SNOW DAYS REMINDER

Snow days will be made up on April 25^th, June 5^th and June 6^th.  If there is another snow day, it will be made up on Monday, March 24^th.  That is the Monday of Spring Break week.

SCHOOL ALERTS (school closings / emergency closings)

WSAZ offers a school alert to emails and cell phones at the following link.  A useful tool for those interested.  www.wsaz.com/closings/misc/10224821.html

Newsletter Information

Parents, just a reminder that all information regarding school activities is contained in the bi-weekly newsletter or on your monthly calendar.  Please keep these papers handy as reference to questions you may have about school events.  This will help eliminate the excessive number of calls to the school on a daily basis.

Parking Lot

Thank you once again for your cooperation in implementing this procedure!  There are just a few areas that need to be addressed.  Parents, please do not stop your vehicle in the crosswalk.  Vehicles are to stop just after the crosswalk or before.  The crosswalk is designated for pedestrians only.  Parents parking and walking their child/children into the building, please park and walk to the crosswalk.  We have had several parents walking in between stopped cars.  The bus lane is for buses only.  Please do not drop your children off in this lane.  The last area of concern is parents entering the parking lot through the exit.  Please do enter the parking lot through the exit. 

Health News

Bureau for Public Health

Division of Surveillance and Disease Control

350 Capitol Street, Room 125

Charleston, West Virginia 25301-3715

(304) 558-5358 or 1-800-642-8244

Staphylococcus aureus, often simply referred to simply as “staph,” are bacteria commonly

carried on the skin or in the nose of healthy people. Staph bacteria are one of the most

common causes of skin infections in the United States. Most of these skin infections are

minor (such as pimples and boils) and can be treated without antibiotics.

Some staph bacteria are resistant to antibiotics. MRSA is a type of staph that is resistant to

some common antibiotics. MRSA has been present for a long time in hospitals and health

care facilities. The health-care strain affects persons who are ill and the strain is resistant

to many antibiotics. A new community strain of MRSA commonly affects healthy persons

and is sensitive to many antibiotics. This community strain is now the most common cause

of skin infections in many communities in the U.S., including many communities in West

Virginia.

Staph bacteria, including MRSA, can cause skin infections that may look like a pimple or

boil and can be red, swollen, painful, or have pus or other drainage. In many cases, MRSA

may be initially mistaken for a spider bite. More serious infections may include pneumonia,

bloodstream infections, surgical wound infections or other deep infections.

There are many things that we can do to prevent the spread of MRSA in our schools and

our communities. Stressing the importance of good hygiene is vital in preventing the

spread of MRSA in our schools and locker rooms. MRSA may be resistant to some of our

strongest drugs, but it cannot resist hand washing.

1. Avoid unnecessary antibiotic use. Antibiotic overuse causes antibiotic resistance.

2. Keep your hands clean by washing thoroughly with soap and water or using an

alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

3. Avoid sharing personal and skin care items such as clothing, towels, washcloths,

razors or balms.

4. Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered with a bandage until healed, avoid

contact with other people’s wounds or bandages, and wash hands immediately after

changing a bandage.

5. Seek medical attention immediately if a wound does not heal properly or appears to

be infected.

6. MRSA is spread by people and shared personal items. It is not spread through the

school building or furniture. Schools do not need to be closed to control the spread

of MRSA. Routine daily and as-needed cleaning of bathrooms, locker rooms,

kitchens, classrooms and other shared areas is recommended according to usual

procedures.

1. Cover all wounds. If wound cannot be covered, exclude the player with the wound.

2. Shower with soap after every practice or tournament. Use liquid soap dispensers in

the team showers.

3. Discourage sharing of towels and personal items such as clothing or equipment.

4. Wash uniforms, clothes, towels, and sheets with water and laundry detergent. Dry

clothes in a hot dryer.

5. Lockers, benches, showers, weight benches and other shared surfaces in athletic

training facilities should be sanitized on a regular basis using disinfectant cleaners.

A list of EPA-registered disinfectants effective against MRSA is available at:

http://www.epa.gov/oppad001/list_g_mrsa_vre.pdf. Of course, 10% bleach, freshly

mixed, is a highly effective disinfectant.

6. Train coaches in first aid for wounds and encourage athletes to report wounds to

them.

MRSA is transmitted most frequently by direct skin-to-skin contact. You can protect

yourself from infections by practicing good hygiene; covering any open skin area such as

abrasions or cuts with a clean dry bandage; avoid sharing personal items such as towels or

razors; using a barrier between your skin and shared equipment; and wiping surfaces of

equipment before and after use.

Yes. Most staph and MRSA infections are treatable. Warm soaks and incision and

drainage (‘lancing’) are the basis for treatment of simple skin infections. If an antibiotic is

prescribed, be sure to take the medication as prescribed, even if the infection is getting

better. Do not share antibiotics with other people or save unfinished antibiotics to use at

another time.

Remember that many staph skin infections may be treated by draining the abscess or boil

and may not require antibiotics. Consult your doctor for advice.

Don't forget to fill out and sign your ballot for PTO Officers (2008-09) and return them to the PTO box by the front door.

There will be a PTO Meeting Thursday, May 8th at 2:15 pm.