October 16, 2009

Dear Parents:

Much information has been presented in the news recently regarding H1N1 (Swine Flu) and seasonal flu.  Yesterday, five students were sent home with a fever.  We have taken steps to reduce the spread of the flu district wide.  We would like to assure parents, students, and staff that we have a plan in place, following the guidelines of the Illinois Department of Public Health and in consultation with medical personnel.

In our buildings we have installed several strategically placed hand sanitizers.  Students have also been instructed on washing their hands frequently with soap and water, keeping their hands away from their faces, and sneezing of coughing into their elbow.  Additionally, there is hand sanitizer available in every classroom.  Our custodial staff is working diligently to keep surfaces clean.

If your student exhibits symptoms of H1N1, he/she is to remain out of school for at least 24 hours after the disappearance of symptoms and no longer has a fever, or signs of a fever, without the use of fever-reducing medicines.  The student should stay home even if he/she is using antiviral drugs.  If a student comes to school with the appearance of flu-like symptoms, he/she will be isolated from the other students until he/she can be sent home.  Because we certainly do not want to expose others to the flu, timely pickup of the student will be greatly appreciated.

Symptoms of H1N1 are headache, body aches/and or chills, sore throat, runny nose, fever, nausea and/or vomiting, diarrhea and unusual tiredness.  Please keep your student home if these symptoms are present.  Children and adults are contagious for seven days once symptoms appear.  Additional information is available from the county health department or from the government website at:  http://www.idph.state.il.us/h1n1_flu/index.htm or at www.flu.gov.  

Please feel free to contact me at 217-543-2511 if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Travis Wilson