Handwashing can prevent 1 in 3 cases of diarrhea and 1 in 5 respiratory infections, such as a cold or the flu. 

Handwashing is an easy, cheap, and effective way to prevent the spread of germs and keep kids and adults healthy. When your family is healthy, you don't have to worry about missing school, work, or other activities. 

Help your child develop handwashing skills

Parents and caretakers play an important role in teaching children to wash their hands. Handwashing can become a lifelong healthy habit if you start teaching it at an early age. Teach kids the five easy steps for handwashing: wet, lather, scrub, rinse, and dry. And, teach them the key times to wash hands, such as after using the bathroom or before eating. You can find ways to make it fun, like making up your own handwashing song or turning it into a game. 

Lead by example

Young children learn by imitating the behaviors of adults in their lives. When you make handwashing part of your routine, you're setting an example for your child to follow. 

Give frequent reminders

Building handwashing skill takes time. At first, your child will need regular reminders of how and when to wash hands. It is especially important to remind children to wash their hands after using the bathroom, before eating, after touching pets, after playing outside, and after coughing, sneezing, or blowing their nose. But once handwashing becomes a habit and a regular part of your child's day, they will practice it throughout their lives. 

What if soap and water aren't available? 

Washing hands with soap and water is the best way to get rid of germs. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that has at least 60% alcohol. 

Did you know? 

Baby wipes may make your hands look clean, but they're not designed to remove germs from your hands. CDC recommends washing hands with soap and water when possible. 

Infectious diseases are one of the most common causes of student absenteeism, accounting for millions of school days lost each year. Prevention and control of infectious diseases are recognized as essential responsibilities of the school health staff. Professional school registered nurses were first introduced into the educational setting in the early 1900's expressly for this purpose. An important goal of school health services today continues to be the prevention and control of communicable disease. 

Management of Communicable Disease Plan

When children and Staff Should Stay Home from School

Outbreaks of illnesses may require more strict return to school requirements. There may be situations where public health
determines more stringent return-to-school requirements. When there is concern about outbreaks in the school, it is important to
consult with the school nurse.

Main reasons to keep children and staff at home: 

1. The child or staff member could infect others with a contagious illness, either because of symptoms, a diagnosis, or recent exposure to a contagious illness.
2. The child or staff member does not feel well enough to take part in usual activities. For example, a child is overly tired, fussy, or will not stop crying.
3. A child needs more care than teachers and staff can give while still caring for the other children.
4. The child or staff member has symptoms or an illness is on this list, and staying home is required.

District 6 Illness Exclusion Guidelines

Symptom Guidance	Child or staff must stay home?
Diarrhea: Frequent, loose, or watery stools (poop) compared to normal ones that are not caused by food or medicine.	Yes: Unless the diarrhea is related to an existing long-term medical condition, is explained by a diagnosed condition not requiring the person to stay home, or is consistent with the person's normal. The child or staff member may return to school or child care 24 hours after their last episode of diarrhea unless the diarrhea is caused by an illness that requires them to stay home longer. If the diarrhea is explained by a specific illness, then the child or staff can return to school or child care following exclusion guidelines for that illness.
Fever: Temperature of 100.4 degrees Farenheit or greater	Yes: The child or staff member may return to school or child care if the fever has been resolved for 24 hours without fever reducing medications unless the fever is caused by an illness that requires them to stay home longer.
Flu-Like Symptoms: Fever, Sore Throat, Runny nose, congestion	Yes: Children and staff may return to school or child care as long as they are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications and other symptoms are improving.
Vomiting/Throwing Up	Yes: Unless the vomiting is related to an existing long-term medical condition or is explained by a diagnosed condition not requiring the person to stay home. If the vomiting is unexplained and not consistent with the person’s normal state of health, the child or staff member may return 24 hours after their last episode of vomiting. If the vomiting can be explained by a specific illness, then follow the exclusion guidelines for that illness. If a child with a recent head injury vomits, seek medical attention.
Chicken Pox	Yes: Until the blisters have dried and crusted (usually 6 days), or in immunized people without crusting, until no new lesions within 24 hour period.
Croup, RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus)	Yes: Should remain out of school or child care setting until they are fever free 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications and other symptoms have been improving for 24 hours.
Strep Throat	Yes: For 12 hours after starting antibiotics unless the doctor says it is okay to return to school sooner.
Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis)	No: Children and adults do not need to stay home unless they have a fever or are not able to participate in usual activities. Call your doctor for advice and possible treatment. Encourage frequent hand washing.
Hand, Foot & Mouth Disease	No: exclusion necessary unless the child or adult meets other exclusion criteria, is drooling uncontrollably and has mouth sores or is not able to participate in usual activities.
Lice	Exclusion is for children found with live head lice only, may return after they have had the first treatment. *Research does not support school exclusion for nits (lice eggs).
Hepatitis A, Salmonella, Shigella, or Shiga-toxin producing E. coli	Yes: Children and staff may return to school/child care when cleared by the health department.
Impetigo	Yes: Children and adults need to stay home until 24 hours after antibiotic treatment has started.
Mouth Sores	Yes: If a student is drooling uncontrollably.
Rash	Yes: If a student has symptoms in addition to the rash such as behavioral change, fever,joint pain, bruising not associated with injury, or if the rash is open and oozing.
Ringworm	Yes: may stay in school until the end of the day, but may not return until they have had the first treatment. Keep the area covered for the first 3 days.
Stomach Ache or Abdominal Pain	Yes: If the pain is severe, if the pain appears after an injury, or if the student had symptoms in addition to the stomach ache such as vomiting, fever, diarrhea, etc.
Swollen Glands	Yes: If the student has symptoms in addition to the swollen glands such as difficulty breathing or swallowing, fever, etc.
Earache	No: exclusion necessary. Notify parents if they are unaware of earache, especially inyoung children.
Headache	No: exclusion necessary. Contact the nurse if the headache is persistent, severe, or is accompanied by other symptoms. Follow the healthcare plan if a student has one for headache.
Norovirus	Yes: Exclude children and staff for at least 48 hours after their last episode of vomiting and/or diarrhea.
Contagious Illness	Students on antibiotics for contagious illnesses, such as tonsillitis, bronchitis, or pneumonia, must stay home until antibiotics have been taken for 24 hours or longer if directed by a healthcare provider or public health department. All skin lesions must be covered by a bandage or clothing during the school day. This may include impetigo, ringworm, scabies, and other fungal, bacterial or viral skin infections.
Other Vaccine Preventable Diseases: Measles, Mumps, Rubella, and Pertussis	Yes: Children and staff can return to school once they are no longer contagious (see Infectious Disease Guidelines). Public health consultation may be necessary.

 

Excerpt about Audiology from Colorado Department of Education:

Educational Audiologists are hired or contracted by school districts throughout Colorado. They provide comprehensive support and management to children with listening and/or hearing difficulties, birth through high school graduation. Responsibilities include management of early childhood and school hearing screening programs, assessment and management of auditory disorders, determination and management of hearing instrumentation devices, provision of auditory habilitation activities, management of hearing conservation programs, and counseling and training for school staff and parents. Educational audiologists are professionals uniquely qualified to ensure that all students have adequate access to auditory information in the learning environment.

District 6 Audiology

1315 Fourth Avenue
Greeley, CO 80631

Phone: 970-348-1072
Fax:  970-348-1095

Meet Our Team:

Lisa Guzmán, Au.D.  
Audiologist
Email: LGUZMAN3@GREELEYSCHOOLS.ORG 
Phone:  970-348-1070

Tammy Odell, Au.D. Audiologist  
Audiologist
Email: TODELL@GREELEYSCHOOLS.ORG  
Phone:  970-348-1071

Rebecca Figgs  
Audiology Specialist
Email: RFIGGS@GREELEYSCHOOLS.ORG 
Phone:  970-348-1072

School-based health centers provide comprehensive services that compliment services provided by school nurses. School-based primary health care includes physical exams, immunizations, care for acute illness and injury and for chronic conditions such as asthma. Mental health services identify problems early, reduce stigma for getting help  and decrease school discipline referrals. Establishing a school-based health center is a community-driven process that requires multiple partnerships - between school districts, the medical and mental health communities and local and state funders - to be effective. The best part about these centers is that they put health care where most kids are - in school.  District 6 has three school-based health centers.

Sunrise Centennial Children's Clinic

Located at Centennial Elementary

         1400 37th Street, Evans CO 80620

Services available at this location include:

• Primary Care

• Behavioral Health

• Pediatrics

• Telehealth

Hours of operation are Tuesday - Friday, 7:30 am to 6:00 pm.

Any D6 student and their siblings (ages 0 to 18) are welcome to access services here.

For appointments, please call 970-348-1112, or schedule an appointment online by visiting their website at:  https://www.sunrisecommunityhealth.org/sunrisecentennialchildrensclinic

---

Bond Children's Clinic - Sunrise

Located in Salida del Sol Academy 

      111 East 26th St., Suite #1 Greeley, CO 80631

Services available at this location include:

• Primary Care

• Behavioral Health

• Pediatrics

• Telehealth

Hours of operation are Monday - Thursday, 7:30 am to 6:00 pm.

Any D6 student and their siblings (ages 0 to 18) are welcome to access services here. 

For appointments, please call 970-702-2675, or schedule an appointment online by visiting their website at: https://www.sunrisecommunityhealth.org/bondchildrensclinic

---

Sunrise Madison Children's Clinic

Located in James Madison STEAM Academy 

       500 24th Avenue Greeley, CO 80634

Services available at this location include:

• Primary Care

• Behavioral Health

• Pediatrics

• Telehealth

Hours of operation are Monday - Wednesday, Friday 7:30 am to 6:00 pm.

Any D6 student and their siblings (ages 0 to 18) are welcome to access services here. 

For appointments, please call 970-348-1771, or schedule an appointment online by visiting their website at:  https://www.sunrisecommunityhealth.org/sunrisemadisonchildrensclinic