As of October 1, the number of absences at St. Mary’s Academy has been in the normal range. With the flu season coming on, this most likely will change. Below is a reminder of the steps necessary to keep people healthy.

• If your daughter is ill, please keep her home until she is well. This means 24 hours after the fever has disappeared. Any missing work can be made up.

• Please encourage your daughter to get adequate sleep, eat well, and wash her hands often. We have sanitizing lotion throughout the building that she can use to help in this process.

• She should also avoid sharing food, drink and lip balm with other students. Covering her mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing will keep germs from spreading.

• If your daughter becomes ill during the day, we will call you and send her home.

• St. Mary’s Academy will continue to keep the building clean on a regular basis, washing desktops, doorknobs, and keyboards, and workout equipment.

• If H1N1 becomes pervasive, causing a high degree of absences and the health department suggests that we close the school, we will be in contact with you. We have the capability to continue classes using our teacher web pages on a correspondence basis.

For more information about the H1N1 flu, you can visit: http://www.flu.oregon.gov/