August 31, 2012

Dear Landmark Parents,

I write today to address an issue that has been highly publicized in the media many times. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) is a type of staph infection that is resistant to certain commonly used antibiotics. Most MRSA infections occur in individuals who have weakened immune systems and who have been hospitalized or in some kind of a healthcare facility. Recently community-associated MRSA has become a growing concern for all schools. This type of MRSA infection occurs in healthy individuals who have not recently been hospitalized. In the schools, MRSA has been found mostly in athletes and in children who have had some kind of skin-to-skin contact with another child who has MRSA.

One of our students was recently diagnosed with a staph infection. Thanks to the prompt action of our nurses and the parents, the child is being treated and will return to school when cleared by medical professionals. I would like to share with you Landmark's plans to be proactive in preventing the spread of MRSA infections on both of our campuses. We have, and will continue to take, certain precautionary measures around our schools to prevent the spread of MRSA and other germs. Our staff is doing everything we can to maintain a clean environment by using certain cleaning procedures for frequently touched surfaces and surfaces that come in direct contact with people's skin.

We ask you to support us by encouraging your son/daughter to practice good personal hygiene habits. Please remind your students to wash their hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, take showers after sporting events, and be careful not to share personal items such as towels, bars of soap, or razors. Please ask your student to not share athletic uniforms or PE clothes and to bring them home frequently to be washed. We also ask that you encourage your student to tell you if they notice any unusual sore or boil anywhere on their body. Please be sure to consult your pediatrician should you have questions or concerns about a skin lesion. If your student does contract a confirmed case of MRSA, please notify our nursing staff, and follow your doctor's recommendations to prevent the spread of MRSA in our schools.

Please know it is our ultimate goal to provide a healthy environment for all of our students, faculty, and staff. Feel free to contact our nursing staff if you have any questions or concerns about MRSA.

In His steps,

Bill Parsons

Headmaster