Help Keep Our School Community Healthy This Norovirus Season
Dear Families and Community Members,
Norovirus season is here, and we want to work together to keep everyone in our school community healthy. Norovirus is a common stomach bug that can spread quickly, especially in group settings like schools.
The best way to prevent norovirus is through proper handwashing with soap and water. Please note that hand sanitizer does not kill norovirus, so regular handwashing is essential, especially after using the restroom, before eating, and after helping a sick child.
Here’s what good handwashing looks like:
· Wet hands with clean, running water.
· Apply soap and lather well—don’t forget the backs of hands, between fingers, and under nails.
· Scrub for at least 20 seconds (about the time to sing “Happy Birthday” twice).
· Rinse thoroughly under running water.
· Dry with a clean towel or air dry.
By practicing and teaching good hand hygiene at home, you help protect your family, your children’s classmates, and our staff. Together, we can reduce illnesses in our community and keep everyone learning and thriving.
Thank you for your partnership and care!
Warm regards, Tiffany Ailstock, RN, HCPSS School Nurse, Patapsco Middle School
Reminders for Cold and Flu Season
Dear Parents,
This is a friendly reminder from the Health Room regarding the Howard County Public School System’s illness policy. As we enter flu season, it is especially important to help keep our school community healthy and safe.
Please be mindful of the following guidelines when deciding whether your child should attend school:
· Children must be fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication) before returning to school.
· Vomiting or diarrhea: Students should remain home until symptom-free for 24 hours.
· Contagious illnesses such as strep throat, conjunctivitis (pink eye), or influenza often require staying home for at least 24 hours after starting treatment or as directed by your healthcare provider.
· If your child is experiencing persistent cough, significant fatigue, chills, body aches or symptoms that interfere with learning, please consider keeping them home to rest.
With flu and other seasonal illnesses circulating, we appreciate your help in preventing the spread of germs within our classrooms. Keeping children home when they are sick protects not only your child but also classmates, staff, and our wider school community.
Thank you for your attention to these guidelines and for helping us maintain a healthy school environment.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Health Room.
Sincerely,
Tiffany Ailstock, BSN, RN
HCPSS cluster nurse
Patapsco Middle School