Hello, this is Dr. Feirsen from Garden City Public Schools, with an update concerning the flu. During the past several days, we have continued to experience a higher than expected number of students reporting fevers and other symptoms often associated with the flu.

Garden City Public Schools remain open, and your help is needed to reduce the possibility of spreading the flu. I remind you that if your child experiences flu-like symptoms, particularly fever, and including cough, sore throat, runny nose, muscle aches, etc., you should contact your health care provider. If it is believed that the cause is the flu, the child must stay out of school for 7 days after the onset of symptoms. Those who report back to school before the 7 day period has elapsed must bring a doctor’s note providing clearance to return. Although we recognize that this is a difficult time of year for students to be absent, please help us prevent the spread of flu by keeping your child out of school while he or she is ill and therefore capable of spreading the virus to others.

We also want to emphasize once more that the most effective way of preventing transmission of the flu to those around you is to practice good hygiene by washing hands thoroughly with soap and water or by using a hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available, and by covering your nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing (or coughing or sneezing into your sleeve if a tissue is not available). Additional guidance may be found on our district web site.

Thank you for your cooperation.