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  2. When Students Should Stay Home Sick

When Students Should Stay Home Sick

Red Cross in circle (symbol of medical care)

  • When a student is sick, please call or use ParentSquare to contact the school to report the absence. (For calls, use the school’s main telephone line or, at CHS, the attendance line is 245-2679.)
  • If you receive an absence notice in ParentSquare, you can click “Send Note to School,” enter the reason for the absence and click “Submit.”
  • For extended absences, other documentation may be required.

When Should My Child Stay Home Sick?

Keep your child home and check with a health care provider (or seek testing) if they have the following symptoms or issues:

  • Fever (100.0°F+) or chills
  • Sore throat
  • Uncontrolled cough
  • Shortness of breath/difficulty breathing
  • Diarrhea, vomiting, or abdominal pain
  • Severe headache, especially with fever
  • Muscle or body aches
  • New loss of taste or smell
  • New congestion or runny nose
  • Fatigue (more than usual)
  • Red, itchy, draining eyes
  • If the student has tested positive for COVID – even if they have no symptoms
  • If they have any other contagious disease such as pertussis, ringworm, impetigo, lice, or conjunctivitis.

If any of these symptoms are common for your child or have been treated by a health care provider, please call your school nurse before sending them to school

ThermometerCOVID Safety Regulations

Charlottesville City Schools will follow guidance from local, state, and national health experts. Please be prepared in case your student, your class, or even your whole school needs to move to virtual for a short time. To stay in touch with emerging best practices, we may change our protocols.

It’s safe to return to school when...

  • No fever for 24 hours without taking ibuprofen or acetaminophen (Tylenol)
  • No vomiting or diarrhea in last 24 hours
  • Child can manage respiratory secretions
  • Health practitioner states that student is no longer contagious (a note may be required)
  • Student is able to maintain concentration and manage in the school building for a whole school day
  • In cases of COVID symptoms:
    • If child is displaying COVID symptoms, they can return when symptoms such as fever or nausea have resolved and either (a) they have been seen by a healthcare provider, (b) they have proof of a negative PCR COVID test, or (c) they have proof of 2 negative rapid COVID tests taken at least 24 hours apart.
  • If COVID is diagnosed:
    • They can return to school on day 6 (please note: this was erroneously reported as day 5 in our printed calendar and previously on this webpage) if symptoms such as fever, nausea, and severe cough have resolved and they agree to wear a mask for another 5 days. (The day symptoms appear is Day 0.) 

Returning to school after extended illness or injury

Contact:

Rachel Rasnake
1562 Dairy Road
Charlottesville, VA 22903
(434) 245-2400
rasnakr1@charlottesvilleschools.org 

COVID Health Precautions

  • Please use the following tools (“Daily Health Screening Tool” and “What to do in Covid Situations”) to help you in decided whether to keep one or more of your children home from school. If you need assistance, please call your school.

Enlaces para información en español:

Evaluador de Salud Diaro  |  Qué hacer en situaciones de Covid