“We do what it takes to build pathways to success for all students.”

17850 Railroad Avenue, Sonoma, CA 95476 Tel. 707/935-4246 • Fax 707/ 939-2235 • www.svusdca.org

September 3, 2009

Dear Parent or Student Guardian;

Over 71,000 children in Sonoma County have started back to school. School officials across the county and the Sonoma Department of Health Services are providing information to families about what they can do to help prevent the spread of the flu. As you know, the flu can be easily spread from person to person. Therefore, we are taking steps to reduce the spread of flu in all of our schools. We want to keep our schools open to students and functioning in a normal manner during this flu season. We need your help to do this.

We expect to see increased cases of flu this fall. We are doing everything we can to keep our schools functioning as usual. Here are a few things you can do to help keep your family well.

· Teach your children to wash their hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub. 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. Cover up coughs or sneezes using the elbow, arm, or sleeve when tissue is not available.

· Know the signs and symptoms of the flu. Symptoms of the flue include fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit, 37.8 degrees Celsius or greater), cough, sore throat, a runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, and tiredness. Some people may also vomit or have diarrhea. Children or family members at high risk for complications of the flu, such as pregnant women, those with asthma, diabetes, compromised immune systems or neuromuscular diseases should contact their health provider as soon as possible if they become ill to determine whether treatment is needed.

· Do not send children to school if they are sick. Any children who are determined to be sick while at school will be sent home. Children who appear to have symptoms of the flu will be kept isolated under staff supervision and asked to wear a mask until they are picked up.

· Keep sick children at home for at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever without using fever-reducing medications. Keeping children with a fever at home will reduce the number of people who may be exposed to illness.

The Public Health Department is recommending flu shots for both seasonal and H1N1 2009 flu. Please discuss your health concerns with your family health provider to determine the most appropriate preventative measures for you and your children. Whether to vaccinate is a parental decision.

If the flu becomes more severe in our schools or community, we may take additional steps to prevent its spread such as:

· Conducting active fever and flu symptom screening of students and staff as they arrive at school

· Making changes to increase the space between students such as moving desks further apart and postponing class trips

· Increasing the dismissal period for students and staff from school to at least 7 days if they become sick

· Closing schools if the situation becomes serious enough that the Public Health Officer authorizes such action

For more information about the flu go to the Sonoma County Public Health website at: www.sonoma-county.org/H1N1 or call the Public Health Information Line at (707)565-4477. Information about the flu is also available at: www.CDC.gov/H1N1 and www.flu.gov.

We will notify you of any additional changes to our strategies for preventing the spread of the flu.

Sincerely,

Nanci B. Mathison

Director of Student Services

Superintendent: Pamela A. Martens, Ph.D.

Trustees:

Gary De Smet

Nicole Abaté Ducarroz

Daniel Gustafson

Camerino Hawing

Helen Marsh