 
Novel Influenza A (H1N1)
INFORMATION CENTER
Up-to-Date Information for Our Schools and Community
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MESSAGE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT:
November 12, 2009
 THANKS TO ALL FOR THE SUCCESSFUL H1N1 VACCINATION CLINIC
The success of the H1N1 vaccination clinic on November 7 speaks volumes for the Clearfield Area School District (CASD) and the Clearfield community at large. A total of 960 individuals were vaccinated, and I again extend my thanks to
CASD nurses, faculty, staff and administrators, Clearfield Emergency Medical Services, Clearfield Fire Police, and faculty from St. Francis School and the Clearfield Alliance Christian School. All volunteered their time to make the clinic a success.
The Board of Education and I are especially appreciative of the work of Clearfield Hospital staff on behalf of our students. Without the hospital as our co-host, the District may not have been able to provide the H1N1 vaccines to our students. In particular, HATS OFF to Dr. Gregory Sheffo, Chief Medical Officer, Mrs. Jacque Starr, Director of Pharmacy,
Mrs. Sue Stiner, Infectious Disease Nurse, the nurses who administered the vaccines, Mrs. Amy Duke, Public Relations, and all other hospital staff who volunteered their time.
Thanks to all for a great community effort, and let's all keep practicing good cough, sneeze and hand-washing etiquette!
Dr. Richard C. Makin, Superintendent
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MESSAGE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT:
August 24, 2009
PA Dept. of Health Releases New Guidance on H1N1 Influenza
On Monday 8/17/09, the Pennsylvania Dept. of Health released updated guidance to schools throughout the Commonwealth to help decrease the spread of flu among students and school staff during the 2009-2010 school year. The guidance is meant to limit the spread of influenza while reducing disruption to schools.
At this time, the Department of Health is recommending that the least disruptive measures should be employed to control the spread of disease. This means in general, school closure will not be necessary, especially when less disruptive measures can be effectively and properly implemented.
We will do everything we can to keep our schools functioning as usual.
Here are a few things you can do to help:
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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.
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Teach your children not to share personal items like drinks, food or unwashed utensils, and to cover their coughs and sneezes with tissues. Covering up their coughs or sneezes using the elbow, arm or sleeve instead of the hand when a tissue is unavailable.
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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.
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Keep sick children at home for at least 24 hours after they no longer have fever or do not have signs of fever, without using fever-reducing drugs. Keeping children with a fever at home will reduce the number of people who may get infected.
Please 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.
Our faculty and staff will be working diligently to curb the spread of the virus. We recently participated in a PA Department of Health informational webinar, will be continuing our focus on personal and environmental hygiene, and will be closely monitoring student attendance.
To our parents, I am asking for your help in reinforcing the above preventative measures to help contain the spread of influenza, particularly with our younger students. It is especially important that you keep your child at home if they have influenza-like symptoms.
For further information, I recommend you visit the
PA Dept. of Health website .
This website is updated regularly and is one of the best sources of information available to you.
If you have any questions, please contact the nurse's office at your child's school after the start of school on September 2.
DR. RICHARD C. MAKIN,
SUPERINTENDENT
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