Health and Safety

• Please note and adhere to our School District and Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s (CDPHE) "How Sick is Too Sick" Policy as determined by Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
• If your child is too sick to attend preschool, please let your teacher know as soon as possible.
• If a child becomes ill at school, parents will be called and the child must be picked up within one hour.  
• Classroom staff notify parents/legal guardians when a child becomes ill, is involved in an accident, or is injured and requires emergency medical care while at school.
• All non-emergency or minor accidents/injuries will be treated with First Aid by a trained staff member. 

Short Term Exclusion Due to Illness

In situations in which a child does not have a diagnosed disease/condition, but has signs or symptoms indicative of a potentially infectious disease, exclusion may be warranted.  Generally, if any of the following conditions apply, exclusion from childcare or school should be considered:

1. The child is at risk of infecting others with a contagious illness, either because of symptoms or recent close contact.
2. The child 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 has symptoms or an illness on this list (How Sick is Too Sick), and staying home is required.

• Staff follow Standard Response Protocol when responding to emergency situations.
• Each Center practices safety/emergency drills on a routine schedule. Lockdown, Lockout (Secure the Perimeter), Shelter in Place, and Evacuation drills are planned and practiced with children.
• Each classroom has an evacuation plan posted.

• If a child goes missing, staff will immediately inform the Principal/EC Administration. Parents will be promptly notified, and the appropriate agencies will be contacted as required. This may include Child Care Licensing and Department of Human Services.  

This policy is implemented throughout the year following Colorado Child Care Licensing Regulations.  

• All parents/guardians will be asked annually to provide written authorization and acknowledgment of their requirement to apply sunscreen on their child, their approval of the use of another form of sun protection for their children’s skin, or indicate that they opt out of sun protection measures. 
• We ask all parents/guardians, who do not opt-out, to apply sunscreen to their child’s skin within 1 hour of arriving to our program.
• Parents/Guardians may dress their child in sun-protective clothing prior to drop off. 
• Children in all-day programming will have sunscreen or other approved sun protection re-applied in accordance with the sunscreen product directions.

• Children required to take medications while at school must have annual written authorization from a parent or guardian and written health care provider’s/doctor’s orders for each medication prescribed.  
• All medication will be administered by trained and delegated staff following the prescribed directions and the child’s individualized health care plan.  
• Home remedies, including homeopathic medications, are not allowed to be given at school.
• Any medication administered will be documented in our classroom medication logbook.
• All medication will be stored in areas inaccessible to children at all times.
• For safety reasons, all medications must be brought in by an adult.
• No medications may be sent to school in a child’s backpack.
• Medications brought to school must be kept in the original container labeled with the child’s first and last name.
• If a medication is expired or left over, notification will be sent and we will return those medications back to parents/guardians.
• Medication that is not picked up will be properly disposed of by Health Staff.

• Meals are prepared by Thompson School District Nutrition Services.
• A menu is posted in each classroom and on the district website.
• Parents/Guardians are welcome to join us for lunch or snack time.
• If you plan to join us for a meal, please call your child's center by 9:00 am to be included in the class meal count.
• Please speak to your child's teacher or the nurse if your child has a food allergy or dietary restriction. You will be required to provide a doctor's statement if your child cannot have certain foods due to health reasons.