Health & Safety

As cases in our area continue to rise, we want to remind families of some important steps that we all can take to decrease exposure within our community.

If a child has had an exposure to an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19, they may not come to school unless it is determined that they were not a close contact. If they do qualify as a close contact, they will need to remain off campus for 14 days from their last exposure.

If your child is experiencing cold-like symptoms associated with COVID-19, please keep them home and consult a medical professional if needed.

If someone in your household is experiencing one or more symptoms of COVID-19, children, including siblings, are considered “close contacts” and should stay home from school until the person with symptoms has been cleared.

If someone in your household is diagnosed with COVID-19 (either by testing or by a physician), children need to complete the quarantine period for a close contact. A child’s negative test result does not allow them to return early. A child who has been quarantined does not need a negative test or medical release to return if they have not developed symptoms after 14 days.

The school’s health liaison, Heidi Hewett, will be able to assist you in determining when your child is able to return.

Thank you for being diligent in following these guidelines to minimize risk for others and keep our students on campus as much as possible. We appreciate your continued support.

Symptoms listed by the Illinois Department of Health as associated with COVID-19:

• Temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Chills
• Fatigue
• Muscle and body aches
• Headache
• Sore throat
• Loss of taste or smell
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea

Close Contact



A “close contact” is technically defined as someone who has been within 6 feet for more than 15 minutes and therefore at risk for developing an infection within 1-14 days. Mask-wearing decreases this risk. Your child may be quarantined with a class and identified by us as a close contact to the Health Dept. out of an abundance of caution if he or she was present on a day in class with an infectious individual. This does not necessarily mean they were within 6 feet for over 15 minutes or are at risk.