As parents and staff, we know that some children may arrive at school apparently well and then become ill during the day. In such a case, we will notify you immediately of your child’s symptoms of illness. Because many childhood illnesses are contagious, ill children must be picked up as soon as possible. Please make alternative care arrangements for your child when presenting any symptoms of illness. We must, within reason, do everything possible to protect all children, staff members, and their families from exposure to contagious illnesses.

We do understand how difficult it can be to make arrangements when your child is not feeling well, but CDC states that you please keep your child home if any of the following symptoms are present:

• a fever in the last 24 hours (without the use of fever reducing medication)

• vomiting or diarrhea in the last 24 hours

• Severe cough or sore throat

• Persistent coughing or sneezing

• An unexplained rash

• An earache or drainage from the ear

• An excessively runny nose with colored mucus

• A contagious condition (head lice, strep throat, impetigo, pink eye, chickenpox, etc.)

• Mouth sores

• Signs of Concussion (dizziness, lethargy, dilated pupils)

• Severe Asthma

• Suspected bone fracture

Children must be free from symptoms for 24 hours before returning to school. If your child develops any of these symptoms while at school, you will be called immediately. If a child has mild cold symptoms that do not impair his/her functioning, the child may remain in the classroom and the parent(s) notified when they pick up their child.

As stated by SJCSD, the two biggest factors when deciding whether a child can attend school is whether he or she is well enough to take part in the normal day-to-day activities of the school day and whether the child’s condition will require more attention from teachers or staff than is possible.

Students may dress in a manner that is not distracting, extreme, or disruptive to the educational process. Animated characters printed on shirts, lunchboxes or anything brought or worn to school are not permitted. The Montessori classroom is a prepared environment. The materials, furniture, pictures and posters, the books and music have all been selected to create an ambiance that is conducive to long concentration, higher-level thinking, and creative expression. The clothing worn by the children becomes a part of the classroom environment and has an effect on the ambiance. Just as we would not hang posters of popular movie, TV, or video themes, characters, or scenes on the wall, we also ask that you reserve clothing with such depictions for use outside of school.

The following standards are established to assist in selecting appropriate wearing apparel for school:

• Closed toe comfortable shoes such as sneakers, appropriate for running, walking, playing, and climbing are required each day at school and for all off campus field trips

• Hats and sunglasses shall not be worn in classrooms; encouraged outside

• If your child prefers skirts or dresses, we recommend wearing shorts or leggings under them

• Outerwear, lunch bags and water bottles must be labeled and also meet the clothing guidelines

The following are prohibited (Please save these for outside of school):

• Super-hero, cartoon, concert, violent, vulgar, drug- or alcohol-related attire

• Costume-like clothing such as army camouflage, dance clothes, tiaras or costume jewelry

• Sports uniforms

• Any sort of advertisement, including large logos or brand names, or media-related characters

• Platform soles, raised heels, cowboy boots, jellies, dress sandals, light up shoes, and flip flops

• Double laces, long shoelaces, or cord or leather shoelaces, which are hard to keep tied

• Socks that have beads or other adornments that make noise

• Buckles, belts, or suspenders children cannot handle by themselves

• Bracelets, dangling jewelry that distracts, or headbands that don’t stay on

• Purposeful displays of underwear

• Exposed backs or midriffs

• Distracting make-up