Monroe Messages
A Newsletter of Monroe County Schools
  Monroe County Schools are closed for Fall Holiday on Monday, October 6.
Classes resume on Tuesday, October 7. 
Progress Reports Go Home on Thursday, October 9
Parent-Teacher Conferences on Thursday, October 23

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Monroe County Schools will release Progress Reports on Thursday, October 9.  Parent-Teacher Conference reservations will be available for the evening of Thursday, October 23 starting at 4 p.m. and ending at 7 p.m.  Please contact your child's school to make a reservation and find out more about parent-teacher conference opportunities.

Fifth Graders Remember Deputy Norris at National Law Officers' Memorial
Fifth graders from Samuel E. Hubbard Elementary, T. G. Scott Elementary, and K. B. Sutton Elementary Schools visited Washington D. C. over the long weekend.  In addition to educational site seeing and touring, the group took time to remember Monroe County Sheriff's Deputy Michael Norris with a wreath laying ceremony at the National Law Enforcement Officers' Memorial.
MCBOE to Meet Tuesday, October 14
The Monroe County Board of Education will meet for its regularly scheduled monthly meeting on Tuesday, October 14 at 6:30 p.m. in the board room at central office.  The agenda is available for review here. 
A Message from Monroe County Schools Nurses:  Enterovirus 68 -- What Parents Need to Know
A fast-spreading virus related to hand-foot-and-mouth disease is hospitalizing kids across the Midwest and parts of the South and Northeast. The virus, Enterovirus D68, or EV-D68, was first discovered in 1962 in California. Until now, it has only been tied to smaller clusters of disease around the U.S. This is the first time it's caused such widespread misery, and it seems to be particularly hard on the lungs. As of Sept. 19, the CDC has confirmed 160 cases of EV-D68 in 22 states including Georgia.

What are the symptoms of D68 infection?

Most viral infections start with a runny nose and fever, but D68 doesn't seem to follow that classic pattern. Only 25% to 30% of our kids have fever, the vast majority don't. Instead, kids with D68 infections have cough and trouble breathing, sometimes with wheezing. They act like they have asthma, even if they don't have a history of it. They're just not moving air.  child-playing-leaves.jpg  

Why so many cases now?

The typical enterovirus season runs from July through October, so we're in an enterovirus season. What's unusual about this one is that it's a virus that hasn't widely spread through the U.S. before. If you have a new virus that has not widely circulated, most people are going to be susceptible.

The spreading of the virus coincided with the start of the new school year. Many hospitals noticed a big uptick in cases when kids went back to their classrooms. Unfortunately the outbreak may get worse before it gets better. In order for this virus to stop, it's going to have to infect enough of the population to provide immunity and eventually disappear.

Who's at greatest risk?

Recent cases have been in children ages 6 months to 16 years, with most hovering around ages 4 and 5, the CDC says. And while many kids are coming down with milder symptoms, the virus seems to be hitting children with a history of breathing problems particularly severely.

How is the infection treated?

Because it's caused by a virus, and not bacteria, antibiotics don't help. There is no vaccine to prevent it and no antiviral medication to treat it, says Andi Shane, MD, medical director of hospital epidemiology and associate director of pediatric infectious disease at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.  Shane says her hospital is admitting about 100 kids a week with symptoms that are consistent with D68 infections. She says the virus is treated with supportive care.

When do kids need medical attention?

Most kids who get D68 infections will have a milder course of disease and just need lots of rest and plenty of fluids. 

How do you catch it?

The bad news is that enteroviruses, which are thought to cause between 10 million and 15 million infections in the U.S. each year, are pretty hardy.  The "entero-" part of their name means the viruses can survive stomach acid and infect the gut, as opposed to their cousins, the rhinoviruses, which can't. These germs can live on surfaces for hours and maybe as long as a day, depending on the temperature and humidity.  The virus can be found in saliva, nasal mucus, or sputum, according to the CDC. Touching a contaminated surface and then rubbing your nose or eyes is the usual way someone catches it. You can also get it from close person-to-person contact.  Protect yourself with good hand-washing habits. Tell your kids to cover their mouth with a tissue when they cough. If no tissue is handy, teach them to cough into the crook of their elbow or upper sleeve instead of their hand. Common disinfectants and detergents will kill enteroviruses, so clean frequently touched surfaces like doorknobs and toys according to manufacturers' directions.

 

Adapted from http://www.cnn.com  and http://www.webmd.com.  

Middle Schoolers Sing for America









Monroe County Middle School sixth, seventh, and eighth graders performed last week.  Check the MCMS website for more MCMS upcoming events. 
http://mcms.monroe.k12.ga.us.
Hubbard Elementary Holds Junior Beta Club Induction


Samuel E. Hubbard Elementary School fifth graders who met the Junior Beta Club requirements for entry were recently inducted into the service learning organization.

Knight-N-Day Race is a Success for KBSutton Elementary

Staff, teachers, families, and community members participated in KBSutton's first annual Knight-N-Day 5K Race and Fun Run. 

MP Announces SAT Boot Camp for High School Students

MPHS Chorus Performance:  One Voice
You can hear the sounds of the recent MP Chorus by clicking here. Follow MaryPersonsHigh on Instagram or view their postings at http://instagram.com/marypersonshigh. 

Noted Author Lois Ruby Visits MCMS


Monroe County Middle School students and staff welcomed noted author, Lois Ruby, to their school last week.  Mrs. Ruby is the author of numerous works for children and young adults.  Mrs. Ruby is well known for her historical fiction works.  You can learn more about her books at
http://www.loisruby.com.
Johnny Appleseed Visits KBSutton Elementary



KBSutton Elementary students recently had a special visitor.  Jane Walker with Monroe Reads shared the story of Johnny Appleseed with the students. 

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Monroe County School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, or sex in its employment practices, student programs and dealings with the public. It is the policy of the Board of Education to comply fully with the requirements of Title VI, Title IX, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act and all accompanying regulations. As a result, the following people have been appointed to oversee specific areas. Title II, Adult 504, Adult Title IX  Dr. Mike Hickman  25 Brooklyn Avenue, Forsyth, GA 31029  478-994-2031  Student and Athletic Title IX Jackson Daniel 25 Brooklyn Avenue, Forsyth, GA 31029  478-994-2031 Student 504  Jenny Rooks  433 Highway 41 South, Forsyth, GA 31029 Copyright 2014 All Rights Reserved.