Rockland BOCES Illness Message - January 2025

Dear Rockland BOCES Parents and Caregivers, 

As we move into the new year, please be aware that Rockland County is currently experiencing several different illnesses. Pink eye, norovirus, flu, COVID, RSV, upper respiratory infections, coxsackie virus, strep throat and other viral afflictions are prevalent in our community. 

To prevent widespread illness in our schools, we recommend that your child stay home if experiencing flu or cold symptoms. To decide whether or not to send your child to school, please consider these guidelines from the New York State Department of Health. 

Please keep your child home and/or contact your child’s doctor for:

• Fever greater than 100.4°  (taken by mouth)
• Vomiting and/or diarrhea within the last 48 hours
• Persistent cough or trouble breathing or a fever with cough
• Severe sore throat along with fever and feeling ill for more than 48 hours or after exposure to Strep throat infection
• Honey-crusted sores around the nose or mouth or rash on other body parts 
• Large amounts of mucous (liquid) from their nose with face pain or headache
• Severe ear pain or fluid coming from the ear
• Severe headache - especially with fever

If your child has a fever, it is not a good idea to give them medicine like Tylenol or Advil and send them to school because as soon as the medicine wears off, the fever may return and you will be contacted to pick up your child. Additionally, if your child begins to experience any of the above symptoms, you will be contacted by the school nurse. 

When possible, please remind children to cover their mouths when they cough or sneeze, keep their hands away from their face and to wash hands often with soap and warm water to help keep everyone healthy.

Thank you for your continued partnership.

Christopher D’Ambrese
District Superintendent