Updated October 2024

SunGarden Health & Safety

Illness at SunGarden  

According to the State of Oregon regulations, we cannot accept ill children into SunGarden's care. Children benefit most from the program when allowed to attend consistently. However, if your child is not feeling well or is showing signs of a contagious illness, please make arrangements for him to be at home. We cannot provide the level of comfort and care that you can. A child on the mend should remain at home, receiving care and rest until his energy is back to normal. Oregon Law requires us to send children home rather than set up an infirmary. The following table explains when they should be kept home from school and when they may return. 

Children will not be permitted at SunGarden with any of the following symptoms:  

Student Exhibits Symptoms or Diagnosed Illness

  1. Fever greater than 100.4 (checked by ear)

  2. Fatigue that prevents participation in regular activities

  3. Hand, Foot and Mouth (HFMD)

  4. Rash or rash with fever—when new or with a sudden onset

  5. Non-Bloody Discharge 

  6. Nausea and vomiting

  7. Diarrhea, with two loose or watery stools in one day

  8. White, clay-colored, or bloody stool

  9. Yellow color of skin and/or eyes

  10. Brown or bloody urine

  11. Sore throat

  12. Strep throat diagnosed by a health care practitioner

  13. After an illness of two or more weeks, surgery, or other change in health status

  14. Skin lesions that are severe, weeping or pus filled

  15. Eyes are red, inflamed, watery or have a discharge

  16. Difficulty breathing or wheezing

  17. Complaints of severe pain

  18. A known communicable disease

  19. Head lice

Student May Return to School When:

  1. Temperature stays below 100.4 (ear) for a minimum of 24 hours without use of Tylenol or other fever-reducing medication.

  2. Child is back to normal activity level

  3. Blisters must be scabbed over before returning; no fever; no 'uncontrolled drooling' + mouth sores; and feel well enough to participate in normal activities.  

  4. Rash disappears or with a written consent from a health care practitioner.

  5. Discharge has to be gone or the student has been on antibiotics for 24 hours and you have a written consent from a health care practitioner.

  6. Symptom-free for 24 hours.

  7. Symptom-free for 24 hours.

  8. Symptom-free or written consent from a health care practitioner.

  9. Symptom-free or written consent from a health care practitioner.

  10. Symptom-free or written consent from a health care practitioner.

  11. Diagnosis by healthcare practitioner that it is not strep throat or symptom-free for 24 hours 

  12. Must have been on antibiotics for 24 hours or have written consent from a health care practitioner. 

  13. Written instructions from a health care practitioner and parent regarding medication or special health needs must be provided.

  14. Symptom-free or on medication for 24 hours or have a written consent from a health care practitioner.

  15. Symptom-free or on medication for 24 hours or have a written  consent from a health care practitioner.

  16. Symptom-free for 24 hours.

  17. Symptom-free for 24 hours.

  18. Symptom-free for 24 hours or written consent from a health care practitioner

  19. After they have completed treatment and are free of lice. 

The following terms used in the table above are defined as follows:

  • “Consent may be written by a health care practitioner”
    The school office must receive this prior to the child’s return to the classroom. Parents can bring written consent to the Office on the morning that the child returns to school or have it emailed to hello@sungardenmontessori.org

  • “Symptom-free for 24 hours”
    This time begins when the last symptom disappears and extends for a full 24 hours from that time. For example, a child has nausea and vomiting in the middle of the night. The child must stay home the next day, even if they have no more episodes of vomiting. The child should be able to rest and recover at home for a full day before coming back to a busy day at school.

  • “On medication for 24 hours”
    This time begins with the first dose for any medication that must be in the child's system for 24 hours before returning to school. For example, medication that is started in the afternoon needs to have been administered up to and including the afternoon of the next day before the child can return. The child is considered contagious and may not return earlier unless written consent from a health care practitioner is provided.


Children returning to campus after recovering from a communicable illness (HFMD, pink eye, strep throat, lice, etc) must arrive at school after 9:00 am and go to the office to be checked by an administrator before returning to the classroom.  

If your child becomes ill while at SunGarden, we will attempt to contact you immediately. If we cannot reach you, we will contact your designated alternative(s). In the meantime, your child will be kept as comfortable as possible in the office and away from other children to protect against contagious illnesses.  

Sick children must be picked up within one hour of receiving a call from the school. 

If we cannot reach you in extreme medical emergencies, we will call 911, and your child will be taken to the nearest medical facility for treatment. All efforts will be made to reach you and inform you of the nature of the emergency and its action.  

Covid-19 at SunGarden  


The following are general guidelines and subject to change at anytime. Please keep in mind that there is not one single black and white scenario for everyone or every case. We will evaluate next steps on a case by case basis, taking into consideration the specific details of each case, household circumstances, vaccination status, and guidance from our local public health authority.

Below are specific actions to take based on the exposure level.

 WHEN TO STAY HOME

According to the CDC people who have symptoms of respiratory or gastrointestinal infections, such as cough, fever, sore throat, vomiting, or diarrhea, should stay home. Testing is recommended for people with symptoms of COVID-19 as soon as possible after symptoms begin. If a person with COVID-19 symptoms tests negative for COVID-19, they should consider getting tested for other respiratory illnesses that could be spread to others, such as flu. If tested using an antigen test, negative tests should be repeated following FDA recommendations. People who are at risk for getting very sick with COVID-19 who test positive should consult with a healthcare provider right away for possible treatment, even if their symptoms are mild. Staying home when sick can lower the risk of spreading infectious diseases, including COVID-19, to other people.  

INDIVIDUALS WITH SYMPTOMS

Students or staff who come to school with symptoms or develop symptoms while at school will be asked to wear a well-fitting mask while in the building and be sent home and encouraged to get tested. Symptomatic people who cannot wear a mask will be separated from others as much as possible; children will be supervised by a designated caregiver who is wearing a well-fitting mask until they leave school grounds.

Students or staff will be asked to wear a well-fitting mask around others through day 10.

 

CLOSE CONTACT EXPOSURE

All individuals, regardless of vaccination status, who are in contact with someone infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in a way that increases the likelihood of getting infected with the virus. This includes individuals who were less than 6 feet away from an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period. For example if parent(s) test positive then children are considered close contact. Close contact individuals are asked to test daily if coming to school and are required to wear a mask while on school property for 5 days. If your child is unable to wear a mask we ask that you keep your child home for 5 days and test before returning to campus.

POSITIVE TEST POLICY

We are required to exclude from the program any child or staff member, regardless of vaccination status, who tests positive for COVID-19 while they have active symptoms. Children and staff can return to campus when they are symptom free for 24 hours and are able to wear a well fitting mask for 10 days from the onset of symptoms or a positive COVID test. We will continue to communicate positive cases to our community.

 FACE MASKS

Currently, face masks are not required at SunGarden. Children and staff are welcome to wear face masks at their own discretion. We provide KN95 masks to staff. KF94 masks have been shown to have a better fit on children and small face size. Below are a few options.

•   BeHealthyUSA

•   KollecteUSA

•   Bona Fide Masks

 

SANITATION

SunGarden follows the cleaning and sanitation guidelines as outlined in the Health and Safety Guidelines by the Early Learning Division of the Oregon Department of Education and Oregon Health Authority. See chapter 10, Cleaning and Building Maintenance, p 35.

Allergies at SunGadren

Please note that SunGarden Montessori is a Peanut and Tree Nut Free facility.

Nuts include but are not limited to the following:

  • Peanuts,

  • almonds,

  • cashews,

  • pistachios,

  • walnuts,

  • pecans,

  • macadamia nuts,

  • hazelnuts,

  • Brazil nuts,

  • pine nuts.

    Some families have had great success swapping peanut butter with sun butter.