As you continue to hear through the news media, the H1N1 virus continues to emerge in our community and in our schools.  This communication is being written to inform you of the complexities associated with keeping you updated regarding the emergence of H1N1 in our district.
 
As of today, the district has been advised that all illnesses with accompanying flu-like symptoms should be considered as confirmed cases of H1N1. This advisement is again attributed to the fact that most, if not all physicians, are not sending samples for testing to determine with all certainty that the illness they are seeing in the patients is actually the result of the H1N1 virus.  As written in a previous special message, in some instances, the symptoms exhibited by children and in some staff, appear to be similar to H1N1 but actually may be the manifestation of other illnesses that affect student and staff attendance rates each year.  As of this date, the state department of public health has not confirmed any cases of seasonal flu.
 
With that said, I can say with some degree of certainty that we have cases of children who are ill due to the H1N1 virus.
 
In the event you have a sick child and you are provided medical confirmation that the illness is the result of H1N1, I would ask that you inform the nurse of your child's school immediately.  This will allow us to be informed of the number of actual confirmed cases as they appear.
 
The district continues to monitor both student and staff attendance rates and has seen an increase in both.  We are not in a position to discern those which can be attributed to H1N1.  On most days not during any type of flu season, the absence rates at each of the five schools in the districts range from 2% to 5%.  There are usually slight elevations to these rates on Monday and Friday of each week and on days before a "no school" day or week.  The most recent absence rate data by school is listed below.
 
 
HKHS
November 2, 2009
Number of students absent  54
Percent absent:  7.83%
 
October 30, 2009
Number of students absent  63
Percent absent:  9.13%
 
October 29, 2009
Number of students absent  69
Percent absent:  10.00%
 
October 28, 2009
Number of students absent  75
Percent absent:  10.87%
 
 
HKMS
November 2, 2009
Number of students absent  178
Percent absent:  22.19%
 
October 30, 2009
Number of students absent  113
Percent absent:  14.09%
 
October 29, 2009
Number of students absent  100
Percent absent:  12.47%
 
October 28, 2009
Number of students absent  80
Percent absent:  9.8%
 
 
KES
November 2, 2009
Number of students absent  140
Percent absent:  31.89%
 
October 30, 2009
Number of students absent  56
Percent absent:  12.76%
 
October 29, 2009
Number of students absent  46
Percent absent:  10.48%
 
October 28, 2009
Number of students absent  21
Percent absent:  4.78%
 
 
BES
November 2, 2009
Number of students absent  51
Percent absent:  16.94%
 
October 30, 2009
Number of students absent  32
Percent absent:  10.63%
 
October 29, 2009
Number of students absent  31
Percent absent:  10.30%
 
October 28, 2009
Number of students absent  28
Percent absent:  9.3%
 
 
HES
November 2, 2009
Number of students absent  90
Percent absent:  33.33%
 
October 30, 2009
Number of students absent  54
Percent absent:  20.00%
 
October 29, 2009
Number of students absent  42
Percent absent:  15.567%
 
October 28, 2009
Number of students absent  31
Percent absent:  11.48%
 
 
In the event that these absence rates increase significantly, each school will engage plans that will allow each to continue providing appropriate instruction.  If you wish to understand the specifics of these plans please feel free to contact the principal of your child's school.
 
I thank you for your continued cooperation with the practice of keeping your child home if he/she is sick and by encouraging good health practices such as hand washing and sneezing/coughing into one's elbow if the need arises.
 
I also thank you for your patience as we work to keep you informed of the impact the H1N1 virus may have in our schools.

The schools district's web site at www.rsd17.org continues to be a primary site where you may obtain the most current information about the flu.  Additional sites include those listed below.
 
http://www.chathamhealth.org/
http://www.crahd.org/
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/schools/toolkit/
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/schools/schoolguidance.htm
 

 

Project Graduation News 
Wrapping Paper Orders will be delivered to the HS on Weds., Nov. 4th. Then distributed to each student's homeroom.  Please remember to verify your order and let us know if there are any concerns as soon as possible.
 
The Fundraising Committee will continue with the recycling fundraiser so look for the "green" bins in all of RSD 17 schools as well as outside the old MS gym, Higganum Physical Therapy, Town Hall and Brainerd Library in Haddam, Town Hall, Library and Transfer Station in Killingworth.  Please consider donating used cell phones, ink jet cartridges, digital cameras, iPods, etc.(No accessories such as chargers, please)   Any questions, feel free to contact Kathy Strom, 345-3398 or KSSTROM@aol.com.   Updates will be added to the Project Graduation link on the district web site.  
 
 
Craft Fair
Haddam Killingworth Middle School PTO is holding their 22nd Annual Craft Fair on Saturday, November 21, 2009 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Fair will be located at the HK Middle School, 451 Route 81, Killingworth.  Free Admission.  Over 50 Professional Crafters, lunch, snacks, and bake sale.
 
 
Spotlight on Seventeen
The first two sessions of Spotlight on Seventeen have been filmed and will air this Thursday on HKTV, Channel 18.  Session one, an interview with Juan Vasquez, the district's Teacher of the Year, is scheduled for broadcast at 8:00 a.m. and again at 7:00 p.m.  The second session is an interview with Linda Kauffman, District Nursing Supervisor, and will be broadcast at 11:00 a.m. and again at 4:00 p.m.  Both sessions will also be included for viewing under the "Spotlight on Seventeen" tab of the district's website at www.rsd17.org.

 

Please visit the District Calendar located on the district's homepage (www.rsd17.org) to see when the various activities and meetings are scheduled.


A reminder that the district utilizes the Honeywell Instant Alert system to communicate with parents during times of emergency or to deliver messages of high importance.  Please be sure that you are registered with Honeywell (link available at www.rsd17.org) and have indicated how you wish to have messages received.  If you have questions regarding this, please do not hesitate to contact the Principal of any one of our schools for assistance.  
 
 
If you wish to have an announcement included in any Weekly Message, please forward the text to Pamela Hensel, Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent of Schools at henselp44@rsd17.org.
 
 
If you have any suggestions regarding the Weekly Message, please contact Gary S. Mala, Superintendent of Schools at gmala@rsd17.org.
 
 
Enjoy your week and thank you for your continued support.
 
 
Gary
Gary S. Mala
Superintendent of Schools
Regional School District 17
(860) 345-4534
http://www.rsd17.org
"Transforming Teaching and Learning"