Dear Parent or Guardian:

The peak of the cold and flu season is upon us. Add in COVID-19 with new variants on the horizon, and we need to be very cautious here on campus in order to prevent widespread illness in the school. Any child with any of the following symptoms should be tested for COVID-19, Influenza (flu), and/or strep throat. Please keep your child home until you receive the results of any diagnostic testing. To decide whether or not to send your child to school, please consider the following guidelines:

Consider keeping your child at home for an extra day of rest and observation if he or she has any of the following symptoms:

• Very stuffy or runny nose and/or cough
• Mild sore throat (no fever, no known exposure to strep)
• Headache
• Mild-moderate stomach ache

Definitely keep your child at home for treatment and observation if he or she has any of these symptoms:

• Fever (Trinity Catholic and Leon County consider a fever a temperature of 100 degrees or greater). Your child may return to school only after his or her temperature has been consistently below 100 degrees, with no fever-reducing medication, for a minimum of 48 hours.
• Vomiting (even once)
• Diarrhea
• Chills
• General malaise or feelings of fatigue, weakness, or muscle aches
• Frequent wet or croupy cough
• Lots of nasal congestion with frequent blowing of nose
• Loss of smell and or taste

To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, flu, and other colds and illnesses, teach your children good hygiene habits:

• Wash hands frequently
• Do not touch eyes, nose, or mouth
• Cover mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing, use a paper tissue, throw it away and then wash hands
• Wear a mask when around other people not in your family
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

All of these viral illnesses are typically the most contagious during the first 48 hours.  A child who has a fever should remain at home until fever-free for a minimum of 48 hours.  Often when a child awakens with vague complaints (the way viruses begin) it is wise to observe your child at home for an hour or two before deciding whether or not to bring him/her to school.  Your child should be physically able to participate in all school activities on return to school.  Keeping a sick child at home will minimize the spread of infections and viruses in the classroom.

If your child has received a POSITIVE diagnosis of COVID-19 or flu, please let us know immediately. We have already had numerous children with diagnosed flu.  We also have several children who were diagnosed with COVID-19 over the Thanksgiving break. We are doing our best to keep our numbers down!  Please consider sending in donations of Lysol spray, Lysol/Clorox/alcohol wipes, and baby wipes. 

We are constantly watching the numbers for all of these contagious illnesses in our area. COVID-19 is now becoming much more prevalent in the younger population.  Please speak to your physicians regarding vaccination for your children ages 5 and older. The COVID-19 vaccination is free of charge and readily available in our area.

Thank you in advance for helping make this year at school as healthy as possible.

Sincerely,

Kierstan B. Greif, RN
Trinity Catholic School Nurse