Help a colleague out please! I am starting my second school year at a small, inner-city charter school with only K and 1st grades. We have a new K student who just joined our school last Monday 9/19. He had started the school year 2 weeks before at the local public school he was zoned for, but then was admitted to our charter school after being wait-listed, so mom enrolled him.
He started last week in one classroom but by Wednesday, it was clear he needed to be in a different classroom where both teachers speak Spanish as his English is limited and neither of his parents are comfortable speaking English. So last Friday (his fifth day here) he was moved to the classroom across the hall where both teachers are Native Spanish speakers (and both lovely and warm). Just after lunch he started vomiting. We though nothing of it and called mom that he was ill and needed to go home. She came and got him and that was that.
Yesterday was to be his first full day in the new classroom (since he left sick Friday). At 10 am he is brought to me vomiting. I take his temp and as I get near his mouth with the thermometer he gags violently and vomits clear sputum into the trash. So I take an axillary temp instead. He's right at 100. I call mom to tell her he is vomiting and has a very low-grade temp. She is pissed b/c she works an hour away and is scared she will be fired (a very real scenario for my population). She shows up two hours later to get him. In those two hours he was out cold asleep on the cot. Kid seemed sick enough. I arrive at work this morning surprised he is here since the rule is fever free for 24 hours (plus no vomiting for 24 hours). Just as I am getting ready to call mom, he is brought to me "vomiting clear stuff into the trash can". So I start talking to him and he keeps telling me "can you call my mom so I can go home. I am sick". So I am realizing that he clearly is not actually "sick" but making himself gag/vomit b/c he wants his mom. I just spent the last 30 minutes with him telling him he is OK and he is just inconsolably sobbing saying "call my mom I am sick and need to go home".
I am at a loss. His teachers are both awesome. I think the temp of 100 was a fluke yesterday and I know he is clearly not sick and just making himself gag so he seems sick. I told this to the teachers and they agree but are at a loss in terms of having him stay in the classroom as he is upsetting the other kids and a big distraction. But I don't want him in my office b/c he doesn't need to be here and I have other kids I need to take care of. Plus he will never get used to the new class if he never stays in there.
please! I am starting my second school year at a small, inner-city charter school with only K and 1st grades. We have a new K student who just joined our school last Monday 9/19. He had started the school year 2 weeks before at the local public school he was zoned for, but then was admitted to our charter school after being wait-listed, so mom enrolled him.