Guidelines For Keeping
Students Home From School
Students should remain home when sick. Students with any high risk symptom or two or more low risk symptoms should stay home and are advised to seek an evaluation by a health care provider.
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 100.4
- Headache
- Muscle and body aches
- Fatigue
- Sore throat
- Runny nose
- Congestion
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
Evaluation by Health Care Provider
Negative COVID-19 Test AND no close COVID-19 contacts:
- Return to school after 24 hours with no fever (without the use of fever-reducing medicine) and symptoms improving.
- Students testing negative for COVID-19 infection and who ARE close contacts of a confirmed case should continue to self-quarantine until 14 days after their last exposure to the confirmed case.
Alternative Diagnosis (From Healthcare Provider):
- Return to school after 24 hours with no fever (without the use of fever-reducing medicine) and symptoms improving.
Positive COVID-19 Test:
- Return to school after at least 10 days since symptoms started, and improving symptoms, and 24 hours with no fever (without the use of fever-reducing medicine).
- If people test positive for COVID-19 infection and never get sick (asymptomatic), assume that they could pass it to others from 10 days before they were tested until 10 days after they were tested.
Please make sure your phone number and contact information is up-to-date in Infinite Campus.
If a Student Becomes Sick at School
If your student has been sent home with symptoms consistent with possible COVID-19, they should self-isolate at home for a 10-day isolation period.
To return to school BEFORE the 10-day isolation period they would need an ALTERNATIVE DIAGNOSIS from a healthcare provider OR a NEGATIVE COVID-19 test, and no close COVID-19 contact, and fever free for 24 hours without the use of medication and with improved symptoms.
If a student becomes ill while at school, the student must see the nurse for assessment. Students must not call or text parents. The nurse will determine if the student needs to go home and will contact the student’s parents. Unless the nurse recommends that the student go home, the student’s absence will be unexcused.
For specific medical concerns contact your building’s School Nurse listed below.
School Medical Requirements From the Iowa Department of Public Health and School Health Office
All students entering 7th grade for the 2021-2022 school year must have proof of having both the Meningococcal and the Tdap vaccines before school starts in August unless the student has a Certificate of Immunization Exemption. Please drop off, mail, fax or email a copy of the documentation that the vaccine was given or an exemption form from the vaccine signed by your child’s doctor.
Annual Health History Form: Spanish
Annual Health History Form: Chinese
Annual Health History Form: Arabic
Response Process – Positive COVID Case
The following is the ACSD process for responding to a student/staff member testing positive for COVID-19.
Response Process: Arabic
Response Process: Chinese
Response Process: Spanish
Face Covering Guidelines
Shortly after midnight on May 20, 2021, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed legislation (HF 847) into law that prohibits school districts from requiring masks to be worn at school.
The new law took effect immediately upon signing. Therefore, the district cannot require masks and they will be optional at school beginning TODAY, Thursday, May 20.
While we believe masks are still an essential part of our mitigation efforts to keep our staff and students safe, we can not require that they be worn. Due to a federal mandate, masks continue to be required when your child rides a school bus.
Many parents may choose to follow the CDC’s recommendations, and have their child continue to wear a mask at school until they are fully vaccinated. We urge students and families to show compassion towards each other no matter whether they elect to follow CDC-based guidance or this new state regulation.
Resource from CDC on Federal Mandate on public transport including school busses.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/face-masks-public-transportation.html
Contact
Nursing Staff:
- Josie Lemke RN, BSN
- Anna Metcalf – Health Associate
For Ames Middle School Student Medical and Nursing questions contact Josie Lemke josie.lemke@ames.k12.ia.us