Grand River Public School
At all times, the safety and well-being of students is our priority. It is extremely important that illnesses or infections (Pink Eye/Conjunctivitis) and lice/nits be treated where possible prior to your child arriving at school. Students should stay home if they are not feeling well and not return for 24 hours after vomiting or receiving medical treatment to prevent infection to others.
School is a busy environment in which accidents can occur. We do have First Aid trained staff members who will assess an injury when necessary. Parents or caregivers will be notified through a phone call or note in the planner when a child has injured themselves while at school. All head injuries, known to staff, are reported to parents or caregivers. If a child is in medical distress, an ambulance will be called, and parents/caregivers will be responsible for the cost of the ambulance. Please ensure that the school has updated contact information at all times.
If your child is too ill to attend class, you will be asked to take them home.
Students found to be at school with contagious diseases, undiagnosed rashes or eye infections will be sent home for medical attention and/or treatment. All cases of these conditions should be reported to the office as soon as possible to reduce spreading to other students.
Head lice needs to be managed in the best interest of students through the partnership of parents or caregivers, students and the school community. The treatment and eradication of head lice is ultimately a parent or caretaker responsibility. Students diagnosed with head lice do not need to be sent home. They can go home at the end of the day, be treated, and return to class after appropriate treatment has begun.
Students bringing non-prescription medication to school are responsible to care for it. School staff members are not permitted to dispense non-prescription medication at any time or to hold the non-prescription medication. Students requiring assistance with non-prescription medication need a parent/caretaker to come to the school at the appropriate time to administer this medication. We do not encourage students to bring non-prescription medication to school unless there is a medical reason.
In the case of prescribed medication, a Request for Administration of Prescribed Medication in School form (available from the school) must be completed and forwarded to the principal. Prescribed medication needs to be in the prescription container, clearly labelled, and must clearly indicate dosage. Authorization forms must be completed by the parents or caregivers and forwarded to the principal for each school year, or whenever a modification of the prescribed medication occurs. It also must be received prior to medication being administered.
Some people have severe, life-threatening, allergic reactions to certain foods; therefore, students are not allowed to bring any snack, lunch, or treat items to school that have, or may contain, peanuts or traces of any nut products in them. It is critical for the children’s safety to keep the classrooms free of peanut or nut-related products e.g., products that say “may contain traces of nuts” which may have traces of nuts such as cashews, hazelnuts, walnuts, pecans, brazil nuts, or almonds in them.
Peanut butter substitutes are often indistinguishable from peanut butter, and therefore are also not permitted at school. Parents/caregivers who wish to find a list of snack foods that are peanut-free can find such information at snacksafely.com.
Parents/caregivers who give permission for their child to ride a bike, scooter, skateboard or rollerblades to school are encouraged to review the traffic safety rules with their child.
Remember that the law requires children to wear a CSA approved helmet. Storage racks are provided for bicycles or scooters at the school; however, the school cannot assume responsibility for loss or damage to a bicycle or scooter. Students should lock up their bicycles or scooters since they are not permitted in the school. Skateboards and rollerblades are to be kept at the cubby area.
If students ride to school they must dismount and walk their bike, scooter or skateboard and remove their rollerblades while on school property.
