Hilldale School
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If your child becomes ill at school, he or she will be sent to the sick bay where an assessment will be made as to the severity of the child’s condition. The administrator or office personnel may consult the parent. Situations in which a student would be sent home include: fever, vomiting, diarrhea, sneezing, headache, pink eye, coughing, a chance of exposing others to illness, or severe discomfort.
Children should be kept home when they are visibly ill or have a temperature greater than 99 degrees. It is especially important to keep a child out of school if there are any symptoms of COVID. Parents must call and let the office know when your child is ill. If it is a highly contagious condition (strep throat, pink eye, or COVID), parents must inform the office as well.
Students must visit a medical provider to receive a note indicating that a child is safe to be at school or students must receive a negative COVID test. Students with a medical release or negative test must also be symptom free for three days before returning to school.
It is now state law that there is no longer an exemption from state-required immunizations based on personal beliefs. We also strongly request that your child and family get a yearly Flu immunization no later than November 1st in order to keep our school safe from waves of winter sickness. While the shots cannot prevent every strain of the flu, they will dramatically cut down on the frequency and severity of what is “going around.” Additionally, during the COVID outbreak, decreasing the chance of flu-like symptoms at school will decrease anxiety and fear for the many lives connected to the Hilldale family.
Wounds are cleaned and cared for according to American Red Cross first aid procedures. Parents or guardians are notified by the office or extended care staff for all potentially serious injuries and for any head injury. In the event that a child sustains a serious injury and a parent cannot be reached, the family’s doctor will be contacted, and if necessary, 911 emergency services will be called.
It is imperative that we be informed of and updated about serious allergies or asthma and that we are told the procedures for care in the event of a problem. A list of these allergies will be made available to all school teachers and personnel and will be kept in every room. Food allergies are a serious concern and food sharing is never allowed to protect the safety of our students. Please reinforce this at home.
Hilldale is a NUT-FREE school. There are several students at Hilldale who have nut allergies ranging from mild to severe, even fatal. Students are naturally inclined to share food even though sharing food is not permitted. Therefore, it is imperative for the safety of all our students that no nuts are brought to school for any students. Peanut butter is not allowed. In cases of class parties, it is imperative that only foods which are nut free and not processed on equipment that processes nuts are brought to school. Please reinforce with your child the importance of not bringing nuts and not sharing food.
There are a number of illnesses that are common to school communities, such as strep throat, lice, chicken pox, ringworm, and pink eye. As a precautionary measure, parents and guardians should check their students’ hair and body periodically. Please contact the school office if you suspect that your student has any contagious infection or illness. Once reported, the entire school community will be alerted immediately for school wide health awareness and precautionary actions.
Students are not to take medications on their own and are not to keep such medications in the classroom. Necessary medications or pills must be administered by the school office personnel. Parents should leave the medication in the original container to the office with written prior authorization and provide specific instructions for dispensing as needed. It is the obligation of the parent to inform the office personnel if a student is on any kind of on-going medications taken at home or at school and to inform us if the child has any notable health problems such as severe allergies, asthma, etc. Please be sure to update your child’s information forms if a new health issue arises. Parents will be required to give written permission for dispensing of any over-the-counter medication as well.
Hilldale School maintains disaster plans in case of earthquakes, fire, tornadoes, and intruders. In the event of an evacuation, our gathering place for an evacuation (i.e. fire) is at the Teglia Center; for a Lockdown/ Barricade situation involving an active shooter, the blacktop/multipurpose space will hold all children. Parents will gather on the playground and check out their child with school officials.
Teachers will account for and supervise the children in their classes in the event of an emergency. They will stay with the students until they are picked up by an authorized person. Non-teaching staff will assist as directed, including relieving teachers who may be needed for first aid. Office personnel will handle home/school communications via cell phone and email/ text, as available. Every attempt will be made to bring a speedy reunion between parents/guardians and children. Please be certain to sign your child out so that all children can be properly accounted for.
Hilldale School follows the San Mateo County “Big Five” emergency situation protocol. Administration and staff have been trained in proper protocol. “The Big Five” emergencies that we prepare our students and staff for are: Shelter in Place; Drop, Cover, and Hold On (earthquake); Secure Campus (a potential threat); Lockdown/Barricade (an immediate threat or active shooter); and Evacuation (including a fire).
Earthquake drills are held regularly; according to the earthquake guidelines of San Mateo County and the State of California, FEMA, and the USGS, children are taught to duck and cover with one hand over the head and face and the other holding onto a desk or table leg. Fire drills are also held regularly, and evacuation plans for each classroom are posted by the exits. Lockdown/Barricade drills are regularly held to teach children how to be safe in the unlikely event of an intruder/ active shooter. Every building and all fire extinguishers are inspected annually by the fire department, and each classroom is supplied with an emergency pouch.
If it is necessary to close the school due to an emergency, extended power outage, or crisis situation, we will place an announcement on the news radio stations KGO (810 AM) and KCBS (740 AM) in addition to using our own phone message system. Hilldale maintains emergency supplies for each student containing: food bars, water, and blankets for use if an extended stay at school is necessary.