Monroe County Schools

📣 Spring Health Reminders for Families 🌷 As we head into warmer weather and the final stretch of the school year, here are a few important reminders to help keep our students and staff healthy: ⸻ 🏫 When to Send Your Child to School vs. Keep Them Home Please keep your child home if they have: • Fever (100.4°F or higher) • Vomiting or diarrhea • Significant cough, fatigue, or not feeling well enough to participate • Suspected contagious illness (flu, strep, etc.) While we do have a School Wellness Center, if you know your child is sick, please do not send them to school first. This can expose other students on the bus, in the classroom, and in the cafeteria. 👉 Instead, call ahead and schedule directly with the Wellness Center so we can: • Ensure a provider is available to see your child • Reduce exposure to other students and staff ⸻ 💧 Hydration & Warmer Weather With warmer days ahead, please remind your child to drink plenty of water daily. Hydration helps prevent headaches, fatigue, and more serious complications. ⸻ ☀️ Sunscreen Reminder School staff cannot apply sunscreen, as it is considered a "medication" and may cause allergic or skin reactions. 👉 Please apply sunscreen at home before school on warm, sunny days. ⸻ ⚠️ Important Health Update: Flu-Related Rhabdomyolysis (Rhabdo) We are seeing multiple cases again this year of rhabdomyolysis (rhabdo) associated with or following the flu. Rhabdo is a condition where muscle tissue breaks down and can affect the kidneys if not treated. Watch for these symptoms at home, especially after flu or illness: • Severe muscle pain (often in legs) • Trouble walking or weakness • Dark-colored urine (tea or cola colored) • Extreme fatigue 👉 If your child has these symptoms, seek medical care right away and keep them home from school. ⸻ 📚 Looking Ahead: School Requirements for Next Year As the school year wraps up, now is a great time to prepare for next year: Immunizations Required: • PreK, Kindergarten & New Students: DTaP, Polio, MMR, Varicella, Hepatitis B (age-appropriate doses) • 7th Grade: Tdap + Meningococcal (MCV) • 12th Grade: 1 Tdap + MCV booster (total of 2 MCV doses) Health Exams Required (within last 12 months): • PreK, Kindergarten, 7th & 12th grades • Any new enrollees ✔️ Well-child exam ✔️ Dental exam Thank you for partnering with us to keep our schools safe, healthy, and strong through the end of the year! 💙 If you have questions, please reach out to your school's nurse by calling your child's school or Jessie Thomas Monroe County School Nurse at (304)772-3094x322