We have had a lot of students absent in recent days, including many students whose families are reporting that they are ill with a cold or the flu. As our nurse Shannon Schupp shared in our newsletter a few weeks ago, childhood illnesses are a normal part of "exercising" children's immune systems (and adults, too) and in general, children should normally be sick 3-5 times a year. Because some children have not been "exercising" their immune systems as much in these past couple of years, we are seeing an expected amount of "catching up", especially recently.

As a school we continue to take preventative measures, and we encourage you to take preventative measures as well. The Multnomah County Health Department and Oregon Health Authority have both recommended voluntary masking indoors through January 1, 2023.

In addition, we recommend that you:

• Stay home if you are feeling unwell, follow the PPS Self-Screening Checklist to know when to stay home and when to come to school

• Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands

• Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your upper shirt sleeve, not your hands

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds

• Avoid close contact, such as kissing, shaking hands, and sharing cups and eating utensils, with others, when they are sick

• Stay up to date on preventable disease vaccinations, and vaccinations for Covid-19 and the Flu, if you are able

• Wear a mask when indoors in public places throughout the respiratory virus season

• Frequently clean touched surfaces such as doorknobs and mobile devices

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to us!

Sincerely,

Heather Thompson