Health, Safety, & Medical

In the event of a civil defense emergency, SELC will follow the standard procedures of the Sargent School District. Parents will be notified of all emergencies and reunification procedures through the district’s automated communication system.

If an evacuation is required, SELC will follow the Sargent School District reunification procedures, which may include transporting children by school bus to the designated reunification site. All accomodations will be made according to each child's IEP/IFSP to ensure that every child with special needs is supported by their teacher or para during the evacuation.

SELC will also contact families through Brightwheel, and by phone if necessary, to inform you of the situation and provide instructions on where and when to pick up your child.

For the health and well‑being of all children, a child with a contagious illness may not be brought to school. If a child becomes ill while at SELC, parents will be notified and must pick up the child promptly. If parents cannot be reached, an authorized emergency contact may pick up the child.

Children should not be brought to the center if they have had any of the following within the last 24 hours:

• COVID‑19 or COVID‑like symptoms (sore throat, runny nose, body aches, headache, fatigue, loss of taste or smell)

• Diarrhea (must be symptom‑free for 24 hours after the last episode)

• Fever of 100.4°F or higher for any reason (must be fever‑free for 24 hours without fever‑reducing medication)

• Flu or flu‑like symptoms (fever, sore throat, runny nose)

• Vomiting (must be symptom‑free for 24 hours after the last episode)

• Chicken pox, head lice, Hepatitis A, Salmonella, Shigella, impetigo, ringworm

• Strep throat (may return 12 hours after starting antibiotics)

• Measles, mumps, rubella, pertussis

• Please see the link to "How Sick is Too Sick" below for more information

For the safety of all children, if your child is well enough to come to school, they must be well enough to participate in all activities, including outdoor recess, with their classmates.

ChildCare_How_Sick_Is_Too_Sick_English (r2505).pdf - Google Drive

Your child’s health and safety are important to us. At enrollment, SELC must have a medical form completed by a physician in order to comply with Colorado Licensing requirements. If your child has an allergy, please inform the director during the enrollment interview. Allergies must also be documented on the Child Health Evaluation Form signed by your child’s doctor.

Families must keep all contact information, schedules, and emergency phone numbers up to date. If your child becomes ill at school, you will be notified immediately. When necessary, your child may be separated from the group (in the office or a designated quiet area) until they are picked up.

Medication Procedures

A child must be on any new medication for 24 hours before returning to school.

Medication will be administered only if:

• the parent provides the medication in its original container

• the container includes the child’s name, prescription number, and doctor’s instructions

• a medical authorization form and doctor’s permission form are completed and kept current

All staff who administer medication are trained and delegated by the nurse consultant. Each dose given will be recorded, including the staff member’s initials and the time administered. All medications are stored in a locked cabinet/box or in a refrigerator, depending on requirements.

Over‑the‑counter medications may be given only if SELC has:

• a note signed by the doctor, and

• a note signed by the parent,

• and the medication has been reviewed by the Nurse Consultant

Communicable Diseases and Serious Accidents

It is essential that SELC be notified immediately if your child contracts a communicable disease, so that other families can be informed of possible exposure.

In the event of a serious accident, SELC will call 911 and your child will be transported to the nearest medical treatment facility. This is why it is critical that all phone numbers and emergency contacts remain current.

Colorado law (Board of Health Rule 6 CCR 1009‑2) requires all students attending Colorado schools and licensed child care programs to be vaccinated against certain diseases, unless an approved exemption is filed.

• Medical exemptions only need to be submitted once.

• Non‑medical exemptions must be submitted at enrollment and annually while a child attends SELC.

• Toddlers must also submit a non‑medical exemption again at 18 months of age.

Families are responsible for ensuring that all immunization records or exemption forms remain current and on file with SELC.

At SELC, we recognize that preventative health care and a strong medical home lay the foundation for school readiness. Many young children have health conditions that, if left untreated, can lead to developmental delays. For example, dental pain can make it difficult for a child to focus on learning, and hearing loss can affect communication, language development, and social skills.

Your child’s primary care provider plays an essential role in coordinating services and referrals to specialists as needed. To ensure that each child has received appropriate hearing, vision, and oral/dental screenings, SELC collects this information during enrollment.

Our enrollment packet includes questions about your child’s medical and dental screenings, and SELC will conduct a hearing and vision screening at enrollment. Office staff will follow up with families who may need additional resources or referrals. Our goal is to ensure that every family can access the services their child needs.

Sunscreen must be applied at home before bringing your child to school each day. If your child needs sunscreen reapplied later in the day, their teacher will do so with your permission.

At drop‑off each morning, families will be required to confirm that sunscreen was applied for that day.

SELC is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for every child. All staff members are trained to recognize the signs of child abuse and neglect. Any employee who has reasonable cause to suspect child abuse is REQUIRED BY LAW to report their concerns to the director and to the appropriate authorities, including the Department of Social Services or the Sheriff’s Office.

If a parent ever has concerns about possible child abuse occurring at SELC, they should immediately contact the director and the Rio Grande County Department of Human Services.

To Report a Licensing Complaint

Colorado Office of Early Childhood  

1575 Sherman Street

Denver, CO 80203       (303) 866‑5948

To Report Child Abuse

Rio Grande County Department of Human Services  

11015 6th Street

Del Norte, CO 81132   (719) 657‑3381