August 10, 2021

Dear Parent/Guardian:

During the 2021-2022 school year, Pendleton School District will follow the CDC guidelines directed by Umatilla County Health Department for those who test positive for COVID-19 or are identified as a contact.

In order to ensure everyone is safe and healthy, please follow these guidelines as we open schools this fall.

Please DO NOT SEND AN ILL STUDENT TO SCHOOL.  The next page of this letter gives examples of when your student should not be in school.

If your student is ill, please CONTACT your child’s school directly.  (See below.)

Please contact your health care provider about any SERIOUS ILLNESS or if you are worried about your student’s health.  If you need help finding a health care provider, you may contact Umatilla County Health Department.

Please notify the school if your child is diagnosed with a CONTAGIOUS DISEASE, including the following: chickenpox, COVID-19, diphtheria, E. coli diarrhea, hepatitis, measles, mumps, pertussis, rubella, Salmonella, scabies, shigellosis, tuberculosis, or another disease as requested.  The school will protect your private information as required by law. [OAR 333-019-0010; ORS 433.008.]

Please notify the school if your student requires MEDICATIONS during school hours.  Follow school protocols for medication at school.  If your student’s illness requires antibiotics, the student must have been on antibiotics for at least 24 hours before returning to school, and longer in some cases.  Antibiotics are not effective for viral illnesses.

Please notify the school if your student has a CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITION.  We will work with you to address the health condition so that the student can learn.  With consent, the school nurse may consult with the student’s health care provider about the health condition and necessary treatments.

We want to support your student.  Please contact your child’s school if you have any questions or concerns.

Respectfully,
Chris Fritsch
Superintendent

PELC:                     541.966.3300                                      Washington:        541.276.2241
McKay:                  541.966.3000                                      Sunridge:              541.276.4560
Sherwood:            541.276.1165                                      PHS:                       541.276.3621

PLEASE KEEP ILL STUDENTS OUT OF SCHOOL The list below gives school instructions, not medical advice.  Please contact your health care provider with health concerns.
SYMPTOMS OF ILLNESS	THE STUDENT MAY RETURN AFTER… *The list below tells the shortest time to stay home. A student may need to stay home longer for some illnesses.
Fever: temperature by mouth of 100.4°F or higher	*Fever-free for 24 hours without take fever-reducing medicine AND after a COVID-19 test is negative, OR 10 days if not tested.
New cough illness OR New difficulty breathing	*Symptom-free for 24 hours AND after a COVID-19 test is negative, OR 10 days if not tested. If diagnosed with pertussis (whooping cough), the student must take 5 days of prescribed antibiotics before returning.
Headache with a stiff neck or with fever	*Symptom-free OR with orders from doctor to school official.  Follow fever instructions if fever is present.
Diarrhea: 3 loose or watery stools in a day OR not able to control bowel movements	*Symptom-free for 48 hours OR with orders from doctor to school official.
Vomiting: one or more episodes that are unexplained	*Symptom-free for 48 hours OR with orders from doctor to school official.
Skin rash or open sores	*Symptom-free means rash is gone OR sores are dry or can be completely covered by a bandage OR with orders from a doctor to school official.
Red eyes with eye discharge: yellow or brown drainage from the eyes	*Symptom-free, which means redness and discharge are gone OR with orders from doctor to school official.
Jaundice: new yellow color in eyes or skin	*After the school has orders from doctor or local public health authority to school official.
Acting different without reason: unusually sleepy, grumpy, or confused	*Symptom-free, which means return to normal behavior OR with orders from doctor to school official.
Major health event, like an illness lasting 2 or more weeks OR a hospital stay	*After the school has orders from doctor to school official.
Student’s health condition requires more care than school staff can safely provide	*After measures are in place for student’s safety.

Individuals who exhibit one or more of the primary COVID-19 symptoms, should contact their medical provider for a treatment plan.

*****

Click here for the parent letter in PDF format.