Medical & Health
Grace Cavanagh, BSN, CSN
Upper School Nurse
(610-983-4080 Ext. 7127)
Grace.Cavanagh@rak12.org
to email all nurses: Nurse@rak12.org
Jacklyn Rees, RN, BSN
Part-time Nurse (10AM-2PM)
Grades Kindergarten to 2 office
(610-983-4080 Ext. 7350)
To Email all nurses: Nurse@rak12.org
Dear Families: Important Information
Please be advised that the School Nurse will contact you by phone or email only when we believe there is a significant health concern or injury involving your child.
We do not contact parents or guardians for every visit to the Health Office. For example, we frequently see students for minor concerns such as needing a bandage, bumping heads with a peer or reporting a mild stomach ache. If the student is fever-free, has no other symptoms of illness or injury, and feels better after a light snack (such as saltines) or using an ice pack, we consider this a minor issue and will not reach out.
Students are always encouraged to return to the nurse if their symptoms do not improve or begin to worsen. If a student visits the Health Office two or more times for the same complaint, we will contact you by phone or email based on our assessment of your child’s needs.
It is very important to ensure that your contact information is up to date and that you have provided a reliable emergency contact. We occasionally experience delays—sometimes up to two hours—in reaching a parent or guardian because we only have one phone number on file or are unable to reach anyone to meet the child’s immediate needs.
As always, our priority is to ensure the health and well-being of your child while minimizing unnecessary disruptions to their learning day. Thank you for your understanding and continued support.
Wishing you a happy and healthy school year!
Warmest Regards,
Mrs. Cavanagh
Sending Home Students Who are Ill
As a general rule, students will only be sent home sick if they have a fever of 100 degrees or more, or if they vomit. The nurse will evaluate students feeling ill and will make a case-by-case decision using her discretion. The school nurse and a school administrator are the only individuals that may determine if a child needs to be sent home. Students sent home with a fever will not be re-admitted to school until 24 hours after the student has been fever free without the use of medication such as Tylenol or Advil.
Health Information & Forms
Recent Injury
If your child has sustained a recent injury or illness that restricts his/her activity, please notify the school and forward medical documentation to the School Nurse.
- A doctor’s note is required to use the elevator and/or wheelchair. If you child needs a wheelchair, please provide one. They are easily rented at medical supply stores.
- Renaissance Academy does have a wheelchair for both the lower and upper schools; however, they must be available for situations that occur during the school day.
- A doctor’s note is required to be excused from participating in gym class. Once relieved of the injury or illness, a doctor’s note is also required to return to all activities, including gym class.
Sending Students to School
While it is sometimes inconvenient to keep a sick child home, school exclusion is necessary to keep our school community healthy. Please use the following guidelines when deciding whether your child should come to school:
- Your child will need to stay home if he/she has a temperature of 100* or greater. Your child’s temperature should be below 100* for 24 hours (without the use of Tylenol or Ibuprofen) before returning to school.
- Children with vomiting and /or diarrhea are to be kept home for 24 hours after the last episode. Your child should be tolerating a regular diet before returning to school.
- Children with suspected infectious diseases (i.e. pink eye, strep throat, ringworm, impetigo) must be kept home until verification from your health care provider can be obtained. Some illnesses require physician certification to return to school.
- Children with severe sore throat, excessive cough or a cough that produces phlegm, severe headache, earache, or stomachache that prevents them from eating/drinking should remain home.
- Remember that children who are ill are not to be sent to school simply because there is a party or a field trip or because they don't want to miss a test or assignment. Although they may be sad at missing the event or worry about falling behind, they are often too sick to participate and risk infecting their fellow students and staff members.
Resources & Information
Health Care Resources.
Renaissance Academy cares about the health and safety of our students, both in and outside of school. Take a look at these resources for you and your family!
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