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Perfect attendance awards? Not in the age of H1N1
Sick students need to stay home this school year, health leaders say
In the era of H1N1 virus, school awards for perfect or outstanding attendance might no longer send the right message, health leaders say.
It will be important this school year for students to stay home if they have flu-like symptoms in order to prevent further spread of a new virus to which individuals do not have immunity, officials said Thursday.
Children are more likely than adults to be infected with the H1N1 influenza virus, or swine flu, and they are more intimate when interacting with each other than dults, Oneida County Director of Clinical Services Patrice Bogan said.
?We may need to re-think some of the things we've done in the past - such as giving awards to students for perfect attendance,? Bogan said.
If students are sick with flu-like symptoms, it is recommended they stay home for at least 24 hours after their fever is gone - without the use of medicine to reduce the fever, Bogan said. It usually will take at least a few days to recover from the flu, she said.
It is recommended that schools disinfect commonly used surfaces such as desktops, keyboards and door handles, she said.
Bogan said she is concerned about the challenges that could arise for school nurses this year, and she recommends school districts keep an eye on the staffing needs in nursing offices.
Mark DeSalvo, principal of the Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School in Utica, said officials at his school are looking into ways to promote strong attendance without focusing on a perfect attendance record. The same problem exists at many workplaces, he said.
?There's times when you get sick - does that mean in some way you're not an outstanding worker? DeSalvo said. ?No.?
The school is trying to develop attendance incentives based more on growth in attendance than whether a student avoids being sick, DeSalvo said. It's important for students to understand they should stay home when they're sick in order to avoid infecting others, he said.
?I think that it's all a teaching opportunity,? he said.
Awards for outstanding attendance were given up until a few years ago, New York Mills Superintendent Kathy Houghton said.
A mix has to be found between encouraging attendance and educating students about when to stay home, Houghton said.
?As long as they're well, we want them to attend school,? she said. ?And we certainly do encourage parents to keep children home if they're ill.?
The district will communicate with parents through newsletters and school nurses and ask parents to call if students are sick or might be sick, she said.
Oneida-Herkimer-Madison BOCES Superintendent Howard Mettelman did not return calls Thursday about the risks of perfect attendance awards on children's health.
Sick students need to stay home this school year, health leaders say
In the era of H1N1 virus, school awards for perfect or outstanding attendance might no longer send the right message, health leaders say.
It will be important this school year for students to stay home if they have flu-like symptoms in order to prevent further spread of a new virus to which individuals do not have immunity, officials said Thursday.
Children are more likely than adults to be infected with the H1N1 influenza virus, or swine flu, and they are more intimate when interacting with each other than dults, Oneida County Director of Clinical Services Patrice Bogan said.
?We may need to re-think some of the things we've done in the past - such as giving awards to students for perfect attendance,? Bogan said.
If students are sick with flu-like symptoms, it is recommended they stay home for at least 24 hours after their fever is gone - without the use of medicine to reduce the fever, Bogan said. It usually will take at least a few days to recover from the flu, she said.
It is recommended that schools disinfect commonly used surfaces such as desktops, keyboards and door handles, she said.
Bogan said she is concerned about the challenges that could arise for school nurses this year, and she recommends school districts keep an eye on the staffing needs in nursing offices.
Mark DeSalvo, principal of the Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School in Utica, said officials at his school are looking into ways to promote strong attendance without focusing on a perfect attendance record. The same problem exists at many workplaces, he said.
?There's times when you get sick - does that mean in some way you're not an outstanding worker? DeSalvo said. ?No.?
The school is trying to develop attendance incentives based more on growth in attendance than whether a student avoids being sick, DeSalvo said. It's important for students to understand they should stay home when they're sick in order to avoid infecting others, he said.
?I think that it's all a teaching opportunity,? he said.
Awards for outstanding attendance were given up until a few years ago, New York Mills Superintendent Kathy Houghton said.
A mix has to be found between encouraging attendance and educating students about when to stay home, Houghton said.
?As long as they're well, we want them to attend school,? she said. ?And we certainly do encourage parents to keep children home if they're ill.?
The district will communicate with parents through newsletters and school nurses and ask parents to call if students are sick or might be sick, she said.
Oneida-Herkimer-Madison BOCES Superintendent Howard Mettelman did not return calls Thursday about the risks of perfect attendance awards on children's health.
