Health and Wellness Information
We want Pacific School to be a healthy, positive, and joyful place for the students, staff, and volunteers. Students should come to school when they are well enough to do their schoolwork and when they are not contagious. There are important steps families can take to help us achieve this goal.
NOTE: If your 5-day student is staying home for three days or more, but well enough to do school work, please contact your teacher for a short-term IS contract. (This is not necessary for IS students.)
Symptoms? COVID+? Exposed? Confused? Here's what to do:
If your student has any of the following symptoms, keep them home from school:
Guidelines for returning your student to school:
NOTE: If your 5-day student is staying home sick for three days or more, but well enough to do school work, please contact your teacher for a short-term IS contract. (This is not necessary for IS students.) Also, the district may ask for a doctor's note verifying absences for illness longer than three days.
If your student has any of the following symptoms, keep them home from school:
- Congestion/runny nose
- Fever/chills
- Cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing
- Fatigue, muscle/body aches, headache
- New loss of taste/smell
- Sore throat
- Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
Guidelines for returning your student to school:
- At least 24 hours MUST have passed since resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications; AND
- Other symptoms MUST have improved; AND
- The student feels well enough to engage in school activities and learning.
- COVID testing is recommended for students with COVID symptoms (or COVID exposures).
- The use of a well-fitting mask, especially when indoors, is highly recommended for 10 days after the onset of any of the symptoms listed above, regardless of whether the student COVID tests or whether the symptoms were due to COVID, another virus, or an unknown cause. Masks are available in the office if needed.
- The family should notify Chyna Darby, Registrar.
- The student may return IF at least 24 hours have passed since resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications AND other symptoms are improving.
- The student should wear a well-fitting mask around others through day 10. Masks are available in the office if needed.
- The student should wear a well-fitting mask around others for a total of 10 days. Masks are available in the office if needed.
- The student may continue to come to school as long as they do not develop symptoms or test positive.
- If the student develops symptoms or tests positive, follow the guidelines above.
NOTE: If your 5-day student is staying home sick for three days or more, but well enough to do school work, please contact your teacher for a short-term IS contract. (This is not necessary for IS students.) Also, the district may ask for a doctor's note verifying absences for illness longer than three days.
School Meals
Students who are absent for any reason may still receive boxed school meals (breakfast and lunch) at no charge. Families should contact the cafeteria staff to arrange the details. Every meal distributed supports our unique and award-winning FoodLab program.
Students who are absent for any reason may still receive boxed school meals (breakfast and lunch) at no charge. Families should contact the cafeteria staff to arrange the details. Every meal distributed supports our unique and award-winning FoodLab program.
Exposure Notifications, County-Wide Guidelines, & More Information
- It is fair to assume there is a strong likelihood of being exposed to Covid-19 if you or your child is in public, including here on campus. We will not be sending out individual notifications.
- The guidelines above are based on the County-Wide Guidelines for schools in Santa Cruz County.
- For additional information about Pacific School's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, go here.
- Learn more about RSV, flu, and COVID symptoms: English Flyer Spanish Flyer
Other Times to Keep a Child Home from School
Please keep your child home if the exhibit any of the following symptoms:
Communicable Diseases
Please notify the office immediately if your child has a communicable disease such as COVID-19, lice, strep throat, scabies, pink eye (conjunctivitis), chicken pox, whooping cough (pertussis), etc. The office will send out an exposure notice so that other families will know their child may have been exposed, will look for symptoms, and can treat their children in a timely manner. This is a very important service to the entire school community, allowing everyone to stay healthier. Your child will NOT be identified in the exposure notice.
Vaccinations
Pacific Elementary School complies with all laws regarding vaccinations. All vaccination requirements apply equally to 5-day and independent study students. (Home study students must supply the office with their complete vaccination records. Home study students who are not fully compliant with California's vaccination laws will not be allowed to participate in any in-person school-sponsored activities with other students.)
New students entering Pacific Elementary School for the first time, including preschool, transitional kindergarten (TK), kindergarten, and transfer students, must show documentation of all state required vaccinations or appropriate medical exemption from a doctor. Please note that there are more vaccinations required for transitional kindergarteners and kindergarteners than preschoolers who are not enrolled in TK. For more information about vaccinations, consult your doctor. Current vaccine requirements are available here in English and Spanish, To better understand California school vaccine laws, visit the Shots for School website.
Vision, Hearing, and Dental Screenings
Vision tests and hearing screenings are given to students in Kindergarten, second and fifth grade and to all special referrals. Parents will be notified through the school memo of screening dates, usually held in autumn.
Dogs and Animal Droppings
Please help keep our campus clean and protect our students from exposure to animal droppings (both wild and domestic). Please keep gates closed at all times and keep dogs off school grounds.
Snacks and Wellness Policy
The Pacific School District Governing Board has adopted a Wellness Policy that addresses nutrition education, physical activity, environmental education, and student wellness. It establishes nutritional guidelines for the food served at school, including snacks and birthday treats. Food and beverages donated to school parties and school events shall be subject to the same nutritional guidelines as foods for purchase. Additional information for families can be found in our Wellness Guidelines: English or Spanish. The full Wellness Policy can be found here.
CPR For Parents
Click here for a Quick intro to CPR which could save your child's life.
Please keep your child home if the exhibit any of the following symptoms:
- Pink eye (conjunctivitis). Students with very red eyes and thick yellow or greenish drainage should be checked by a doctor for pink eye. Students should remain at home until treatment has begun or the symptoms have cleared up. Families should notify the office (see communicable diseases below).
- Unidentified rashes or open sores. Some causes of rashes are contagious. If your student has a rash aren’t certain about, keep the child home from school, consult a doctor, and follow the doctor’s instructions for returning to school.
- Lice. Students can return to school after treatment with appropriate lice shampoo. Families should notify the office (see communicable diseases below). Head Lice Informational Training
Communicable Diseases
Please notify the office immediately if your child has a communicable disease such as COVID-19, lice, strep throat, scabies, pink eye (conjunctivitis), chicken pox, whooping cough (pertussis), etc. The office will send out an exposure notice so that other families will know their child may have been exposed, will look for symptoms, and can treat their children in a timely manner. This is a very important service to the entire school community, allowing everyone to stay healthier. Your child will NOT be identified in the exposure notice.
Vaccinations
Pacific Elementary School complies with all laws regarding vaccinations. All vaccination requirements apply equally to 5-day and independent study students. (Home study students must supply the office with their complete vaccination records. Home study students who are not fully compliant with California's vaccination laws will not be allowed to participate in any in-person school-sponsored activities with other students.)
New students entering Pacific Elementary School for the first time, including preschool, transitional kindergarten (TK), kindergarten, and transfer students, must show documentation of all state required vaccinations or appropriate medical exemption from a doctor. Please note that there are more vaccinations required for transitional kindergarteners and kindergarteners than preschoolers who are not enrolled in TK. For more information about vaccinations, consult your doctor. Current vaccine requirements are available here in English and Spanish, To better understand California school vaccine laws, visit the Shots for School website.
Vision, Hearing, and Dental Screenings
Vision tests and hearing screenings are given to students in Kindergarten, second and fifth grade and to all special referrals. Parents will be notified through the school memo of screening dates, usually held in autumn.
Dogs and Animal Droppings
Please help keep our campus clean and protect our students from exposure to animal droppings (both wild and domestic). Please keep gates closed at all times and keep dogs off school grounds.
Snacks and Wellness Policy
The Pacific School District Governing Board has adopted a Wellness Policy that addresses nutrition education, physical activity, environmental education, and student wellness. It establishes nutritional guidelines for the food served at school, including snacks and birthday treats. Food and beverages donated to school parties and school events shall be subject to the same nutritional guidelines as foods for purchase. Additional information for families can be found in our Wellness Guidelines: English or Spanish. The full Wellness Policy can be found here.
CPR For Parents
Click here for a Quick intro to CPR which could save your child's life.
Forms
The following health-related forms are available near the bottom of the Forms for PES Families page of this website:
The following health-related forms are available near the bottom of the Forms for PES Families page of this website:
- Request for Special Meals
- School Medication Authorization
- Physician's Report for Kindergarteners and New Students
Wellness Committee
If you are interested in wellness issues, please consider joining the Wellness Committee.
If you are interested in wellness issues, please consider joining the Wellness Committee.
Updated August 2023
