Reasons your child should stay home from school or may be sent home from school/SACC. Students with the following conditions will not be permitted to ride the school bus home. The student must be released to a parent/guardian or adult designee. Please refer to PWCS Regulation 757-1.

1. Fever of 100.4ºF and over - exclude until student has been fever-free without the use of fever-reducing medication for at least 24 hours.

2. Conjunctivitis (pink eye), strep infections, ringworm, and impetigo are all infections and must be treated with medication for a minimum of 24 hours before returning to school. Please do not allow affected students back before this time so that other students are not infected unnecessarily.

3. Rash of unknown origin with fever and/or behavioral changes, until a primary care provider, has determined that the illness is not a communicable disease.

4. Head injury.

5. Severe coughing or difficulty breathing.

6. Colds - a child with thick or constant nasal discharge should remain home.

7. Diarrhea - sudden increase in frequency to more than three loose/watery stools per day. Exclude until student has been symptom free for at least 24 hours.

8. Vomiting - unless the vomiting is determined to be caused by a diagnosed non-communicable/non-infectious condition (such as dysmenorrhea, dysphagia, etc.).

9. Abdominal pain that continues for more than two hours or intermittent abdominal pain associated with fever or other signs or symptoms.

10. Stiff neck associated with fever and/or a recent injury.

11. Inadequate immunizations with known disease outbreak in school.

12. Refer to the Virginia Department of health's "Communicable Disease Reference Chart for School Personnel" for other exclusions/information.

All students should have up-to-date parent/guardian contact information and three local emergency contacts on file with the school in the event that contact needs to be made due to a student health emergency.

As we are entering the cold and flu season, this is a reminder of the best health practices to decrease the spread and transmission of viruses in PWCS schools.

Please remember to cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and throw used tissues in the trash. If you don't have a tissue, cough, or sneeze into your elbow, not your hands. Wash hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds, dry hands with a paper towel, and use the paper towel to turn off the faucet. If soap and water are not available, hand sanitizers may also be used to perform hand hygiene. Remember to stay home when you’re sick until at least 24 hours without a fever or the use of fever reducing medicine. Together we can help stop the spread of germs that may make you and others ill.

Medication cannot be administered to any student without appropriate authorization forms completed and on file. Any medication must be provided in a new, sealed container with the completed authorization form. Students may NOT transport medication to and from school. Any medication not meeting the PWCS regulations will not be administered to your student. 

Medication Administration Regulation

Medication Administration Form

AUTORIZACIÓN PARA ADMINISTRACIÓN MÉDICA - Español (PDF)

Management of Asthma in the School Setting Regulation

Asthma Action Plan

Allergic Reaction Regulation and Forms

Allergy Action Plan

Diabetes Management in the School Regulation and Forms

Virginia Diabetes Medical Management Plan

Management of Seizures in School Regulation

Seizure Action Plan

All preschool, kindergarten, and new to the county students are required to submit a Virginia School Entrance Health (Physical) Form and immunization record completed by a licensed provider prior to the first day of school. School entrance physicals must be completed within one year of entry.

Virginia School Entrance Form

Virginia School Entrance Form - Spanish

School Immunization Requirements

PWCS Student Health Services