|
Message from Christine Martins,
School Nurse Hello Parents! I hope that this newsletter finds you and your household in good health. Over the past few weeks,
many of our students here at CET have been sick with flu-like symptoms. The main complaints have been fevers,
cough and fatigue.
Flu can be diagnosed via symptoms or lab test.
So,
what exactly is the flu? According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC),
the flu is a “contagious respiratory illness caused by the influenza viruses”. To read up more on the different types of influenza virus,
check out this link: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/viruses/index.htm . Flu season can last from early Fall to late Spring. The flu can be a mild case,
or severe. Typical flu symptoms are fever,
cough,
sore throat,
nasal congestion,
fatigue,
body aches. (Please keep in mind that some people who get sick with the flu do not get fevers!) Per the CDC,
the flu virus is “spread mainly by tiny droplets made when people with flu cough,
sneeze or talk.
These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby.
Less often,
a person might also get flu by touching a surface or object that has flu virus on it and then touching their own mouth,
nose,
or possibly their eyes.”
Please keep your child home if he or she is showing signs of the flu or any illness. This is with everyone’s best interests in mind. If your child is sick or unwell,
they won’t be able to focus in class and will most probably have a miserable day… You will also be exposing everybody in the school to whatever your child is sick with. Classmates,
teachers,
staff as well as their own households. Many of our staff members have young children and babies of their own at home. Others care for their elderly parents. Young children and the elderly are more susceptible to the flu.
The best way to protect yourself and your family from the flu is by prevention; namely,
vaccination. While this season’s flu vaccine does not seem to be as effective as previous seasons,
it is still beneficial to get the shot!! ANY amount of protection is better than ZERO protection! Getting the flu shot will help lessen your chances of getting sick with the flu and it might also lessen the severity and duration of the illness if you were to get sick. Remember,
flu season can last until May!! Speak to your doctor if you or a family member has not received the flu shot yet this season. Side note- it does take a couple of weeks after receiving the flu shot for flu antibodies to develop in the body; in other words,
for the flu shot to become “effective”. Another way of preventing the flu from hitting home is by preventing the spread of germs. The CDC has posted this article on practicing “six good health habits” to help prevent illness: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/habits.htm . These six health habits are simple and easy to follow.
They include: avoiding close contact with sick people,
staying home when sick to help prevent spreading the illness,
covering mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing and throwing used tissues in the trash,
washing hands often… Here in the nurse’s office,
we also do our part to help prevent the spread of germs. In between each student,
we wash our hands with either soap and water or Purell. Our desks,
counters,
cots,
light switches,
thermometers,
stethescopes… are cleaned with germicidal wipes. I also review proper handwashing techniques with students when they come in to the office and have them wash their hands. Please visit the Center for Disease Control for more information on influenza: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/index.htm
*************************************************************************
CET PTA
We know that many of you have been asking questions about the PTA run lunch program and may have been holding off from ordering for the second semester,
as it was unclear if the program would in fact run again. We are very happy to report that after some intense research,
different consultations and many other considerations,
we have decided to continue the lunch program for the foreseeable future. We therefore would like to remind you to Sign up for Session 2 of the
CET PTA lunch program. Orders are due today Friday,
February 16th
online only at https://tinyurl.com/CETLunchProgra (If you do not have access to a computer,
please call Lisa Fitzgerald in the CET Main Office,
at 914-271-5184,
ext.
3214.
Don't miss a chance to have a lunch date with your child! Flexible shifts available.
WE ESPECIALLY NEED VOLUNTEERS FROM NOON to 1:30 PM. Get info and signup at https://tinyurl.com/CETLunchVolunteer We would also like to thank Heather Ilardi,
her team of helpers,
and all the other volunteers that helped make our PARP event last Friday evening such a fun event! Great job ladies! We have not been able to secure a date for our Family Fun night yet,
but watch this space. Please email us at cetpta@gmail.com if you want to be on the planning team for this event. As you may know,
Dr.
Fuhrman is retiring this year.
A representative from our PTA will be a part of the Superintendent Search Interviewing process.
As a PTA representative,
we will have the opportunity to ask two questions.
We would like to encourage everyone to send us suggestions or specific questions they may feel need to be answered by the candidates.
Please send us your questions by the February 22
nd
to cetpta@gmail.com And as always,
please establish the CET PTA as your not for profit organization on
Amazon Smile Also,
don't forget us when you use Shutterfly,
Box Tops,
and Oliver's labels as they are easy ways to help our PTA raise funds for enrichments. |
