If your child is ill, please keep them home

It’s no fun to be sick, and it’s especially no fun to share an illness with the rest of the class (and teacher!). Most common colds, flu and stomach bugs are caused by viruses that spread easily through bodily fluids, sneezing, and/or coughing. Our goal is to keep our students in school and teachers in their classrooms. The more we spread viruses and bacteria, the more days of school students and teachers miss. If your child is ill, we are happy to work with you to send work home so your student can catch up once they are feeling better.

Do not send your child to school if they have any of the following symptoms:

• FEVER - Any fever greater than 100.4 degrees F. Students may return when they have gone 24 hours without a fever while not on a fever-reducing medicine like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)

• VOMITING - At least 1 episode that is unexplained in the past 24 hours. Students may return to school when they have not vomited in the last 48 hours.

• DIARRHEA - Three or more episodes of watery or loose poop in 24 hours OR sudden onset of watery or loose poop. Students may return when they have not had diarrhea in the past 48 hours.

• STIFF NECK - Stiff neck or headache WITH a fever. Students may return after the symptoms go away or a diagnosis is made and clearance to return to school is given by a health care provider.

• RASH/SKIN PROBLEM - Any new rash if not previously diagnosed by a health care provider OR if the rash is getting bigger OR if there are new sores/wounds developing day-to-day OR if the rash, sores or wounds are draining and cannot be completely covered with a bandage. Students may return to school when drainage can be covered by a bandage without soaking through and clearance is given by a licensed health care provider.

• COUGH - If your student has a new cough, please keep them home until their symptoms have been improving for 24 hours. If they have a persistent (not new and it won’t go away) cough that does not improve, they may need to be seen by a licensed healthcare provider before they can return.

• PINK EYE/CONJUNCTIVITIS - Keep your student home for unexplained redness of one or both eyes AND colored drainage from the eyes OR eye irritation accompanied by vision changes OR symptoms such as eye irritation, pain, redness, swelling or excessive tear production that prevent active participation in usual school activities. Students may return after symptoms resolve OR after seen and cleared by a licensed healthcare provider.

• LICE - Students may return to school after one lice treatment has been administered.

• JAUNDICE - Yellowing of eyes or skin. Students may return after they have a diagnosis from a physician and the physician clears them to return.

• BEHAVIOR CHANGE - Any behavior change such as new onset of irritability, not feeling like doing much (lethargy), or sleepiness (somnolence). Students may return after they have a diagnosis from a physician and the physician clears them to return.

Health promotion

Wellness

One of the things Seventh-day Adventists are known for is their dedication to health. TVA encourages each one of our students (and parents!) to take care of their bodies by getting plenty of rest each night, eating nutritious foods, drinking plenty of water, and exercising regularly. Students who get enough sleep and eat a nutritious breakfast focus better in school, which improves their learning. We also encourage students to bring healthy lunches or participate in our hot lunch program, and students are encouraged to bring a reusable water bottle to fill at our drinking fountains so they can have water available to them at their desk. Additionally, students are provided opportunities to be active throughout the day and participate in various fitness activities throughout the school year.

Medications

If your child requires medications to be administered at school, download this form and return it to the school office.

Immunizations

Oregon state law requires that students have received appropriate vaccinations or completed vaccination exception paperwork for school entry. To view the State of Oregon’s complete list of immunization requirements, click here.

Kindergartners and other students new to TVA will not be allowed to start school without the required immunizations or exception paperwork.

School administrators are required to exclude from school those students not having proof of at least one dose of each of the above-noted immunizations. The only exceptions are those children who have health problems that would prevent them from receiving the inoculations and those whose religious teachings oppose immunizations.

Immunization Exclusion Day
Each year the State Health Department sets a date when students without complete immunizations or exemptions are sent home and not allowed to return to school until the requirements are completed. If your student is missing vaccination information, we will reach out to you to complete the information.

Information about Oregon’s vaccine regulations are provided on the Oregon Health Authority's website.

Getting Immunizations
Immunizations (vaccines, or shots) are provided by your doctor’s office and some pharmacies. In addition, the Washington County Health & Human Services (HHS) Department operates several clinics that offer immunizations. Please visit the Washington County HHS web site or contact them at (503) 846-8851 for more information about services and locations.

Immunization Rates
State law requires us to disclose our school’s immunization rates and the immunization rates of our county. This information is provided to us by the Washington County Health Department. To access our school specific data can be found here by clicking on the data map.