Keeping healthy bodies to grow healthy minds — our health and wellness policies help ensure your children are safe, inside and out.
Allergies
We ask that you notify Park West of any allergies your child has as soon as you know of them. Once notified, we will have you and your child's physician complete our Permission to Give Emergency Medication form, and provide any medication necessary for us to have on hand.
Foods with nuts
Foods that contain nuts, nut oils, any nut by-products, or are processed in a facility at risk for cross contamination are strictly prohibited due to the presence of children with nut allergies. When planning snacks for your child, please consult our snack guidelines and approved snacks list. Please see our snack guidelines.
Illness
If your child has symptoms of respiratory or gastrointestinal infection, such as cough, fever, sore throat, vomiting, or diarrhea, or any other unusual physical symptoms, they should not be brought to school and cannot return until they have been symptom-free for 24-hours. If they exhibit any of these symptoms while at school, we will make them comfortable in the office or 3rd floor quiet room and contact you or their emergency contact to have them picked up.
Contagious diseases
We are required by law to notify other parents, public health authorities, and staff when children are exposed to a contagious disease, so please contact the school immediately if your child has contracted contagious diseases such as strep throat, chicken pox, scarlet fever, or conjunctivitis. In accordance with our privacy policies, we will not share you or your child's name when informing parents, officials, and staff.
Absences
If your child will miss school for any reason, please email your child’s teaching team so they know not to expect your child in class.
For absences due to illness, please copy health@parkwestcoop.org on the email and include details around the illness, including symptoms, to be advised on next steps for returning to school. Please do not bring your child to school if they have any respiratory or gastrointestinal illness symptoms (sore throat, cough, fever, vomiting, diarrhea, etc).
For general absences (e.g. not illness related), please copy the general school email (parkwest@parkwestcoop.org) on the absence email to teachers.
If your child is absent from school for more than 5 days due to illness, we require a note from a doctor stating that the child is able to return to school.
Emergency procedures
In the event of an emergency, school will contact either the child's parents or the emergency contacts listed on the child's Emergency Card. If necessary, school personnel will contact 911 for emergency medical assistance. If you would like to check or update your child's Emergency Card, please contact us immediately.
Physical exams
Prior to enrollment, all students must have: a completed Certificate of Child Health Examination signed by their physician; immunizations against diphtheria, Hepatitis B, Measles, Mumps, Whooping Cough, Polio, Rubella, Tetanus, and Chicken Pox; filed blood test results; and a recommended TB skin test if in a high-risk group.
Washing hands
In accordance with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services' regulations, we require that all children and assisting parents thoroughly wash their hands prior to the start of class, and throughout the day, as required. For details about this policy, refer to the Policy and Procedure binder found in the our office.