UPDATED SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS: H1N1 INFLUENZA/SWINE FLU

September 22, 2009

Dear Parents,

As expected, we are beginning to get unconfirmed reports that students and staff may have contracted the H1N1 flu virus (swine flu). While there is no standard protocol for communication, we thought it prudent to let our families and staff know that HIN1 flu virus is likely emerging in our community. We would like to take this opportunity to remind families of the best practices that are recommended by Contra Costa Health Services to help prevent the spread of this illness (even though you have received this information on multiple previous occasions):

· Check your children for symptoms of influenza (primarily fever with either a cough or a sore throat).
· Keep sick people at home. Don't send them to school, childcare or work. No one should return to school until they have had no fever for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medicine, even if they feel better.
· Teach your children to wash their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, have them use an alcohol-based hand rub to clean their hands.
· Teach your children to cover coughs and sneezes with tissues or by coughing into the inside of the elbow.
· Teach your children to stay at least six feet away from people who are sick.
· Vaccinate your children and yourself with the seasonal flu vaccine.

Please know that we are monitoring attendance closely at all of our district's school sites (there are no significant changes in absenteeism thus far), and we are remaining in close contact with the Contra Costa Health Services to get the most up-to-date information about prevention and safety protocol.

Information about H1N1 flu for parents, including fun videos and podcasts you can share with your child are available online at www.cchealth.org/topics/swine_flu/parent_information .php.
To find out where to get seasonal flu vaccine for you and your family, contact your health care provider or health plan. You can also call the Public Health Flu Hotline at 925-313- 6469 or visit www.flucliniclocator.org. Prerecorded information is also available by calling Contra Costa Health Services Health Emergency Information Line at 1-888-959- 9911.

We appreciate all of your support.

Sincerely,

Fred Brill, Ed.D.
Superintendent

A gentle reminder regarding rules, common courtesies, and carpool lanes:

Briones parking lot is run by East Bay Regional Parks, an organization that turns a blind eye to Springhill parents using the space for the purposes of dropping off and picking up our children. With that said, please observe the following to keep everyone safe and happy:

1. Use the Entrance to Enter and the Exit to exit - they are clearly marked with arrows. You may have to travel around to exit; however, it is imperative that you do to avoid snarls.

2. DO NOT pull up to the gate and park as this causes a back up onto Springhill Road. Back ups can easily be avoided by pulling into a space and parking.

3. Please control your children in the lots; it can be chaotic and sometimes drivers are unable to see your child who is darting in and out between cars.

4. Always be polite and recognize that everyone in the parking lot is there for the same reason - to get their kid and go. The parking lot does not belong to us so let's be respectful of it and of each other. Trust me, you do not want me out there directing. I have a bullhorn and a whistle; I am not afraid to use it!

On that note, let's review some Springhill Carpool niceties:

When pulling into the main parking lot for morning drop off, please pull all the way around, stopping in the middle causes traffic to back up onto Springhill Road. Your child can walk the few hundred feet back.

Please park on the side off Pleasant Hill Road or in the Briones lot in the morrning, parking in the front/main log creates a problem for teachers and staff members who need to be at work on time.

Do not cut in the line from the middle aisle - very impolite. When pulling in early in the afternoon, please pull over to the left (in back of the parked cars), STAY in your car, and pull forward as people pull into line. Do not park your car, walk to get your child and come back because it creates a snarl. If you do not see your child, keep driving around the lot. NEVER park your car in the circle during drop off and pick up - this a big no-no! Most importantly, respect the teachers who are directing the traffic and the crossing guards (who by the way are volunteers!).

We are currently looking for parent volunteers to help run both lots. For Briones we need parents for the afternoon while in the front lot we need parents for the morning and afternoon. If you are interested please contact me at uvdonlon@aol.com.

Welcome to the Springhill Parent Faculty Club Website! The PFC plays an integral role in all that happens at our school. Under the leadership of a tireless and dedicated Executive Board, this year chaired by our President, Julie Donlon, the PFC contributes its many resources---time, expertise, funds---to a variety of programs at Springhill School. From the weekly Friday Flyer to staff development, from field trips to earthquake preparedness, from the Computer Lab's hardware/software to the Library's impressive book collection, the PFC lends its sure and consistent hand to provide those extras that make the difference in a quality education. Springhill School could not enjoy the success it has without the PFC.

If you are new to the school, enjoy and learn from this website . . . and please become a member of the Springhill Parent Faculty Club! If you are a seasoned veteran of the PFC . . . I offer my endless thanks!