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A New Year Calendar Year: 2013

We began our school year on September 4, 2012.   The new calendar year helps us kick off the second part of our school year and I have a feeling that 2013 will be full of good things!

I hope your holidays were filled with good times and magical memories.  My only disappointment was the lack of snow for all sledders, skiers, snowboarders, snowball throwers, etc.

As we kick the year off, I would like to remind you to keep your children home if they are ill — especially if they have a fever.  The Health Department is reporting higher than normal cases of the flu for this time of the year.  If your child has any of the following symptoms fever, cough, sore throat, headache, muscle/body aches, diarrhea PLEASE KEEP YOUR CHILD HOME.  P L E A S E.

  • If your child has any of these symptoms before going to bed, plan to keep your child home.
  • If your child wakes up with these symptoms but begs to go to school, keep your child home.
  • Finally, your child must be free of any of these symptoms for 24 hours before returning to school.
Why am I being such a stickler about this?  Because we have had many, many sick kids at school this year.  Sick kids at school spread germs to healthy kids and staff — and the exposure continues to increase.   The influenza virus is very serious.    And…remember…it is not too late to get flu shots.  For more information about the flu vaccine and prevention tips, go to the health department website stickittotheflu.com.
Here’s to a great week of learning as we kick off 2013 at Georgetown!
Mrs. Reagan

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Stomach Virus Alert

illness, virus, fluPlease be aware that a stomach virus is moving through our building right now.  Two weeks ago, a handful of children reported headaches and then vomited shortly after.   This week, we are seeing the trend of groups of children in classroom being kept home for the virus and/or groups being sent home due to symptoms or vomiting.

If your child is kept home with the virus, please keep your child home for 24 hours.  We want children to return healthy so that we can prevent further spread of the virus from child to child.

We are encouraging hand washing with teachers and custodians taking extra care to clean surfaces and door knobs!

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Flu Vaccines

Reservations Still Available for School H1N1 Vaccine Clinics

State health officials stressed last week that residents should not become complacent when it comes to H1N1 flu.  While flu like disease reports have declined statewide recently, the numbers may very likely spike again during the holidays.  In Ottawa County, a total of 1,603 cases of flu like illness were recorded from November 15 through November 21, up slightly from the 1,377 recorded during the previous week (November 8 through 14).

The Ottawa County Health Department is still accepting reservations for free H1N1 vaccine clinics scheduled for:

Date
Time
Location
Address
Wednesday, December 2
4 – 8 pm
Grand Haven High School
17001 Ferris Street
Thursday, December 3
4 – 8 pm
West Ottawa High School South Campus
3600 152nd Avenue
Wednesday, December 9
4 – 8 pm
Hudsonville High School
5037 32nd Avenue
Saturday, December 12
9 am – 1 pm
Coopersville Middle School
198 East Street

Reservations are required and can be made online.

Those who are unable to access the website can make a reservation by calling 2-1-1 or 1-877-211-LAKE (5253).  Due to limited supply of H1N1 vaccine, only those who qualify for vaccine under an H1N1 priority group are eligible.  H1N1 Priority Groups include:
-those between the ages of 6 months and 24 years old
-pregnant women
-people ages of 25 through 64 years of age who are at higher risk for novel H1N1 because of chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems
-people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age
-healthcare and emergency medical services personnel with direct patient care

MS. SHANNON J. FELGNER
Communications Specialist
Ottawa County Health Department

12251 James Street Suite 400
Holland, Michigan 49424
Office: 616-494-5597
Cell: 616-638-1276
Fax: 616-393-5643

www.miOttawa.org/MediaRoom
The Ottawa County Health Department is committed to providing environmental protection, health promotion, disease prevention and assuring quality health services to Ottawa County residents. Established in 1931, the department employs 105 dedicated public health ambassadors. Offices are located in Holland, Hudsonville, and Grand Haven. For detailed information about our services visit www.miOttawa.org/Health.

The information contained in this message including attachments, may be privileged, confidential, protected from disclosure, and is intended only for the use of the individual to whom it is addressed. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you receive this communication in error, please delete it and destroy any copies of the original message. Thank you.


Now even grandmothers are joining Facebook! Flu Granny can keep you informed about H1N1 flu.   Fan her at
www.facebook.com/flugranny!Need tools to educate your workforce, organization, students, congregation, or other audience?
Download flu prevention posters, images, audio files and more at
www.miOttawa.org/flu.


Promote flu prevention!

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Reminder: Flu Symptoms

Dear Parents,

We have been advised by the Ottawa County Health Department and the Center for Disease Control that if your child has one or more of the following symptoms, you must keep them home from school AND:

1.  Contact your physician

2.  Contact the school and report the symptoms.  SYMPTOMS:  fever of over 100 degrees, cough, sore throat, body aches, chills and fatigue.

3.   Even if your child is ill with non-flu like symptoms, please inform the office of your child’s illness (for example:  stomach virus, cold, strep, allergies).

Schools are required to report the total number of absences with flu like symptoms to the health department, who in turn reports to the CDC.   To answer additional questions, the health department has a number of resources to our website at www.MiOttawa.org. You may also access our information hotline, at 616-494-5575.

Thank you for your support!  Mrs. Reagan