Swine Flu

As news spreads across the area of numerous cases of H1N1 virus, we continue to get many questions from parents about the vaccine and its potential availability in schools. As of now, Wayne County has not shared any plans to offer the vaccine in the Grosse Pointe Schools, but has a limited roll-out of the vaccine in some Detroit schools. We will keep everyone posted. Our website www.gpschools.org has a lot of information for parents, and below is a letter sent home to all parents regarding a case of swine flu at North. Since this letter, we have become aware of several other students throughout the area who have contracted the virus. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at 313.432.3204.

Dear Parents:

As part of the district’s continued effort to keep you up to date on the H1N1 flu, the following information is being provided to keep you informed, not to cause alarm. We have learned that a student at Grosse Pointe North High School has a confirmed case of the H1N1 flu. The student is home recovering and will return to school soon.

The H1N1 flu has received a lot of attention in the media and, therefore, we felt that it was important to tell you about this first confirmed case (this flu season) in the district. However, since health officials are unable to predict how widespread it will become, we will not be sending home a letter each time we receive notice of a confirmed case.

At this point, the mid-west and more specifically southeastern Michigan has not had any widespread outbreaks of H1N1. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) is not recommending school closure in the event of a single case or even mild outbreaks of the H1N1 flu. School closures will only be considered if a large number of students or staff members are absent. District administration will inform parents in the event of a school closure by our automated phone fan-out system and posting on the district website. If a school or schools need to be closed for any reason, the Health Department suggest students not gather at another location, but rather stay home to avoid continued spread of flu outside of school.

There are many actions we can take to minimize the number of students who become ill this school year and we are asking for your help to do this.

v Remind your children how to reduce the risk of getting and spreading flu viruses by:
· Washing hands often. Wash with soap and hot water for at least 20 seconds.
· Use hand sanitizer. Gels and rubs with at least 60% alcohol are effective.
· Coughing or sneezing into their sleeve or elbow

v If your child is sick, keep him/her home for at least 24 hours after being free of fever, without fever reducing medication.

v Please continue to notify the school when your child will be absent. If you are keeping your child home due to flu or flu-like symptoms, please share that information with the school when reporting the absence.

The district will continue to make decisions based on the recommendations of city, county, and state public health organizations as well as the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and will keep you updated with new information as it becomes available.
Sincerely,
Tim Bearden C. Suzanne Klein
Principal Superintendent