As you have mostly likely heard via the news media, the H1N1 virus has emerged in school districts in our immediate geographic area.  This communication is being written to inform you of the complexities associated with keeping you updated regarding the emergence of H1N1 in our district.
 
As of today, the district has not been made aware of confirmed cases of H1N1 but nurses at some of our schools have been informed of student absences due to "flu-like symptoms" or confirmed cases of influenza A (which is also know as the seasonal flu).  This lack of awareness regarding the presence of H1N1 is attributed to the fact that most, if not all physicians, are not sending nasal swabs taken from patients to the state laboratory to be tested.  This lack of testing has led them to inform parents that their children have symptoms that are similar to the H1N1 virus, but they are not identifying each as a "confirmed" case.  In some instances, the symptoms exhibited by children and in some staff, appear to be similar to H1N1 but actually are the manifestation of the seasonal flu that affects student and staff attendance rates each year. 
 
Given what we know about what is limited medical response to identifying confirmed cases, I can say with some degree of certainty that it is likely that we have cases of children who are ill due to the H1N1 virus.
 
In the event you have a sick child and you are provided medical confirmation that the illness is the result of H1N1, I would ask that you inform the nurse of your child's school immediately.  This will allow us to be informed of the number of actual confirmed cases as they appear.
 
The district continues to monitor both student and staff attendance and has not seen an unusual increase in either.  In the event that these attendance rates increase significantly, each school is prepared to engage plans that will allow each to continue providing appropriate instruction.  If you wish to understand the specifics of these plans please feel free to contact the principal of your child's school.
 
I thank you for your continued cooperation with the practice of keeping your child home if he/she is sick and by encouraging good health practices such as hand washing and sneezing into one's elbow if the need arises.
 
I also thank you for your patience as we work to keep you informed of the impact the H1N1 virus may have in our schools.

                
The schools district's web site at www.rsd17.org continues to be a primary site where you may obtain the most current information about the flu.  Additional sites include those listed below.
 
http://www.chathamhealth.org/
http://www.crahd.org/
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/schools/toolkit/
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/schools/schoolguidance.htm
 
 

Please visit the District Calendar located on the district's homepage (www.rsd17.org) to see when the various activities and meetings are scheduled.

A reminder that the district utilizes the Honeywell Instant Alert system to communicate with parents during times of emergency or to deliver messages of high importance.  Please be sure that you are registered with Honeywell (link available at www.rsd17.org) and have indicated how you wish to have messages received.  If you have questions regarding this, please do not hesitate to contact the Principal of any one of our schools for assistance.  
 
 
If you wish to have an announcement included in any Weekly Message, please forward the text to Pamela Hensel, Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent of Schools at henselp44@rsd17.org.
 
 
If you have any suggestions regarding the Weekly Message, please contact Gary S. Mala, Superintendent of Schools at gmala@rsd17.org.
 
 
Enjoy your week and thank you for your continued support.
 
 
Gary
Gary S. Mala
Superintendent of Schools
Regional School District 17
(860) 345-4534
http://www.rsd17.org
"Transforming Teaching and Learning"