WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT H1N1
Dear Parents,
As school is about to begin, the possible return of H1N1 (or Swine Flu) is on our minds. I have met with Dr. Richard Whelan, Foote School’s consulting pediatrician, to get his advice and review our procedures. I want to share with you how we are preparing at school, and enlist your support so that we may minimize any disruptions from H1N1.
What Foote is Doing
Since the influenza is spread mainly person-to-person through the coughing or sneezing of infected individuals, all our classroom teachers will be reinforcing procedures such as frequent hand washing. They will be reminding students to cover their noses and mouths with a tissue when they cough or sneeze and to dispose of the tissue in the trash immediately afterward. They will also ask them to cover coughs or sneezes using their elbow instead of their hand if a tissue is not available. These are things you can reinforce at home, and we have posted these procedures on the school website in bullet form for easy reference.
Every classroom has supplies of antibacterial soap as well as alcohol-based hand cleaners and tissues, and these supplies will be replenished as needed. Our maintenance staff will use a high-performance disinfectant on the most frequently touched surfaces throughout the school each night. Marianne Peterson, the school nurse, and Cathy Petraiuolo, her substitute, have been advised to wear masks when they are with staff or children who exhibit any symptoms.
We also will be giving students instructions with regard to use of the school’s many drinking fountains – keep mouths on the water and away from the spigot. We will have a reminder poster above each fountain, too.
What You Can Do As Parents
Both students and staff will be sent home if they show symptoms of H1N1. These are: a fever of 100°F or higher, sore throat, cough, vomiting and body aches. We know how complicated this can be, and we seek your cooperation in arranging to have your child picked up at school under these circumstances.
Consistent with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommendations, our school policy is that children with flu-like symptoms stay home for at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever of 100°F (without use of fever-reducing medicines), whether or not they are taking antiviral drugs. As always, teachers will work with children who miss school to keep them current with their schoolwork.
Going Forward
We will continue to monitor the H1N1 situation closely. Like all schools, we are receiving information and recommendations from the CDC and the State of Connecticut Health Department. Note that the CDC recommends that school-aged children (and their parents) get vaccinated for both seasonal flu and for the 2009 H1N1 flu when vaccines become available.
If the severity (compared with spring 2009) increases, we will consider further measures, including possible school closing. This decision will be based on recommendations of the CDC and local and state public health officials, with input from Dr. Whelan. We will consider the number and severity of cases in making our decision.
We will stay in regular contact with you on this important matter and have posted information along with several useful links on the “Parents” page of the school website.
Best regards,
Carol Maoz
Head of School
Drop-Off/Pick Up Information
When parking on Loomis Place to drop off or escort children to the classroom or to pick them up, pull over to the curb and do not double park or make U-turns.
Click here for more information.
Week At A Glance Note –
Hard Copies to K-3 Only
As part of Foote School's on-going effort to be environmentally responsible, we will distribute hard copies of Week At A Glance to students in Kindergarten – Grade 3 this year. Everyone else should access the information on the school website. Week at a Glance is posted online every Thursday afternoon, at the same time the hard copy is available.
Bookmark this link: Week at A Glance.
Notes and Links For Middle School Families
Reminders:
• SSAT Prep is September 26 and October 3 – Remember that pre-registration is required. Contact Becky McGuire, the registrar (203-7774364 x 208). Put "Prep Registration" in the title of your e-mail.
Middle School Activities Options
For Foote School Middle School Students (and their Parents):
Below are links to the sign-up sheet and schedule for this year’s activities, as well as a description of each activity. Please take a moment to review the offerings and consider which activity or activities you would like to participate in. When doing so, please take into account all of your time commitments inside and outside of school. To help with your decision, there will be an informational meeting during study hall on Thursday, September 17. When you have made your decision please sign the activities form in spaces provided and return it to your advisor by Monday, September 21.
Even if you do not wish to participate in activities this year, please designate so in the space provided, sign the form and return it to your advisor by the above date.
Most activities will begin the week of September 21-25.
Thank you for considering the following opportunities. We look forward to your participation, and we are excited by the fun and personal growth that await you through our vast array of middle school activities. – Liam Considine
Tuesday 12:15 Amnesty International
2:15 Footenotes (literary magazine)
Chorus
Wednesday 11:45 Advisory Groups
2:15 Jazz/Rock
SPI (school newspaper)
* 3:15- 4:30 Orchestra (Grades 4-9)
Thursday 12:00 Community Service
12:15 Student Council
2:15 Foote Steps (yearbook - Grades 8 & 9): Sept.- April
Environmental Action Group
Friday 12:15 Model Congress (Grades 7, 8 & 9): Sept.-April
Link to activities sign up sheet
Link to activities descriptions
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