Seasonal viral illnesses are here. As you will have seen on national and regional media there has been an increase in influenza and RSV (Respiratory syncytial virus) both nationally and locally. While RSV usually affects infants and younger children, Influenza can affect any age group. It is required that you contact the clinic if your student tests positive for COVID and it is extremely helpful to notify the clinic if your child is diagnosed with the flu.
As a reminder, the current school COVID policy can be found HERE.
Our overall illness policy is to keep sick students home from school and notify attendance. Students who wake up feeling unwell should stay home for the day. Please do not send students to school later in the day if they are unwell before school. Students with a temperature greater than 100 degrees Fahrenheit or are actively vomiting, may not return to school until 24 hours after their symptoms cease (without taking any fever reducing/anti nausea medication).
Our routine school cleaning policies include daily classroom and bathroom cleaning to include all “high touch” surfaces. Due to the increased illnesses in Northern Virginia, additional daily cleaning has been added to bathrooms and high traffic areas such as the cafeteria, library and large group meeting areas at school. Thank you to our facilities team that works hard every day to keep our community clean. That said, individual hand hygiene is extremely important as a means to decrease the spread of all illness, especially avoiding touching the “T-Zone” of the eyes, nose and mouth.
Medication policy - At Bishop O'Connell High School, per diocesan and school policy, students are not allowed to self carry any prescription and over the counter medications during the school day. This includes cough drops. Please check your student’s Magnus portal to check what “over the counter” medications you have authorized for your student(s). Cough drops, generic regular strength tylenol (650Mg) and TUM’s are available at the clinic with parental authorization. NOTE: Only students who require life saving medication may self carry during the school day when all documentation has been completed and approved. If you have questions, please contact the clinic. We appreciate your support for school policies.
If parents/guardians are traveling without their students, please notify attendance@bishopoconnell.org ahead of time, listing the temporary guardian(s) who will be responsible for their children while you are traveling in case the school needs to contact a parent during the school day.
Please contact the clinic staff at clinic@bishopoconnell.org if you have any questions.