Illness Guidelines
Remember that the essentials of good health are good nutrition, plentiful fluids, regular exercise and plenty of rest.
Practice prevention: Teach students to wash hands, cover coughs, and avoid sharing items.
Highlights
Keep your student home if within the last 24 hours, they have:
Had a fever of 100.4°F or higher
Vomiting or diarrhea
Other contagious symptoms
Notify the school nurse if your student has:
A communicable disease (e.g., chickenpox, COVID-19, influenza)
Health changes like injuries
New medications
No quarantine is required for positive tests
Students must stay home until symptoms improve and they are fever-free for 24 hours without medication
Staying at Home
The following criteria can be used to determine when a child should remain at home.
Has a cold in the contagious stage (first few days)
Sore throat and swollen neck glands accompanied by a fever
Undiagnosed rash or skin eruptions
Red eyes, or drainage from eyes
Any communicable disease
Fever of 100.4° or higher during the past 24 hours
Vomiting or diarrhea within the past 24 hours
New, unexplained, loss of taste or smell
When the student is diagnosed by a physician to have a contagious infection and places the child on a prescription medication, the student may not return to school until they have taken the medication for a full 24 hours.
Please check your student's temperature; a student should be "fever free" for twenty-four (24) hours without taking a fever reducing medication such as Tylenol or Advil before returning to school.
When to Notify the Nurse
If your student develops a communicable disease, e.g., chicken pox, COVID-19, scarlet fever, Influenza or measles, please notify the school nurse. This will enable us to monitor your child's progress and other student's exposure. Students should remain at home a minimum of one day following the resolution of an acute illness.
The school nurse should be notified by the parent/guardian of any:
Serious injury, illness, or hospitalization
Planned surgery
Communicable diseases such as chicken pox, COVID-19, scarlet fever, influenza, or measles
New diagnosis or change in your child’s health status
Fracture, sprain, stitches, cast, or crutches (A Physician note is required for crutches and/or a wheelchair to be used on the school premises.)
New medication and/or dosing change
Need to be excused from Physical Education
Head Lice
Measles
Measles Notice (5/6/25)
Dear WBSD7 Families & Staff,
We are writing to inform you that four confirmed cases of measles have been identified within our school district.
In alignment with the Health Officer Exclusion Order (click here to read) issued this afternoon by the Upper Missouri District Health Unit, the following information is in effect:
The schools and student groups affected due to possible close contact through attending the same school, participating in after-school programs, extracurricular activities, and riding shared bus routes are as follows:
Group 1: All Non-Vaccinated Students (entire school)
Missouri Ridge Elementary School
Williston High School
Williston Middle School Central Campus
Group 2: Non-Vaccinated 4th Grade Students Only (recent visitors to WMSCC)
Lewis & Clark Elementary School
Rickard Elementary School
Wilkinson Elementary School
Group 3: Non-Vaccinated Students with Bus Route Exposure
Garden Valley Elementary School - students riding bus numbers 13, 20, & 30
Exclusion from School of Non-Vaccinated Students
In accordance with North Dakota Century Code 23-07-17.1, which states “A child who has not been immunized against a communicable disease for which an outbreak has been declared may be excluded from school for the duration of the outbreak”, students who have not received at least one dose of a measles-containing vaccine and who attend one of the affected schools listed above will be excluded from school for a 21-day period. Additional information about return-to-school dates will be communicated directly to affected families later this evening.
Families of students who will be excluded will receive direct communication from both their student’s school and the district with additional details about this process.
The safety and health of all students and staff is our highest priority. Measles is a highly contagious virus that can spread quickly, especially in close settings like schools and buses. We are following state and local public health guidance to mitigate further spread and protect vulnerable members of our school community.
If you have any questions about your student’s vaccination status, we encourage you to contact your healthcare provider.
Attendance Guidelines for Rash Symptoms
Effective immediately, per our Medical Director’s recommendation, any student who presents with a rash of unknown origin on the face, arms, trunk, or legs, with or without fever, will be sent home from school. In order for the student to return, they must be seen by a healthcare provider and provide clearance before returning to school.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we work together to maintain a safe environment for all.
Please see the information below that was sent to WBSD7 families and staff on April 23, 2025.
Sincerely,
WBSD7 Administration
Pneumonia
COVID
Questions/Concerns?
If you have concerns or questions related to illness issues, please contact your school's nurse. You can find your school's contact information on our Contact Us page, and request the school nurse.
Exclusion guidelines of ill children are set by the North Dakota Department of Health. For more Information see the NDDoH Exclusion Guideline (PDF) or call 800-427-2180.