Stories

As we move through the cold and flu season, the health and well-being of our school community remains a priority. The information below is shared as a general reminder to help families recognize symptoms, understand school health guidelines, and stay informed about seasonal illness, including the flu and measles.

Influenza

Flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It spreads easily through coughs, sneezes, and close contact.

Common symptoms include:

• Fever or chills
• Cough and sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Body aches and headaches
• Fatigue
• Sometimes vomiting or diarrhea (more common in children)

Prevention tips:

• Annual flu vaccination (recommended for everyone 6 months and older)
• Frequent handwashing with soap and water
• Covering coughs and sneezes
• Staying home when sick- at least 24 hours after fever is gone without medication- except when seeking medical care. 

Measles 

Measles is a highly contagious viral illness. Symptoms typically appear 7-14 days after exposure. It spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes and can linger in the air for up to two hours.

Early symptoms include:

• High fever
• Cough
• Runny nose
• Red, watery eyes
• A red rash usually develops several days after initial symptoms and often begins on the face before spreading downward
• It is important to note that by the time symptoms appear, exposure to others has already occurred

Measles can lead to serious complications, especially in young children. 

Prevention:

• The MMR (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella) vaccine is highly effective (97% after two doses; 93% after one)
• Covering coughs and sneezes
• Staying home when ill or when symptoms are consistent with measles

What Families Should Do:

• Review your child’s immunization records
• If symptoms consistent with measles develop, please keep your child home, contact a healthcare provider, and notify the school immediately
• If your child is exposed to measles outside of our community, please contact the school as soon as possible

Exposure and Quarantine Guidance:

In the event of a confirmed measles exposure at Charlotte Preparatory School, guidance will be provided by the Mecklenburg County Health Department. The community will be notified and individuals directly affected by the exposure will receive further instructions. 

**Please note that if an unvaccinated individual is exposed, the Health Department requires a 21-day quarantine from the date of the last exposure. During this time, the individual will not be permitted to attend school.

Health Policy Reminder

To help protect the health of our school community, please be mindful of the following:

Please keep your child home if they:

• Have a fever of 100.4°F or higher
• Are vomiting or have diarrhea
• Have a new unexplained rash
• Are not feeling well enough to participate in school activities

Your child may return to school when: 

• Free from fever, vomiting and diarrhea for at least 24 hours without the use of medication
• Symptoms improved or resolved
• Appetite back to their baseline
• Able to participate normally in school activities

Working Together to Keep Our School Healthy

We encourage all families to:

• Ensure vaccinations are up to date
• Reinforce good hand hygiene at home
• Monitor children for symptoms
• Seek medical advice if symptoms develop
• Notify school office if your child is diagnosed with a contagious illness so that we can monitor cases appropriately
• Pick ill student up within one hour of the school’s request

Thank you for helping us maintain a safe and healthy learning environment for all students.