID-19 test, or if they have been identified as a close contact of someone with COVID-19. The most important thing you can do to help stop the spread of COVID-19 in our schools is to keep your child home when they are sick.
General Illness Reminder
We ask parents to use a COVID-19 Symptom Checklist with each of your children every day prior to coming to school. If your child has any high-risk symptom or two or more low-risk symptoms they should stay home. We also recommend they be seen by a healthcare provider for a formal diagnosis, if possible.
High-Risk Symptoms: New cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, new loss of taste or smell.
Low-Risk Symptoms (2 or more symptoms): Fever, headache, muscle and body aches, fatigue, sore throat, runny nose, congestion, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea.
If your student is ill at home or is sent home from school due to illness, please contact your Primary Health Care provider for guidance on how to proceed with your child’s health needs prior to returning to school. If your child is sent home with symptoms consistent with possible COVID-19, they should self-isolate at home for 10 days. To return to school in fewer than 10 days children need either an alternative diagnosis from a healthcare provider OR a negative COVID-19 test AND be fever-free for 24 hours without the use of medication and with improved symptoms.
If your child does not have a healthcare provider, Primary Health Care (https://phciowa.org/ames/ or (515) 232-0628) will see patients regardless of their ability to pay. For free COVID-19 testing contact Test Iowa https://www.testiowa.com/en and select the Story County Clinic. For further assistance with Healthcare Resources please contact your school’s Student and Family Advocate.