Our school nurses want to encourage you to make healthy decisions for your child and our schools. One of the best ways to help is by keeping your children (or yourself!) home during illnesses. Children who are ill should be kept home regardless of symptom severity, including cold or flu-type illnesses.

Please do not send your child to school when they are sick.

Illness continues to be prevalent in our community, and our school nurses observe respiratory illnesses in students arriving at school. Remember, illness is not solely determined by temperature and may present as a variety of symptoms, including congestion, cough, sniffles, and sore throats.

MLSD is required to adhere to WA State DOH Respiratory Guidelines. This means that if your student has ONE or MORE of the following symptoms, please keep them home and consult with your School Nurse or Health Care Provider on when to return to school:  

• Fever/chills (≥100.4℉) 
• Shortness of breath/breathing difficulty 
• Body aches 
• A new loss of taste/smell
• Cough 
• Nausea/vomiting/diarrhea 
• Fatigue
• Sore throat 
• Congestion/runny nose  

It's up to all of us to keep our schools healthy and safe for students and staff. As always, you may contact your school nurse if you have questions. Thank you for helping us to keep our schools healthy!

Students and staff must stay home when they are not feeling well and stay home until they feel better.

What to do if you have RESPIRATORY symptoms