Health Office FAQs

For non-COVID-19 illness: Students should stay home if they have had any of the following within the last 24 hours:

• A temperature of 100 degrees or higher
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea
• A temperature of 99 degrees or higher AND exhibiting any of the following symptoms:
  • Persistent cough
  • Severe headache
  • Earache
  • Severe sore throat
  • Rash or skin infection
  • Red or pink eyes

Students may return to school once they have been fever-free for 24 hours without the use of acetaminophen and ibuprofen. If students have missed three or more consecutive days of school, a doctor’s note is required clearing them to return to school.

For COVID-19 symptoms and positive COVID-19 test:

• At least 72 hours have passed since recovery (defined as resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications and improvement in respiratory symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath); and at least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared; or 
• Resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications; improvement in respiratory symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath), and two negative results from COVID-19 tests collected more than 24 hours apart; or 
• As directed by the local health department. 
• A doctor’s note is required clearing them to return to school, as well as documented proof of negative COVID-19 test results. 

See the COVI9-19 Guidebook for more details.

All students are required to submit a doctor’s note to the health center after missing 3 consecutive days of school.  The note should indicate missed days due to illness and clearance to return to school and activity.

*Any person diagnosed with COVID-19 will be required to provide the Health Center with a physician’s note confirming the person’s ability to return to school/work.  The School reserves the right to refer the individual to a health care provider or testing site to get tested for COVID-19 prior to returning to campus. 

It is important to notify the administrative assistant in your child’s division (Lower, Middle, or Upper School), as well as the Health Center. Contact info below.

• Lower School: Pam Gilmer at pam.gilmer@ssfs.org or 301-774-7455 x112
• Middle School: Erin Ryan at erin.ryan@ssfs.org or 301-774-7455 x160
• Upper School: Mary Carpenter at mary.carpenter@ssfs.org or 301-774-7455 x109, or usattendance@ssfs.org
• Health Center: Lisa Dyer at lisa.dyer@ssfs.org or 301-774-7455 x199

Due to many safety concerns, students are not allowed to self-carry over the counter medications. Prescription medication should only be self-carried with a doctor’s order and approval by the health center.

It is important to notify the Health Center. Any student with lice should be treated before returning to school. If lice are identified while at school, the student will not be sent home early but should be treated for lice once they arrive home and before returning to school. The student should be checked by the Health Center after treatment before entering class. Students will only be checked for lice if they are symptomatic, so it is important to be aware of those symptoms. 

All paperwork from the physician should be turned into the health center. The concussion forms should include specific academic and activity guidelines.  This will initiate the concussion protocol specific to that student.