Health Office

What is going around the school ?  

Updated 03/24/2026

• Head Lice:  Head Lice Parent Fact Sheet     Head Lice MN Department of Health

Health Message about Head Lice.  Date: 3/24/2026

The following information is being sent out to provide some general information on Headlice and to dispel rumors in our school community.  Occasionally, if we have parents or teachers that are expressing concerns, the Health Office will send out a message such as this to the entire school.  This message is for informational purposes and not an indication of infestation.  The attachments provide information on lice, how to look for it, and how to treat it.  The links for this information are also provided below. 

• Headlice is a normal occurrence in schools, daycares, churches, airplanes, hotels, or anywhere else that people commune in close proximity to each other.  
  • Head lice is mainly spread by direct contact with the hair of a person infested with lice.
  • Head lice move by crawling; they cannot hop or fly but they can fall off the hair follicle on to the floor or clothing. 
  • Headlice can occasionally be transmitted by carpets, clothing, stuffed animals, blankets, snow gear etc. but this is less likely.
  • Head lice cannot survive off the human body for more than two days. They also do not reproduce off the body.

• The rates here at Lakeview Schools are no different than what occurs in other schools/communities.  Additionally, the number of cases this year are similar to previous years. 

• When a case of lice has been identified, Lakeview Schools follow the recommendations of the MN Department of Health, The Centers of Disease Control, and the Infectious Disease Specialists from Hennepin County.
  • If the case was discovered in school, the parents/guardians are notified that the child needs treatment for Headlice. Information on Headlice is also provided to the family for reference. 
    • According to above references, the student is not required to go home and can be treated after school and return the next day.  However, for ease of mind, Lakeview does request that the student be picked up and not return until after they have been treated.  We also send any blankets, coats, hats, etc. home with the student to be washed.
    • Teachers and janitors are reminded to wash any soft items/toys in the room and to ensure the carpets are vacuumed.  Lice die fairly quickly on hard surfaces but can last up to 48 hours in soft materials.
• If a parent notifies us that a student has lice, the same procedures apply.  The teacher is notified and the janitors are reminded to vacuum thoroughly.
  • ***Remember Head lice cannot survive off the human body for more than two days, even if nothing is done.
• Since cases of headlice at school occur year-round and are sporadic, the school does not send out an announcement to a specific classroom or grade when a case is reported.  Doing so has NOT shown to decrease transmission rates.  Sending out emails, particularly in a small community, may actually violate privacy laws.  In addition, it often leads to embarrassment and ridicule of the student and their family members. Unnecessary panic and misdiagnosis of nits, which is very common, can also result in students getting unnecessary treatments. 
  • The medication used to treat headlice, often causes more skin irritation than the lice.
  • Using medications incorrectly also builds up lice that becomes resistant to treatment.
• Mass head checks at school are also not effective.  In fact, from the time the person came in contact with headlice, to the time they start to itch, may take 4-6 weeks.  The louse, which is smaller than a sesame seed, is very small, moves quickly, and avoids light.  The eggs (nits) are even smaller.  There may not be anything truly visible for days or even weeks, until the numbers of lice and nits are significant enough to become noticeable or cause irritation.
• The best way to decrease transmission of head lice at school is for parents to routinely check their children’s hair and treat lice if found. 
  •  If you are concerned about head lice, I recommend you check your student’s hair regularly.  If you don’t see lice or knits but are still concerned, see your provider before you treat.  Dandruff, lint, eczema, and hair products can all leave white flakes in the hair.  As a note: Knits are stuck to the hair follicles and are hard to remove. If the flakes brush off or wash off easily, it is not lice.
  • Wash your students’ coats, hats, sweatshirts, snow gear, blankets, stuffed animals etc. at least weekly as a precaution.
  • Talk to your student about personal space and not sharing items such as hats and brushes.
• Talk to your teachers, daycare providers, etc. about frequent washing or removing soft items from the classrooms. (Carpets, dress up clothes, stuffed animals, blankets, and cushions). Again, this route of transmission is less likely but removing items where lice can hide is a precautionary measure.

https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/headlice/headlice.html

https://www.cdc.gov/lice/about/head-lice.html

https://www.hennepincounty.gov/services/assistance/health-care/infectious-diseases-childcare-settings-schools

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• This is STILL FLU (AND OTHER ILLNESS) season.  The pattern pretty much follows the school year. It starts in October/November, peaks in December/January and then slowly goes back down until March/April.  Viruses are a normal occurrence all school year and multiple viruses circulate at one time.  Strep, influenza A & B, and COVID are present all season.  Also many unnamed viruses have similar "flu-like symptoms" so even if you think you had the "flu" already, you can get sick again. 
• To reduce the spread of infection you need to keep kids at home when they are sick.  If they come to school sick, they will be sent home.  Even when the student is sent home from the Health Office, it counts as an absence.  Anything over 14 missed days total a year (even if it would normally be excused) is considered excessive per MN statutes and has to be reviewed for truancy.  Therefore, keep your doctor's notes, appointment slips etc.  You never know how many days your student might need for true illness so consider this when planning vacations or keeping kids unnecessarily out of school.
• Hand-washing and covering coughs are enforced. Young students may need to stay home longer to prevent spread of infection if they are coughing frequently, have large amounts of nasal drainage, diarrhea, or pink eye.
• Please do not spread rumors about what you think is going around. This can cause unnecessary worry for some parents and staff.  I will post if there is a significant rise in illness rates, an unusual pattern, a public health concern, and/or parents are not following protocols. 
• Parents please notify me of any positive test results, particularly if there is a vaccine to prevent it such as measles, mumps, chicken pox, pertussis etc.  If I know which viruses  are going around, I will post it.

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In an effort to reduce the spread of the viruses, we ask that parents/guardians please do NOT send your children to school if they are complaining of or you suspect they might not be feeling well.  Even if your child does not have a fever, error on the side of caution.  Do NOT treat them with fever reducing medication (Tylenol/Ibuprofen) and send them to school.  Not only is this against our school policy but the viruses are often the most contagious in the first few days of illness. 

Students may return to school when they meet all of the following criteria

1.       they have been 24 hours without ANY fever (must also not had any fever reducing medication like Tylenol or ibuprofen for 24 hours)

2.       When the symptoms are mostly gone/condition has significantly improved (see examples below)

• a cough cannot cause gagging/vomiting or be disruptive to class
• a rash must be fading or gone
• diarrhea and vomiting (related to the illness) must be gone for at least 24 hours
• runny noses are slight, not large amounts
• at least 24 hours on medications for bacterial/fungal infections

3.       And your child has enough energy to participate in class.

Thank you for your understanding that these guidelines are in place for the safety of your students and for the staff. 

Holli Olson, MSPAS

Lakeview Health Office

For more information on specific viruses see links below...

Refer to Health Office Infections Page

https://www.hennepin.us/childcaremanual#

https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/index.html

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https://www.nfid.org/resource/how-to-tell-the-difference-between-flu-rsv-covid-19-and-the-common-cold/

1/15/2025

The only way to determine what illness you have is by testing.  Please see your provider for accurate diagnosis.

Frequently seen symptoms all year long

Flu symptoms ·

• Fever* or feeling feverish or with chills: not all persons with flu will have fever
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Body aches or muscle pain
• Headaches
• Fatigue (tiredness)
• Some people may have vomiting or diarrhea, but these are more common in children than in adults.

RSV

• Runny nose
• Congestion
• Decrease in appetite
• Coughing
• Sneezing
• Fever
• Wheezing/difficulty breathing
• Increased irritability or decreased activity

Strep Throat

• Fever
• Sore throat
• Pain when swallowing
• Red and swollen tonsils
• Swollen lymph nodes in the neck
• Tiny red spots on the roof of the mouth (petechiae)
• White patches or pus on the tonsils
• Headache
• Nausea or vomiting
• Rash (scarlet fever)

https://www.nfid.org/resource/how-to-tell-the-difference-between-flu-rsv-covid-19-and-the-common-cold/

1/15/2025

Environmental/Seasonal Allergies (Hay Fever)

• watery, itchy, or pink eyes
• Sore throat from drainage or clearing throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Headaches
• Asthma flares (if the child is short of breath or coughing with their asthma they need to stay home for breathing treatments and contact their provider. Do not send them to school until a written asthma plan and medications are brought to school

• ***Allergies do not cause fevers, body pain/aches, fatigue, stomach aches, nausea/vomiting, or diarrhea. So if the student has any of these symptoms, then keep them home.

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Attendance:

Not all visits to the Health Office will result in a recommendation to be sent home. Each student is evaluated and excessive absences are taken into consideration. Older students without fevers and minor or resolving symptoms may be encouraged to stay (preparing them for the work force). Those students can often be treated symptomatically and are capable of practicing good hygiene practices to minimize the spread of infection. If those older students decide to contact their parents and go home anyway, that absence may not be excused if that student already has excessive absences.

When kids are sent home from the Health Office, the absence is still added to your attendance record.

Illnesses are considered excused. However, once you hit 14 days of absences (no matter what the reason), everything after that is considered excessive.  You should still stay home when you are sick, but now you will need to see a provider to verify that you are ill.  So don’t send your kids into the Health Office knowing they are sick, thinking you won’t need a doctor’s note, you will. (Consider that when you are planning your family trips etc. everything counts towards the magic 14 number even if it is excused.)

Policy 503 Student Attendance

Health Office Attendance and Illness Page

When to Send Your Student Back to School After and Illness?

 

EXTRA CLOTHES & SUPPLIES NEEDED IN HEALTH OFFICE

Keep extra clothes in your student's locker &/or bag.  I recommend at least pants, underwear, and socks for all ages.  Clothes rip, get wet or dirty, and stain in awkward spots.  Better to have extra on hand just in case.

COLD WEATHER IS HERE!:   remember to send coats, hats, gloves, and boots with your kids as the weather turns! We do not have enough extras for everyone AND SHARING CLOTHES PASSES GERMS!  

Accepting donations of new or gently used pants and underwear of all school age sizes to stock in the Health Office.  Youth Small, Medium, Large for boys and girls are needed most, but we do use all sizes through XXL in adults.  Please also consider donating gallon-sized buckets for use in the health office and in classrooms for when kids get sick.  The school could also use another wheel-chair or 2 if anyone has one.