A Message From Mr. Rumbley

Dear Parents,

As you may know flu is spreading easily from person to person and school-age children are among the groups most affected. We are taking steps to prevent the spread of flu in Covenant Christian School. If flu conditions in Brevard County become more severe, we want to keep the school open and functioning as normal for as long as possible. We need your help to do this.

We are working closely with the Brevard County health department and the Center of Disease Control (CDC) to monitor flu conditions and make decisions about the best steps to take. It is important to note that the CDC Website is continuously updated, and changes in recommendations are frequently being made. Since flu conditions have become more severe, we are now implementing the following steps to prevent the spread of flu within our school.

Extending the time sick students or staff stay home - at on point, the CDC said that a child with the flu should stay home until 7 days after the onset of illness. This has been amended to the 24-hour fever-free rule. CDC warns that the rule many change back again if the severity of the flu worsens. Some CDC statements have said that student age children living in the home of someone ill with the flu should stay home for 5 days from the onset of the ill person's symptoms. However, the CDC is now saying that this is not necessary, but may change back if the severity of the flu worsens. The Brevard County Health Department agrees that this is not necessary at this time, but be advised that if worried parents have seen this statement on the CDC website and want a school excuse from their doctor for 5 days for all of their children when only one is sick, doctors should be giving these excuses. People who are still sick after 7 days should continue to stay home until at least 24 hours after their symptoms have gone away.

Allowing high risk students and staff to stay home. Certain groups are at higher risk of developing serious complications from flu. These groups include children under the age of 5 years, pregnant women, people of any age who have chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease), and people age 65 years and older. These students and staff should consult their doctor to make the decision to stay home.

Conducting active fever and symptom screening of students and staff upon arrival at school. School staff will ask students about symptoms suggestive of a respiratory infection such as fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches and fatigue. Any student who has at least 2 of these symptoms will be separated from others, offered a surgical mask, and sent home as soon as possible.

Dismissing students. We will keep students home for 5-7 days and then reassess with the Brevard County Health Department. We will keep you informed of when students may return to school. During dismissal we will continue school work from home through homework packets, emails, phone calls, etc.. Staff will remain at school to develop and deliver lessons and materials and continue to provide important services. We will also be canceling or postponing all school-related mass gatherings. This includes sporting events, school dances, performances, rallies, commencement ceremonies, etc..

Here are a few things you can do to help since flu conditions are now more severe.

Teach your children to wash their hands often with soap and water. You can set a good example by doing this yourself.

Teach your children not to share personal items like drinks, food or unwashed utensils, and to cover their coughs and sneezes with tissues. If they don't have a tissue, they should cough or sneeze into their upper sleeve, not their hands.

Know the signs and symptoms of the flu. Symptoms of the flu include fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit, 37.8 degrees Celsius or greater), cough, sore throat, a runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, and feeling very tired. Some people may also vomit or have diarrhea.

Extend the time sick children stay home for at least 7 days, even if they feel better sooner. People who are still sick after 7 days should continue to stay home until at least 24 hours after symptoms have gone away.

If a household member is sick, keep any school-aged brothers or sisters home for 5 days from the time the household member became sick. Parents should monitor their health and the health of other school-aged children for fever and other symptoms of the flu.

Don’t send children to school if they are sick. Any children who are sick at school will be sent home. Staying home when sick will allow your children to rest and allows you to monitor their health closely. Keeping your sick child home is the responsible thing to do. It protects fellow students and school staff, especially those who are at higher risk of severe illness from the flu.

Helpful Links
www.flu.gov
www.myflusafety.com

1-800-CDC-INFO
1-877-352-3581

For more information, visit www.flu.gov, or call 1-800-CDC-INFO for the most current information about the flu. You may also visit www.myflusafety.com or call 1-877-352-3581 on the latest Florida Flu information. The Brevard County Health Department Website can also be a helpful resource, and check back here in this section of our website for updates on what our school is doing to keep our kids healthy all year long. We will notify you of any additional changes to our school’s strategy to prevent the spread of flu.

Sincerely,
rumbleysig

Paul Rumbley
Headmaster