October 31, 2009

Links: H1N1 in PA PA Department of Health CDC

Update from Superintendent Parker

 

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

 

I sincerely appreciate your support and vigilance as we continue to track the H1N1 virus in our school community. As you know, Jim Fulginiti, our Director of Student Life, is leading our efforts in coordination with the Chester County and Pennsylvania Departments of Health, and the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Jim’s efforts have been enhanced by the energy and cooperation of our district staff and parents.

 

Jim Fulginiti, Rich Hug (Director of Technology and Communications), and I monitor student and staff attendance daily. Rich Hug has prepared year-to-year longitudinal attendance comparisons. These comparisons enable us to note increases in absenteeism beyond levels previously attributed to colds, seasonal allergies, and typical flu. As we track student and staff attendance, we see a significant district-wide decline in absenteeism. Our attendance rates remain consistent with those of most Chester County school districts. Following the guidelines provided by the Centers for Disease Control, our absentee rate does not indicate a need to close school.

 

We continue to be responsive to student absenteeism due to suspected cases of H1N1:

 

• Last week, a planned overnight trip to Ashland Nature Center in Delaware was postponed due to the contagious nature of flu-like symptoms.
• The district has ordered hand sanitizing units for installation in all buildings. We have received notice that the Commonwealth is providing bottled hand sanitizer and tissues for classroom use. These products will be distributed immediately upon arrival.
• School Nurses continue to caution students and staff, who have flu-like symptoms, to stay home until symptom-free for 24 hours.
• Our custodial, maintenance, food service, and transportation staff continue intensified cleaning efforts.
  

 

When H1N1 vaccine becomes available, it will, with parental consent, be administered to students, starting with our youngest learners. Administration of the vaccine will take place after the school day. County-wide, only three districts have received vaccine to date. All other County districts, including Unionville-Chadds Ford, await notice of shipment.

 

I wish you continued good health …and I sincerely thank you for your patience, understanding, and support.

 

Regards,
Sharon Parker

Superintendent of Schools

 

October 20, 2009

Links: H1N1 in PA PA Department of Health CDC

Superintendent Parker's Message to Parents and Caregivers

 

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

 

Having received increased questions and concerns regarding the District's response to the H1N1 virus, I wanted to take the opportunity to provide the following information and assurances:

 

• Jim Fulginiti, Director of Student Life, is coordinating our District-wide H1N1 response. He and other District supervisory staff members, through participation in webinars and seminars conducted by personnel from the Centers for Disease Control, the United States Department of Education, and the Chester County and Pennsylvania Departments of Health, remain well informed of current guidelines on the H1N1 virus and of appropriate organizational health protocols.
• District custodial, maintenance, food service, and transportation staff continue to work diligently to maintain a healthful environment for all students and staff.
• Over the past several weeks, general flu-like symptoms have been noted within our school community, resulting in an increase in student absenteeism. On Monday , two cases of H1N1 were confirmed. Please be aware that families of those confirmed as having contracted the virus, have no legal obligation to report the diagnostic findings to the District. We have been informed that fewer physicians are now testing for the H1N1 virus. It is also our understanding that mild cases of H1N1 may, in fact, remain undiagnosed. Even without formal confirmation of increased cases of H1N1, we expect that the virus is present in our schools.
• In addition to posting regular updates on the District website and activating the rapid dial system, informational site meetings will be conducted by Jim Fulginiti and members of the administrative staff.
• When H1N1 vaccine becomes available to our District, we will, with parental consent, administer it to students, starting with our youngest children. Administration of the vaccine will take place after the school day. The District nursing staff is well prepared to lead this effort.
• While we are a densely populated academic community, we work within a well-controlled environment. Student and staff attendance is monitored daily. Sanitary procedures are implemented multiple times each day. We are able to detect the transmission of illness, and respond appropriately. With the exception of our homes, there are few other environments that offer us this level of environmental control.
• Students experiencing flu-like symptoms are encouraged to seek medical attention, and to remain home until 24 hours after being fever/symptom free. Parents are reminded to keep emergency contact information and emergency plans current so that our school nurses can send students, who are experiencing flu-like symptoms, home as soon as possible.

I wish you continued good health.

 

Regards,

Sharon Parker

 

Sharon E. Parker
Superintendent of Schools
UNIONVILLE-CHADDS FORD SCHOOL DISTRICT
740 Unionville Road, Kennett Square, PA 19348
Telephone: (610) 347-0970; email: sparker@ucfsd.org

 

October 19, 2009

H1N1 Briefing

Monday, October 19, 2009, 6-6:45pm, UHS LGI

The UCF School District will host an H1N1 Briefing to discuss the H1N1 health threat and what the district is, and will be, doing to protect our students and staff. A question and answer session will follow the briefing.

 

Philadelphia Inquirer - "The truth about swine flu: Separating fact and rumor" Article

 

September 9, 2009 - H1N1 (Novel Influenza “A”) Update

What UCF is Doing

• UCFSD continues to monitor the H1N1 health issue
• We continue to emphasize good health and hygiene techniques
• Communication will continue as necessary with students, parents and staff

 

Things to Remember

• People are encouraged to obtain the seasonal flu vaccine (separate from H1N1 vaccine) from their health care provider. Presently, H1N1 vaccine is anticipated to be available late October, early November.
• Any person, student or adult, who has seasonal or H1N1 influenza, should remain home until symptom free without medication for 24 hours.
• Parents should plan / arrange in advance for the possibility of a child being home due to illness.

 

Detailed Information Update:

UCFSD continues to communicate with local, state and federal agencies in monitoring the H1N1 health concern. Guidance and recommendations are provided for individuals, families and organizations as we move forward into the 2009-2010 school year. We participated in a webinar hosted by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the Pennsylvania Department of Health on August 17, 2009. In attendance at our location were school district personnel, medical personnel from our school district physician’s practice and representatives from the two private schools are school nurses service. Two websites recommended for review are www.cdc.gov and www.flu.gov These sites offer detailed information related to H1N1.

 

Currently a review of basic hygiene techniques which are a major factor in reducing the spread of illness is being communicated to students and staff. Emphasis is being placed on proper coughing, sneezing, and hand washing techniques. This is being accomplished in all facilities housing students and/or staff. Our school nurses are taking the lead in providing guidance, education, support and prevention and response actions to this health concern. Sound cleaning practices by our district staff continues to occur on a daily basis. Additionally, guidance is being provided concerning the monitoring of students and staff for the detection of possible illness, as well as guidance concerning responding when illness does occur.

 

Big Picture items:

• People are encouraged to obtain the seasonal flu vaccine (separate from H1N1 vaccine) from their health care provider. Presently, H1N1 vaccine is anticipated to be available late October, early November.
• Any person, student or adult, who has seasonal or H1N1 influenza, should remain home until symptom free without medication for 24 hours.
• Parents should plan / arrange in advance for the possibility of a child being home due to illness.

 

Please continue to monitor the district’s website for specific information regarding our path forward in response to this health issue. We continue to promote normalcy in our day to day operations with an emphasis on situational awareness regarding this or any other potential health, safety or welfare threat.

 

June 11, 2009: Two cases of Influenza A have been reported to the School District. One at Chadds Ford Elementary School and another at Pocopson Elementary School. Both students are currently at home. There is no confirmation that these are H1N1 cases. The District continues to take all precautions as recommended by the CDC to ensure the safety of students and staff.

 

April 29, 2009: The Unionville-Chadds Ford School District assures parents, students, staff and the community that we are following established protocols to control any potential swine flu outbreak in our schools.

 

The District works closely with the Chester County Department of Health and their Communicable Disease Department. We are reviewing daily, updated information from the Pennsylvania Department of Health, and we feel confident that our cooperation with the pandemic planning efforts of Chester County Emergency Services Department allows us to anticipate and plan for any problems.

Since this is a community concern, we will continue with the actions listed as follows:

 

1. We will keep abreast of all reliable and updated health information regarding this pandemic.
   
2. We encourage you to look for and listen to health updates on your computer, on television and on the radio. The Pennsylvania Department of Health website is an excellent source of reliable information.
3. Our staff and school nurses continue to maintain surveillance of student health, and are watchful for symptoms of swine flu that can include: fever, lethargy, decreased appetite, cough, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
4. If your individual child displays any symptoms of this possible illness at school, parents will be notified of any suspicious case and referred for diagnosis by their Health Care Provider.
5. Any marked increase in number of absentees will be reported to the Chester County Health Department immediately.

 

We appreciate all help possible from parents through the following ways:

 

1. It is always important for your child to be kept home from school if he/she is showing any of the above symptoms of flu, and especially so, now that the World Health Organization has declared a Phase 5 Pandemic Alert level on April 29.
2. Help us to set a good example and reinforce the teaching of effective hand, cough and sneezing hygiene for our students.
3. Inform the school immediately if your child is diagnosed with Swine Flu.

Thank you for your help and cooperation. The Unionville-Chadds Ford School District can assure you that we continue to be prepared for this and other emergencies.

Additional Resources:

 

Link to CDC:
http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/
1-800-CDC-INFO or 1-800-232-4636

 

PA Department of Health
http://www.dsf.health.state.pa.us/health/cwp/view.asp?q=252990

 

Family Preparation Checklist from HMS