Health and Wellness Policies

Our goal is a school full of healthy children.  We can come close to achieving this goal if parents and staff work together.  Our staff members practice and teach good health habits, such as hand washing before meals and after toileting.  We ask parents to do their part by keeping ill children out of school.

All of our staff members are certified in First Aid and CPR.  As part of our morning greeting, we do screen children to make sure they are not showing signs of illness.  If a sign is there, the child will not be allowed to stay at the center that day.  Signs we look for are:

  • Fever, the temperature of over 100
  • Diarrhea or vomiting
  • Severe chest or nasal congestion
  • Unexplained rash
  • Behavior indicating pain or distress
  • The contagious stage of a communicable disease

To reduce the risk of infection to the student body, a child who is showing the above signs while in school will be separated from the other students.  We will make the child comfortable and contact the parent(s) to pick up the child. If your child is sent home with a fever of 100.1° or more your child cannot return to school until he/she is fever free for 24 hours without using fever-reducing medication.

If your child is sent home with vomiting or diarrhea your child cannot return to school until vomiting and/or diarrhea have ceased for at least 24 hours.

Please make sure the information on your child’s registration form is up to date so we can reach you if your child becomes ill or injured.  If the school is unable to contact you, the emergency contact listed on the registration form will be called.  Please list people who will know your whereabouts or who could pick up your child if you cannot be reached.  If your routine changes, please inform the office and leave a number where you can be reached for that day.

All students must be immunized and/or tested according to the current Virginia State Board of Health requirements found in the Virginia School Health Guidelines.  These forms must be on file before your child begins school.

For more information or a tour of St. Joseph’s Preschool contact us.