CRUSADER CONNECTION
January 26, 2018
Dear Parents,
A 12 year old boy from South Florida died of the flu this week. His loving parents assumed it was just a cold. Please re-read this memo from the Department of Health and take it seriously. Do not assume your child has just a cold. Seek medical attention. Do not send your child to school with flu-like symptoms.
January 19, 2018
The Florida Department of Health (the Department) reports that influenza, or “flu,” activity levels have increased sharply over the last several weeks. Flu is a contagious respiratory disease caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness. Serious outcomes of flu infection can result in hospitalization or death. Some people, such as young children, the elderly, and people with certain health conditions are at high risk for serious complications from flu. The Department is encouraging families to get vaccinated for flu now.
Vaccination is the best way to protect against the flu and severe complications from the flu. Vaccination is most crucial for children with underlying health conditions such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease, and neurological and neurodevelopmental conditions. The flu vaccine is offered in many locations including pharmacies, clinics, employers, and schools. Contact your health care provider, county health department, or visit http://www.floridahealth.gov/findaflushot to find a flu vaccine center near you.
The flu vaccine is safe. The national Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that all individuals six months of age and older receive the flu vaccine each year. Since infants under six months of age are too young to get vaccinated against influenza, it is important that family members (including pregnant or breastfeeding mothers) and other caregivers for these children be vaccinated to help protect them from the disease.
It is especially important that parents keep sick children at home to prevent spreading the flu virus to others. Additional flu prevention steps include staying away from people who are sick, covering sneezes or coughs with a tissue or your elbow, avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth, and frequent handwashing.
If your child becomes sick with flu-like illness, contact your health care provider as soon after symptoms begin as possible. Symptoms of the flu often include fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, body aches, headaches, or fatigue. Antiviral medication for flu has been shown to reduce severity and length of disease, decrease the risk of complications from influenza, and reduce the risk of death among hospitalized patients, particularly in those that start treatment early in their illness. Health care providers can prescribe antiviral treatment if appropriate. Treatment is most effective when started within 48 hours, so contacting your health care provider as soon as your child becomes ill is important, especially if your child has underlying health conditions.
The best way to keep yourself and your family safe and healthy during flu season is to:
· Get vaccinated;
· Keep sick family members home;
· Contact your health care provider if you or your child are experiencing flu-like symptoms; and
· Follow your doctor’s guidance on treatment.
For more information, please visit http://www.cdc.gov/flu/parents/index.htm.
Plumbing issues
There was no way to predict this problem and the only other solution would be to close down school while the work was being done. This would have required the school year to be extended for the days missed and parents would have been scrambling to make childcare arrangements. I did not think that anyone would be happy with that solution so we are making the best of a difficult situation. We thank you for understanding.
2nd Quarter report cards
Coming up
Tuesday, January 30: Elementary Spelling Bees
1st thru 3rd 9AM 4th-5th 10:30AM
Monday, February 5: Middle school spelling bee
Tuesday, February 6th: PTL meeting 6PM
Wednesday, February 14th: Ash Wednesday, All School Chapel. If you do not want your child to receive ashes, NOTIFY THE TEACHER.
Wednesday, February 14th: Valentines Day Ice Cream Party sponsored by the PTL
Friday, February 16th: Early Release
Monday, February 19th: President's Day, NO SCHOOL OR OOS
Friday, February 23rd: 4th through 8th Grade Dance
Updated School Calendar:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1yg4Pi_plp9MZnMuyrUiCALs0B4IfrPSzkm1k-zfnmgw/edit?usp=sharing
PLEASE LOOK AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS NEWSLETTER FOR A LINK TO PRINTABLE UPDATED SCHOOL CALENDAR!
Sunday, March 4 - Kick-off for National Lutheran Schools Week
Chipolte Reading Program
Looking ahead to REGISTRATION
Right Now Media
I am sending this a second time, just in case you overlooked it the first time. I am very happy to be able to extend access to RightNow Media to all of our school families. This is a Christian video site that has been described as the Netflix of Christian Media. Setting up an account is very simple. You will have access to children, youth, teen and adult videos, bible studies and documentaries. Please take the few minutes to set up your FREE account. Click on the link below and again at the bottom of this newsletter.
https://www.rightnowmedia.org/Account/Invite/holycrosslutheranschool