Please keep your child home from school if one or more of the following is true:

• Your child has a contagious illness such as strep throat, chickenpox, or the flu.
• You have been advised by your child's health care provider to keep your child home to recover from an illness/injury.
• Your child has a fever of 100ºF or higher in the last 24 hours. Children should be fever-free for 24 hours,  without taking fever-reducing medication, before returning to school.
• Your child is vomiting or has diarrhea.
• Your child has live head lice and has not completed treatment for head lice.
• Your child has red/pink eyes or has drainage from the eyes.

In accordance with state and local requirements, health screenings are performed at the following grade levels.

RCPS encourages medication be administered at home, if possible. The first dose of any new medication should be given at home. When medication is needed during school hours, the following procedures must be followed:

• Prescription medication must be in the pharmacy-labeled container with the student's name and dosing instructions. There must be a completed Medication Permission Form with doctor's orders and written parent permission. If the medication is not in the pharmacy/manufacturer labeled container, the Medication Permission Form is incomplete, or there is a discrepancy, medication cannot be given.
• Over-the-counter medications must be in a sealed, original-labeled container. The parent must complete a Medication Permission Form with specific dosing instructions. For safety reasons, if your child needs OTC medications given outside the manufacturer's label directions, on a routine basis, or if your child takes prescription medication regularly, a doctor's order is needed for OTC medication.
• Due to the lack of safety standards for dietary, nutritional, or herbal supplements, those OTC products will be treated the same as a prescription medication.
• Medications are usually kept in the school office/clinic and should be brought to school by an adult, not the child.
• If your child has a health condition and needs to carry medication such as an inhaler, auto-injectable epinephrine, or if you have questions, please contact the school or school nurse for additional information.

Download our flyer to learn more about adolescent health services offered.

Forms

Diabetes Medical Management Plan
Special Dietary Needs
Seizure Disorder Healthcare Action Plan
Allergy Action Plan
Self-Carry Non-Prescription Medication Form
Diaper Ointment Permission Form
Medication Administration Form
Medications for Field Trips Permission Form

Letters

Scoliosis Screenings
This letter is sent home with students in grades 5 through 12 about scoliosis screenings.

HPV Vaccines
This letter is sent home with rising 6th graders about HPV vaccines.