Health and Safety

We immediately notify parents or legal guardians and complete documentation 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 and injuries will be treated with First Aid by a trained staff member. Please call your school if your child is too sick to attend before the start of class.

For the safety of our children, the Thompson Integrated Early Childhood reserves the right to determine if your child is too sick to attend school. If a child becomes ill at school, parents will be called and must pick up their child within one hour.  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.

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.

Remember, the best way to stop the spread of infection is through proper handwashing and staying home when sick.

To ensure the safety of the children within our program we respond to all emergency situations, such as tornadoes and fires.  If a child is lost, staff will immediately notify the Principal/EC Administration. The parents will be notified and appropriate law enforcement will be called.  

Staff are trained to be aware of and count children at all times.  During transition times (moving between buildings, playground, bus) staff will maintain the correct ratio and count the children. Staff will count the children before they leave and after they arrive at the new location checking attendance sheets as necessary.  

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.  Please refer to our District’s Standard Response Protocol for more detailed information regarding other emergency situations.

Our Sun Safe policy has been developed to ensure that all children and staff participating in our program are protected from skin damage caused by the harmful UVB and UVA rays of the sun. 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. 

Daily, 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 also 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 is left over, notification will be sent and we will  give those medications back to parents or 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 are always 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 for health reasons.