** SEE BELOW FOR RELATED MATERIALS, LINKS ** 11/9/09: H1N1 vaccines to continue throughout November, early December Cumberland Valley School District last week offered H1N1 vaccines to its elementary students, and will continue to administer vaccinations throughout the next several weeks to secondary students, staff, elementary students who require a second dose, and to others in the district eligible for the vaccine. The schedule of remaining vaccinations is a follows: 10/30/09: Vaccines to be administered beginning 11/2/09 Cumberland Valley School District has received a shipment of H1N1 vaccines and will begin to administer doses to students with signed consent forms on Monday, Nov. 2. A Saturday clinic is scheduled for Nov. 14. The district has received 10,000 doses of the H1N1 injection (flu shot) vaccine and 2,800 doses of the nasal (flu mist) vaccine. Because of the limited number of flu mist vaccines, priority for those vaccines will be to students in kindergarten and first grade. It is not expected that any additional flu mist vaccines will be received. Therefore, any parent of a student in grades two through five who completed a consent form indicating nasal only may reconsider the injection (flu shot) by sending a signed and dated note to school with their child. Schedule of vaccination is as follows: Children ages five to nine must receive a second dose of the vaccine 21 to 28 days after the initial vaccine. More information on specific dates for the second dose of vaccines will follow. The Saturday clinic will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Eagle View Middle School cafeteria. Any student under age 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Additionally, a signed consent form and proof of residency must also be provided. Only the injection (flu shot) will be available at this clinic. Parents need not be present for vaccinations administered in the school building during school hours. Please contact your child’s school nurse for more information on the vaccine or virus. Additional informational links and vaccine consent forms are available at www.cvschools.org/swineflu. 10/23/09: Vaccine and community meeting information available Please click the links to the left to view information pertaining to the availability of the H1N1 vaccine at CV and presentations that were shown during a community meeting on Oct. 22. 10/20/09: Flu update The following CV E-news was sent to parents: We are writing to you this evening with an update regarding influenza in our schools, as we believe it is the responsibility of the district to keep parents informed. These updates allow our parents to continue to be vigilant in their efforts to ensure their children remain healthy.
The following update was posted to the Web site: We are writing to provide an update regarding flu throughout the district.
1 The following CV E-news was sent to parents: As students returned to classes today after a scheduled two-day break, the district began to notice an increase in the number of children either absent or presenting flu or flu-like symptoms to the nursing staff. This trend is being exhibited across the district.
-- Tuesday, Nov. 10 - Good Hope
-- Wednesday, Nov. 11 - Good Hope and Eagle View
-- Thursday, Nov. 12 - Eagle View
-- Friday, Nov. 13 - High School
-- Saturday, Nov. 14 – Clinic (see eligibility guidelines below)
-- Monday, Nov. 16 – High School
-- Tuesday, Nov. 17 – High School (if necessary)
-- Nov. 17-20 – Oakmont Baptist, Emmanuel Baptist and Cumberland Perry Vo Tech
-- Nov. 23 and 24 – Monroe and Middlesex Elementary (required second doses of injection or flu mist for students ages 5-9)
-- Dec. 1-4 – Green Ridge, Shaull, Hampden, Silver Spring and Sporting Hill Elementary Schools (required second doses of injection or flu mist for students ages 5-9)
Was your child absent on the day the vaccine was administered in his/her building?
If yes, your child may receive the vaccine one of two ways: Either by attending the Saturday clinic (more information below), or by visiting the school nurse as soon as possible upon return to school.
Saturday clinic
On Saturday, Nov. 14, CVSD will hold a clinic from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Eagle View Middle School auditorium to administer the H1N1 vaccine. Those eligible to receive the vaccine at the clinic include:
-- Homeschool and charter school students who reside in CVSD.
-- Students who reside in CVSD and attend a private school where the vaccine has not been offered.
-- CVSD students who did not receive the vaccine because they did not have a signed consent form on the day it was being administered in their building.
-- CVSD students who were absent on the day the vaccine was being administered in their building.
-- CVSD administrative, professional and support staff.
If you reside in CVSD and have an at-risk child who has not yet received the vaccine, please call Tracy Panzer at 506-3388 for more information on availability.
Please note the district only has a very limited supply of the nasal (flu mist) vaccine to administer during the Saturday clinic.
Students must be accompanied to the clinic by a parent or legal guardian. A signed consent form and proof of residency (driver’s license, utility bill, etc.) must also be provided at the time of vaccination. Click here to download the consent form.
Please note that the vaccination will be administered on Monday, Nov. 16, and Tuesday, Nov. 17, (if necessary) to any high school student who did not receive the vaccine on Friday, Nov. 13. Therefore, it is not necessary for those students to attend the Saturday clinic unless they will be absent on Monday, Nov. 16.
Please click here for directions to Eagle View Middle School.
Visit www.cvschools.org/swineflu for information and links regarding the H1N1 virus.
Direct links
Consent form: http://www.cvschools.org/files/38707/Final%20Consent%20Form.pdf
Directions: http://www.cvschools.org/district.cfm?subpage=7325&adminActivate=1
-- Monday, Nov. 2 - Monroe (a.m.) and Middlesex (p.m.)
-- Tuesday, Nov. 3 - Green Ridge and Shaull
-- Wednesday, Nov. 4 - Shaull and Hampden
-- Thursday, Nov. 5 - Silver Spring
-- Friday, Nov. 6 - Sporting Hill
-- Tuesday, Nov. 10 - Good Hope
-- Wednesday, Nov. 11 - Good Hope and Eagle View
-- Thursday, Nov. 12 - Eagle View and High School
-- Friday, Nov. 13 - High School
-- Saturday, Nov. 14, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. - Clinic for district students (including CVSD students who were absent on day of vaccination in their school, homeschool, and charter school students who did not previously receive the vaccine). Given the ongoing cases of influenza in Cumberland Valley schools, the vaccine, if still available, will be administered to district professional and support staff from Noon to 2 p.m.
While daily absenteeism is decreasing at schools such as Cumberland Valley High School, numbers are on the rise at schools such as Hampden, Silver Spring and Good Hope. To date, the district has had a total of approximately 265 students district-wide with the flu. We recognize this number seems high, but please understand this only represents approximately 3½ percent of our total district-wide student enrollment.
District administration continues to be in contact with the PA Department of Health. Further, we are following all guidance from the DOH and Centers for Disease Control. Schools will remain open and operate as normal.
The district will continue its stringent cleansing guidelines, and will continue to educate children and staff about the importance of healthy hygiene. Further, we will remain in contact with local physicians who are also monitoring numbers and recognize an influx in the number of patients presenting with flu-like symptoms.
We ask that you continue your proactive efforts to ensure your child’s health. Recommendations to help prevent the spread of the flu include:
-- Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or sleeve.
-- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
-- Avoid close contact that can spread the virus: hugging, kissing or even shaking hands if you think you are sick.
-- Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to prevent them from getting sick.
-- If you are sick, stay home from work, school and errands; Keep sick children at home; and always consult a health care provider.
Please also remember that it is equally as important to keep sick children home as it is to send your healthy child to school.
Students who come to school with flu symptoms will be evaluated by our nursing staff and sent home if necessary. Further, any student who is sick with the flu should remain home until at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever, or signs of a fever, without the use of fever-reducing medicines.
Flu-like symptoms include: usually fever, muscle aches, fatigue and coughing; they may also include vomiting and diarrhea.
For more about H1N1, please visit www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu , www.flu.gov , or www.h1n1inpa.com . To learn more about the precautions our schools are taking, please visit www.cvschools.org/swineflu .
REMINDER: Cumberland Valley will host its second community meeting to educate residents about the threat of the H1N1 virus, and about healthy habits and preparations as they pertain to school and community settings. The community meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 22, in the Performing Arts Center at Cumberland Valley High School. The meeting will provide an overview of the H1N1 virus, in addition to steps schools and communities are taking to ensure the health and safety of children. Also of topic will be actions parents can take at home to help reduce the spread of the virus. The community meeting is free of charge and open to the public.
When students returned to classes on Wednesday after a scheduled two-day break, the district began to notice an increase in the number of children either absent or visiting the nurses office with flu-like symptoms. That trend continued district-wide on Thursday, however, absenteeism on Friday dropped slightly. The percentage of students with flu-like symptoms this week was higher at the secondary level than at the elementary level.
The district has been in contact with officials from the Department of Health regarding the increase in students with flu or flu-like symptoms. All schools will remain open and operate as normal.
As recommended by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, we are asking parents to remain vigilant in keeping home any child who exhibits flu-like symptoms. Flu-like symptoms include: usually fever, muscle aches, fatigue and coughing; they may also include vomiting and diarrhea. Further, the Department of Health is recommending that children receive the H1N1 vaccine to help protect against the virus.
Students who come to school with flu symptoms will be evaluated by our nursing staff and sent home if necessary. Further, any student who is sick with the flu should remain home until at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever, or signs of a fever, without the use of fever-reducing medicines.
Please contact your child's school nurse if your child is being kept home as a result of the flu or flu-like symptoms. The district will track these figures, and present to the Department of Health.
Any healthy child should continue to come to school on a daily basis, per recommendations from state and local health officials.
For more about H1N1, please visit www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu, www.flu.gov, or www.h1n1inpa.com. To learn more about the precautions our schools are taking, please visit www.cvschools.org/swineflu.
REMINDER: Cumberland Valley will host its second community meeting to educate residents about the threat of the H1N1 virus, and about healthy habits and preparations as they pertain to school and community settings. The community meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 22, in the Performing Arts Center at Cumberland Valley High School. The meeting will provide an overview of the H1N1 virus, in addition to steps schools and the community are taking to ensure the health and safety of children. Also of topic will be actions parents can take at home to help reduce the spread of the virus. The community meeting is free of charge and open to the public.
The district has been in contact with state and local health officials regarding the increase in students with the flu or flu-like symptoms.
As recommended by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, we are asking parents to remain vigilant in keeping home any child who exhibits flu-like symptoms. Flu-like symptoms include: usually fever, muscle aches, fatigue and coughing; they may also include vomiting and diarrhea. Further, the Department of Health is recommending that children receive the H1N1 vaccine to help protect against the virus.
Students who come to school with flu symptoms will be evaluated by our nursing staff and sent home if necessary. Further, any student who is sick with the flu should remain home until at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever, or signs of a fever, without the use of fever-reducing medicines.
Please contact your child's school nurse if your child is being kept home as a result of the flu or flu-like symptoms. The district will track these figures, and present to the Department of Health.
Any healthy child should continue to come to school on a daily basis, per recommendations from state and local health officials.
For more about H1N1, please visit www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu, www.flu.gov, or www.h1n1inpa.com. To learn more about the precautions our schools are taking, please visit www.cvschools.org/swineflu.
REMINDER: Cumberland Valley will host its second community meeting to educate residents about the threat of the H1N1 virus, and about healthy habits and preparations as they pertain to school and community settings.
The community meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 22, in the Performing Arts Center at Cumberland Valley High School.
The meeting will provide an overview of the H1N1 virus, in addition to steps schools and the community are taking to ensure the health and safety of children. Also of topic will be actions parents can take at home to help reduce the spread of the virus.
The community meeting is free of charge and open to the public.
Health agency recommendations to help prevent the spread of the H1N1 flu virus include:
• Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or sleeve.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Avoid close contact that can spread the virus: hugging, kissing or even shaking hands if you
think you are sick.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from
others to prevent them from getting sick.
• If you’re sick, stay home from work, school and errands; Keep sick children at home; and always consult a health care provider.
10/13/09: CVSD update on flu cases in the district The following CV E-news was sent to parents: As of today, Oct. 13, 2009, Cumberland Valley School District has 11 cases of flu throughout its schools. There is no concentration in any one particular building, and cases arose sporadically throughout last week and early this week. The breakdown of cases is as follows: -- Green Ridge Elementary (1) We are working with local and state health officials to monitor the situation, and at this time, all schools will remain open and operate as normal. As previously indicated, the first few days are when the virus is most contagious. Not only during this time, but at all times, we encourage you to be vigilant in watching your child for signs and symptoms of the flu. According to the CDC, H1N1 flu symptoms are like those of any other flu strain: usually fever, muscle aches, fatigue and coughing; they may also include vomiting and diarrhea. Students who come to school with flu symptoms will be evaluated by our nursing staff and sent home if necessary. Further, any student who is sick with the flu should remain home until at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever, or signs of a fever, without the use of fever-reducing medicines. However, all healthy children should continue to come to school on a daily basis. It is also important to take precautions and to follow guidelines to ensure a safe and healthy home and school environment. As we have been doing, CV will continue to regularly sanitize communal surfaces, and will continue to encourage and promote the importance of hand washing and healthy hygiene habits. Please click here for further information on H1N1, including recommendations to help prevent the spread of the virus and for informational links.
-- Shaull Elementary (1)
-- Middlesex Elementary (1)
-- Eagle View Middle School (3)
-- High School (3)
-- Monroe Elementary (1)
-- Hampden Elementary (1)
10/9/09: CVSD update on H1N1 cases in Cumberland Valley School District
The following CV E-news was sent to parents:
Dear CV Family:
This letter is to provide you an update as it pertains to cases of H1N1 influenza virus in Cumberland Valley School District. As of today, Oct. 9, 2009, the district has five cases of H1N1 throughout its schools. There is no concentration in any one particular building, and cases arose sporadically throughout this week.
We are working with local and state health officials to monitor the situation, and at this time, all schools will remain open and operate as normal.
The first few days are when the virus is most contagious. Not only during this time, but at all times, we encourage you to be vigilant in watching your child for signs and symptoms of the flu. According to the CDC, H1N1 flu symptoms are like those of any other flu strain: usually fever, muscle aches, fatigue and coughing; they may also include vomiting and diarrhea.
It is also important to take precautions and to follow guidelines to ensure a safe and healthy home and school environment. As we have been doing, CV will continue to regularly sanitize communal surfaces, and will continue to encourage and promote the importance of hand washing and healthy hygiene habits.
Other health agency recommendations to help prevent the spread of the H1N1 flu virus include:
• Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or sleeve.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Avoid close contact that can spread the virus: hugging, kissing or even shaking hands if you think you are sick.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to prevent them from getting sick.
• If you’re sick, stay home from work, school and errands; Keep sick children at home; and always consult a health care provider.
Students who come to school with flu symptoms will be evaluated by our nursing staff and sent home if necessary. Further, any student who is sick with the flu should remain home until at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever, or signs of a fever, without the use of fever-reducing medicines. However, all healthy children should continue to come to school on a daily basis.
Please note that federal HIPAA guidelines prevent the district from disclosing any personal details regarding any ill student or staff member at Cumberland Valley.
For more about H1N1, please visit www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu, www.flu.gov, or www.h1n1inpa.com. To learn more about the precautions our schools are taking, please visit www.cvschools.org/swineflu.
Further, CV will host an informational meeting at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 22, in the Performing Arts Center at Cumberland Valley High School. The purpose of the community meeting is to educate residents about the H1N1 flu virus. This is a follow-up to a similar presentation hosted by the district in September.
Let me assure you that the health, safety and well being of our students and staff is my top priority, and we are doing everything possible to address the situation. Please contact your child’s nurse directly if you have any questions or concerns regarding H1N1.
Sincerely,
Dr. William E. Harner, Ph.D. 10/9/09: CVSD to host community meeting about H1N1 virus Is your family PANDEMIC PREPARED? The meeting is free of charge and open to the public.
Superintendent of Schools
Cumberland Valley School District will host its second community meeting to educate residents about the threat of the H1N1 virus, and about healthy habits and preparations as they pertain to school and community settings.
The community meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 22, in the Performing Arts Center at Cumberland Valley High School.
Visit www.cvschools.org/swineflu for more information as it becomes available.
The following CV E-news was sent to elementary parents: We are writing to make you aware that your elementary child will be hand-carrying a packet of information either today or tomorrow about the availability of the H1N1 vaccine in school. The packet contains an introduction letter, a consent form, a refusal form, and several informational sheets about the virus and vaccine. Please review these packets thoroughly, and return all necessary paperwork to your child's school by Oct. 15. As explained in the introduction letter, the vaccine will arrive to the district in multiple shipments. Per Department of Health guidelines, the vaccine will first be made available to students who are ages 5 to 9, with later doses for students ages 10 and older. If you have a child in secondary school, similar information packets will be sent home with those children in the near future. Thank you for your prompt attention to this informational packet. Please do not hesitate to contact your child’s school nurse with any questions about the virus or vaccine.
9/1/09 UPDATE: LETTER TO BE SENT HOME WITH STUDENTS REGARDING H1N1 AND CV SCHOOLS The following letter will be distributed to students in the district and sent home in the coming days. The letter addresses precautionary steps the district has taken to help prevent the spread of H1N1 (swine) flu. Dear CV family member: Ensuring the health, safety and welfare of all students, staff and visitors within Cumberland Valley schools is of primary importance. Therefore, we are closely monitoring all information on the H1N1 (Swine) flu virus and will follow all recommendations as outlined by the Centers for Disease Control, the Pennsylvania Department of Health, and the state and federal education departments. Cumberland Valley will also keep you informed of policy and procedural changes that may occur as they pertain to H1N1. District personnel have taken many steps to help prepare for a safe and healthy school year, including: While the district will continue its efforts to minimize the spread of the flu virus, we need your help. Please review the following suggested guidelines with your family to help keep your child, and every child, healthy: -- Keep sick children at home. Children should not return to school until they have been fever-free for 24 hours without the aid of fever-reducing medications. CV is scheduling two community meetings – Sept. 23 and Oct. 22 – to educate the community on H1N1 and suggested preparations. Both meetings will begin at 7 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center at Cumberland Valley High School. C
-- Attended Safe Schools workshops and participated in DOH Webinars regarding the spread of H1N1.
-- Have prepared information to share with staff and students regarding healthy hygiene habits, and necessary steps to limit the spread of the virus. We will continue to educate children and staff about proper hand-washing techniques and the use/disposal of tissues.
-- Have begun discussions on an administrative level regarding necessary steps to ensure as little disruption as possible to the educational process if widespread illness were to occur.
-- Reviewed the district’s Pandemic Action Plan.
-- Nursing staff received, and will continue to receive, updates from state and federal health agencies relative to H1N1 regarding procedures to follow when dealing with children showing flu-like symptoms.
-- Wash hands thoroughly and frequently with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
-- Cough and sneeze into a tissue or sleeve, but never onto your hands.
-- Throw tissues into the trash immediately after use.
-- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. 
Pandemic Action Plan
(pdf file - 34kb)
CV's Plan - Swine Flu
(pdf file - 24kb)
FAQ - Swine Flu
(pdf file - 27kb)
LIVE nasal H1N1 flu vaccine information sheet
(pdf file - 52kb)
INACTIVATED H1N1 flu shot information sheet
(pdf file - 37kb)
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