Time to be aware, but not to panic!
This past week we've seen much in the news about the outbreak of the swine flu, and schools are scrambling to find information on how to determine whether a child who feels ill with flu-like symptoms is cause for concern, cause for isolation, or cause for school closure. Great minds are working round the clock, taking in new information by the moment, working to keep us as safe as possible.
I will do whatever seems prudent in providing updates for you as well, adding in the components that have to do with my end of things - how to maintain parent trust that you are proactive in this, how to help mitigate parent panic or over-reaction, and how to deal with student fears.
First, though, I'll give you a few links to helpful sources of continually updated information. The CDC has a web site set up specifically on swine flu at http://cdc.gov/swineflu/, and the World Health Organization web page on this is http://www.who.int/csr/don/en/. State Departments of Education are all scrambling now to address the issue in your own states. The Federal Department of Education has a blog at http://www.edgovblogs.org/duncan/2009/04/public-health-officials-offer-swine-flu-guidance-to-schools/, which I'm sure will be updated often if this continues to be a threat. There is also a world map showing countries with confirmed cases at http://www.npr.org/news/graphics/2009/apr/swine-flu/.
If you have students who are concerned, I've created a brief outline of suggested conversations that teachers could have with students. I'll continue to update this as things unfold, or, if current measures to isolate those who have been exposed are successful (as they were with SARS) then we'll all be happy that we won't need updates. For now, my best advice is to stay tuned, pay attention and think ahead as new information is available.
For now, here is a guide that teachers could use to help students discuss what they're hearing in the news. You can download the pdf at Swine_Flu_Discussion_Guide. We will soon be uploading a link to our home page as well. This one time I am sending this to all who have had training from CMI, but future updates will only be sent to those who already receive our Tip of the Week. If you wish to receive any updates on this, go to the contact page of the CMI web site, fill in first and last name, email, and check the "YES!" box related to receiving email bulletins and newsletters (further down on that page).
Stay tuned ~
Cheri
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