Hello Centennial High School families!  

The entire community is seeing a rise in respiratory viruses in the school-age population. We want to send out some reminders and guidance during this cold and flu season.

We have been seeing several students that appear very unwell (tired, achy, coughing, runny nose, headache). As parents, we do not want our children to miss school unless it is necessary. Nonetheless, health is important; therefore, if your child has any of the symptoms listed above, please check your child’s temperature in the morning before school.  

Here are some guidelines to keep in mind when you are deciding if you should send your child to school. 

• If your child has a fever of 100.0, or greater, the child needs to stay home.    
• If you have given your child medication in the last 24 hours for a fever, then your child should stay home.
• Your child must be fever-free for 24 hours, without the use of Motrin or Tylenol, to return to school.
• If your child had vomiting or diarrhea in the past 24 hours, stay home. 
• Even after your child has been fever free from an illness, if your child is still not feeling well (for example very tired or coughing constantly) then stay home to rest.  
• If your child has a positive COVID test, have them isolate for 5 days from the beginning of symptoms or positive test. Day zero is the day symptoms started or the day of the test. Symptoms must be greatly improved and child fever-free for 24 hours without medication to return.
• Even though there is not a specific number of days of isolation required for influenza, most children will feel too sick to be in school.  

If your child does not feel well, it is difficult to be engaged in instruction. It would be best for your child to stay home another day to rest and heal. If you have any questions or concerns or would just like some advice, I am happy to help in any way that I can. Please call me at 410-313-2856 or email me at martha_latona@hcpss.org.

Thank you for all your help in keeping our students healthy!