Health & Wellness

Children are most successful in school when they are present for as many days as possible. However, children who are sick need to stay home if they will not be able to concentrate sufficiently on learning or if they may cause others to become sick. If your child develops any of these issues during the school day, you will be contacted to pick them up.

To help reduce the spread of illness to students and staff, please keep your child home/your child will be sent home for the following reasons:

• Fever: 100 F is considered a fever. If your child has a temperature 100F or over – they should not attend school. Your child should be fever free (without being medicated) for 24 hours before returning to school.
• Rash: If a child has a rash, s/he will need a doctor's note confirming that the rash is not contagious before returning to school. 
• Vomiting: A child may return to school after s/he has not thrown up for 24 hours and is back on a regular diet. Most children who vomit during the school day will be sent home.
• Diarrhea: A child who has a loose stool more than two times in 24 hours, should stay home. S/he may return to school after being diarrhea free for 24 hours.
• Cough/Cold: A child with a severe or frequent cough and a runny nose is likely not to feel well enough to concentrate sufficiently on learning. S/he would benefit from more rest and fluids at home.
• Doctor Recommendation: If a child has been prescribed an antibiotic, check with the doctor to see if the child needs to be on medication 24 hours prior to returning to school.

 Students absent from school are expected not to participate in extracurricular activities that day. This helps prevent the spread of illness to others.

Michigan law requires a physician’s written order along with a parent/guardian signature of authorization of all prescribed medications. A parent/guardian signature of authorization and confirmation of medication appropriateness by a licensed physician is required for all non-prescription medications.

Click HERE for the form required for prescribed and over the counter medications.

Important Information Regarding Medications:

• All medications must be brought into school in the original container and stored in the school office. Prescription medications must be brought into school in a current pharmacy-labeled container. If there is a change in the prescription or if the prescription is discontinued, documentation from the physician is required. Non- prescription medications including pain relievers, topical medications, eye drops and cough drops must also be brought into school and stored in the office with the appropriate paperwork.
• Medication cannot be stored in the school office over the summer months. It should be picked up at the end of the school year by a parent or guardian.

In general, students considered well enough to attend school are expected to participate in all school activities including outdoor recess. If a student has limitations due to illness or injury that prohibit them from participating in regular classroom, recess and/or physical education activities, documentation from the physician outlining the restrictions and a timeline for the restrictions is required.

If you have questions or concerns please feel free to contact our school nurse: Dawn Hynds, RN, 734-439-5858 or hyndsd@milanareaschools.org.

ALLERGIES: An increasing number of students have mild to severe allergic reactions to food, insect stings or environmental products. We hope to work together to keep all of our students safe at school. We ask that all students with food allergies have a Food Allergy Action Plan from their physician on file at school. Please contact us if you have questions regarding allergies in the school setting.

ASTHMA: We ask that all students with asthma have a rescue inhaler at school. Please contact us for more specific information regarding asthma management at school.

As a school community we try to minimize the spread of communicable disease by encouraging frequent hand washing and through the regular cleaning of community surfaces. 

Please report any confirmed diagnosis (strep throat, pink eye, impetigo, etc.) to your child's school office. This helps us know when to notify other families about illness and also helps us track illness trends at school. This information is also reported weekly to the local health department and is used to track illness trends in our county.

The following is a guideline for some common childhood illnesses and infections.

Exclusion Recommendations

• Chickenpox (Varicella) -Until all lesions are crusted over and until at least 6 days after appearance of first lesion.

• Conjunctivitis (pink eye), bacterial - Until there is no drainage from eye and after 24 hours of antibiotic treatment

• Fifth Disease - May return to school when feeling better

• Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease - Until recovered from acute illness and fever-free for 24 hours

• Impetigo - Minimum of 24 hours of antibiotic and until lesions are dry.

• ​Mononucleosis - Upon recommendation of health care provider

• Ringworm - Minimum of 24 hours of treatment, area should be covered

• Scabies - May return upon completion of health care provider prescribed treatment

• ​Scarlet Fever - May return if feeling better and after 24 hours minimum of antibiotic treatment

• Strep Throat - May return if feeling better and after 24 hours minimum of antibiotic treatment

MORE RESOURCES:

Common Communicable Disease Guidance (Washtenaw County Health Department) - Information on common childhood diseases and when an infected individual can be readmitted to school.

Hearing and Vision Screening is provided in Milan Area Schools by the Washtenaw County Public Health Department.

Vision Screenings: Each child is tested for: visual acuity, farsightedness, ability to use two eyes together and symptoms of eye problems

• Preschool
• Young 5s, Kindergarten
• Grades 1, 3, 5, 7, 9

Hearing Screenings: Hearing screenings are done with the use of an audiometer and other equipment based on the child's needs.

• Preschool
• Young 5s, Kindergarten
• Grades 2, 4

Michigan law requires that all students entering kindergarten, seventh grade, or a new school district (grades 1–12) provide proof of immunization. This documentation must be submitted at the time of registration or no later than the first day of school.

These laws help ensure students are protected against vaccine-preventable diseases before reaching adolescence.

What You Need to Provide

Parents or guardians must submit one of the following for each student:

• An official Certificate of Immunization showing all required vaccines have been received, OR

• Documentation showing the child has received at least one dose of each required vaccine and is scheduled to receive the remaining doses at appropriate intervals, OR

• A certified immunization waiver for medical, religious, or other nonmedical reasons (see below).

Where to Get Immunizations

• Your child’s primary care provider or family doctor

• Washtenaw County Public Health
  📍 Visit the Immunizations Page
  📞 Call 734-544-6700 to schedule an appointment

Immunization Waivers (Nonmedical)

Parents who choose to opt their child out of one or more vaccines for nonmedical reasons must follow the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) waiver process. For more information about the waiver process, contact your local health department or visit the MDHHS Immunization Waiver Information Page.