LAUREL SCHOOLS General Health Policy - UPDATED - November 2025

When Should My Child Stay at Home?

Children who are not physically well will not thrive in their classrooms and most often become the source for community spread of contagious viruses. Following is a list of the most common symptoms:

  • Runny nose

  • Congested

  • Persistent sneezing or coughing

  • Vomiting

  • Diarrhea; 2 or more watery stools in 24 hours

  • Mucus draining from the eye(s)

  • Swollen glands

  • Unusually tired, pale, lack of appetite, confused or cranky

  • Communicable diseases (meaning contagious illnesses). Some examples of common communicable diseases include pink eye, FLU, whooping cough, strep throat, hand, foot and mouth disease, lice or nits, etc.

  • A fever of 100.4° F

When your child becomes symptomatic at school:

Parents will be called to pick up a child who develops symptoms of an illness. Parents are expected to arrive for the child within 1 hour of being notified. This is not optional as the health and well-being of every child is paramount. If we cannot reach you within 30 minutes, we will begin calling your emergency contacts to arrange a pickup.

If your child becomes symptomatic while at school and they are subsequently sent home with a Sick Note, they may return only if ALL of the following requirements are met.

  • There are no symptoms - without the use of suppressants OR symptoms have significantly improved

  • It has been a minimum of 24 hours


    Please note: We follow a combination of DCYF requirements, WA DOH and CDC guidelines, all of which are subject to change.