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Health & Safety

The health and safety of students and staff is a top priority for the School of St. Mary.

COVID-19 Information

As of July 2022

The School of St. Mary follows the COVID-19 protocols by the Archdiocese of Chicago Office of Catholic Schools. A team of medical professionals developed these protocols based on the experiences of the past two years. The focus is on maximizing in-person instruction and minimizing disruption for students, families, and staff while maintaining a safe environment. Protocols for the 2022-23 School year are:

  • Individuals with symptoms of COVID-19 or any illness should stay home while sick. 
  • Based on data collected since the removal of the mask mandate earlier this year, we're doing away with contact tracing and the actions required for close contact with someone with COVID-19. Close contacts will no longer be required to mask, quarantine, and social distance at lunchtime. 
  • Individuals who test positive must isolate themselves from all school activities for five days and report the positive case to their school. Upon their return to school, no masks are required for days 6-10 if they test negative. Absent a negative test; they must mask themselves during the school day and keep a social distance at lunch. 
  • We will inform families of all in-school positive COVID-19 cases. Families are encouraged to take any precautions they consider appropriate. 
  • When there are three cases in a classroom within ten days, all students in that classroom must mask for ten days.

June 30 Letter to families from Superintendent Greg Richmond.

Prevention Tips

  • Wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds.
  • Wipe down surfaces regularly with disinfectant wipes.
  • Avoid touching your face, especially your eyes, nose, and mouth.
  • Elbow bump instead of shaking hands.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and throw it away immediately.
  • Do not send your student to school if they are sick.
    • Absences due to illness, including fever-related absences, will be recorded as an Excused Absence without a doctor's note. Teachers will work with students to create a plan to make up missed work.
  • Per our local authorities, students should stay home until they are fever-free for 48 hours.
  • If your student has a combination of fever, cough, and shortness of breath, contact your doctor.

Nurse Information

The School of St. Mary has a registered nurse who works at both the Primary and Upper Grade Centers. She works 4 days a week and will be at both buildings throughout the day/week.

School Medical Forms

Helpful Information for Parents

When should I keep my child home?

Fever

Keep a child home for temperatures over 100 degrees. A child must be fever free without medication for 24 hours before return. 

Colds

Keep a child home that has a runny nose, AND a fever, bad cough, headache,  nausea, or is too tired or uncomfortable to function at school. A runny nose with no other symptoms is not necessarily a cause to keep a child at home.

Nasal Discharge/Chronic Cough

Keep a child at home who has a greenish-colored nasal discharge and/or a chronic cough.

Diarrhea

Keep a child home who has had three or more watery stools in a 24-hour period, especially if the child looks or acts ill or has diarrhea due to medication. 

Ears

Keep a child at home who has drainage from the ear and/or ear pain.

Eyes

Keep a child home who has thick mucus, pus, or clear liquid draining from the eye. Extreme redness, irritation, itchiness, or pain, eyelid swelling, and/or light sensitivity may also indicate a contagious condition. 

Lice/Scabies

Children must remain at home until they are treated and are free of lice and nits (eggs). Notify the school nurse if your child has lice. 

Rash

Keep a child at home who has any skin rash of unknown cause, especially a rash accompanied by fever and itching. See your healthcare provider to confirm the rash is not contagious before returning to school. 

Sore Throat

Keep a child at home who has a sore throat accompanied by fever and/or swollen glands. A child diagnosed with strep throat may return to school after 12 hours of appropriate treatment if they are fever free (a temperature of less than 100F) and feels well enough. Notify the school nurse if your child is diagnosed with strep throat.

Vomiting

Keep a child home for 24 hours who vomits two or more times; if vomiting occurs during the night, keep the child home the following day. 

Fractures or Surgery

Keep a child home who has had a fracture or surgery until they have written approval from the health care provider to return to school AND the child no longer required prescription pain medication for pain management. 

Questions? 
If you have any questions about this information, don't hesitate to contact Mrs. Cindy Pacewicz, School Nurse, when school is in session at (847) 295-4856.

 

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