Dear families,

Flu can be easily spread from person to person, and we are taking steps to reduce the potential spread of flu here at St. Mary’s. We want to keep the school open to students and functioning in a normal manner during this flu season, but we need your help to do so.

We are working closely with Jackson County Health and Human Services to monitor flu conditions and make decisions about the best steps to take concerning St. Mary’s. As new information becomes available, we will publish it on this website (www.smschool.us).  Just click on “Health & Safety” in the Quicklinks box to get back to this page.   

For now, here are a few things you can do to help.

• 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. Covering up their coughs or sneezes using the elbow, arm or sleeve instead of the hand when a tissue is unavailable.
• 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.
• 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 or anti-viral drugs.  Keeping children with a fever at home will reduce the number of people who may get infected.
• 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.

For more information, please review the attached flyer and visit www.flu.gov, or call 1-800-CDC-INFO for the most current information about the flu.

Chris Johnson, our Middle School Head and Plant Manager, is coordinating our school’s planning efforts.  Please contact him with your questions and concerns by email at cjohnson@smschool.us or by phone at 541-773-7877.