tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post3963697001245593762..comments2024-03-28T02:21:17.452-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: Madrona K-8 closed due to swine fluMelissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-37418722900699556682009-05-02T11:32:00.000-07:002009-05-02T11:32:00.000-07:00We're taking hygienic precautions but we are NOT s...We're taking hygienic precautions but we are NOT staying home - living in Seattle has taught us to appreciate and take full advantage of the sunshine! We went to a Husky's baseball game last night, the tilth edible plant sale this morning, and now we're off to our sons little league baseball game. We've been exposed to thousands of people in the last 24 hours......and life goes on.anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03716725891562757052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-86805642989928965502009-05-02T10:54:00.000-07:002009-05-02T10:54:00.000-07:00Annie’s Nannies is cutting “temp” fees for parents...Annie’s Nannies is cutting “temp” fees for parents in need of childcare due to swine flu closures <br /> <br /> Annie’s Nannies is waiving its agency membership fee for any parent who needs temporary childcare because of a school closed by the swine flu outbreak. “I want to try to help the thousands of parents in this area who suddenly find themselves in need of childcare,” says Annie Davis, company founder and CEO. <br /> “We have a large pool of on-call nannies who are thoroughly screened and background checked, and we can arrange childcare in a person’s home with as little as a day's notice. Parents are welcome to use our temporary nannies for just one day if that’s all they need.”<br /> Annie’s Nannies Household Staffing (http://www.anihouseholdstaffing.com) was the first such agency in the Northwest and is considered a model for agencies nationwide. The agency’s reputation was further enhanced in March by a Wall Street Journal* reporter’s “secret shopping” test of Annie’s Nannies’ on-call, temporary nanny service.<br /> Call (206) 784-8462 to inquire about a temporary nanny and the special rates for those affected by the swine flu school closures.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09057098294990356785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-40172271694103297992009-05-02T10:35:00.000-07:002009-05-02T10:35:00.000-07:00the pic is of my oldest- who was one of those kids...the pic is of my oldest- who was one of those kids who was always grinning - I think she was chewing marshmallow guck.<br /><br />She works in elementary schools and a few weeks ago the flu was going around, and she hadn't gotten it yet so she thought she was immune.<br />Not.<br /><br />She volunteered to take care of a few kids who still hadn't completely recovered.<br /><br />Well she is better now.<br /><br /> I think just staying away from crowds would help- although I am going to a sweaty club tonight- but alcohol kills germs right? ( JK)Jet City momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14804841958585043967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-37508516657930313082009-05-02T09:36:00.000-07:002009-05-02T09:36:00.000-07:00Emeraldkity, your comment in combination with your...Emeraldkity, your comment in combination with your picture (which is adorable, by the way) reminds me that I've heard the main benefit of a mask is that it keeps you from touching your nose or mouth. The flu virus can easily get through the mask if you are in a situation to be breathing it in, but more typically the transmission goes something like nose-hand-surface-hand-nose.<br /><br />Helen Schinskehschinskehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10316478950862562594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-46181021327448276452009-05-02T09:28:00.000-07:002009-05-02T09:28:00.000-07:00our neighbor works for CDC, I have the impression ...our neighbor works for CDC, I have the impression recommendations are CYA.<br />However, as my 18 year old has been in India ( without potable water) since February- and since she told me that she isn't taking her malaria meds, since " they don't have it here", I am living in a state of wishful thinking.<br /><br />I am also wearing a mask at times outside, because the pollen is nasty right now.<br />walyou.com/blog/2009/04/30/swine-flu-surgical-masks/Jet City momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14804841958585043967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-7744004951905677152009-05-01T14:23:00.000-07:002009-05-01T14:23:00.000-07:00The confirmations should come today (If I read my ...The confirmations should come today (If I read my newspaper correctly)<br /><br />So I guess the question is - if we have confirmed cases at more than one school - will the district follow the CDC recommendations or not?<br /><br />Yikes!Suehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12875541753709754758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-6766546722403192672009-05-01T14:21:00.000-07:002009-05-01T14:21:00.000-07:00Its nice outside. Do you take your kids to a park ...Its nice outside. Do you take your kids to a park this weekend and let them play with other kids?<br /><br />Last weekend Madrona/Stevens kids might have been playing on those swings and slides, who knows they might be there right now.rugleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303636114796314295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-52115495649231027742009-05-01T14:09:00.000-07:002009-05-01T14:09:00.000-07:00Wow. Thanks for the link. The recommendations from...Wow. Thanks for the link. The recommendations from the CDC are much more conservative than I thought they would be. My reading suggests that they're basically saying that one confirmed case means you should close the school, and that more than one confirmed case across more than one school means that you should close the district, and that closures should be for 14 days!<br /><br />Yup, people need to be making plans.zbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13205346985598789513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-4550541983054111892009-05-01T13:35:00.000-07:002009-05-01T13:35:00.000-07:00Harborview's letter to its staff says 7 day incuba...Harborview's letter to its staff says 7 day incubation period. And then 7 days minimum of contagiousness after symptoms start. <br /><br />Absolutely, quarantines are effective is they are enforced. Martial law and all that. But this is not a quarantine. All this will do is push the high school shutdowns into AP exam period, finals, graduation and proms. <br /><br />Roosevelt already had a bit a flu season this Spring. My son was ill for about 5 days, two weeks after Spring Break, as were a number of his classmates and (IIRC) at least one teacher. He had had a flu shot in November. Still felt pretty crummy. One of his friend's temperature spiked to 104F. For all we know, those were H1N1 viruses, but who knows? I don't know if anyone was tested. <br /><br />Elementary school kids don't get much out of the Source, do they? Likely not many parents are registered. And a school with 75% FRL, not a high expectation of internet at home. So missing the week is certainly a bummer. <br /><br />1918 flu started in the Spring as well. An unexpected Spring flu surge that wasn't too bad, but then it came back with a vengeance in the Fall. Trench warfare didn't help things any either. John Barry's book was fascinating. We don't actually know the death rate in Mexico, so we do not know yet if it is more virulent there. <br /><br />That's what we may be looking at: some seriously bad times next winter. Hopefully we'll have vaccines and other resources to cope. (Oh, and a good math text would help students be able to learn at home if schools are closed for a while.)<br /><br />And can I clarify that the reason I was irked at the first robocall is that it provided quick but bad information. If it had just said "Head's up. Someone might have the flu, we are advised to keep schools open but will let you know if that changes. And please please if you or your kids have any symptoms stay home." That would have been better. And Emeraldkity is right, there are way too many situations where the district does not inform properly. Time will tell if they work on using it most effectively. <br /><br />Ah, here's the <A HREF="http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/k12_dismissal.htm" REL="nofollow">CDC official stand on school closures</A>. Note. Preemptive closures and 14 days. Sigh. Wanna bet graduations will be cancelled?Dorothy Nevillehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17108759281089768738noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-74636865199692727362009-05-01T11:54:00.000-07:002009-05-01T11:54:00.000-07:00I can't help worrying that a lot of kids may in fa...I can't help worrying that a lot of kids may in fact be unsupervised in the next week, particularly the middle schoolers. <br /><br />Helen Schinskehschinskehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10316478950862562594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-3262809270122687422009-05-01T11:49:00.000-07:002009-05-01T11:49:00.000-07:00Maureen said: "If, as Melissa says, they have to c...Maureen said: "If, as Melissa says, they have to close schools for a week to give time to wipe everything down, "<br /><br />It's not that it takes a week to wipe things down, it takes a week for the virus to run through its incubation period, which can (apparently) be up to 6 days. You isolate the kids, then everyone who already has it should be showing symptoms already, and you can keep them home/isolated.<br /><br />This would probably be extremely effective if every kid was forcibly quarantined, but that's just not going to happen. Hopefully it will slow things down.<br /><br />The big problem is that it's a new virus and so little is known about it. Why is it killing in Mexico and acting more like a regular flu here in the states? Why is it spreading quickly in Spring, when most people are generally NOT in tight, closed-up environments, coughing on each other? <br /><br />At the end of this, the district will be blamed by many for either jumping the gun, or not acting quickly enough. But it's uncharted territory, there's no way to know the "proper" course.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-54317168615232250362009-05-01T09:33:00.000-07:002009-05-01T09:33:00.000-07:00Charlie asked: "Do the students at Madrona need to...Charlie asked: "Do the students at Madrona need to make up these days at the end of the year?"<br /><br />No one in the press or at the District seems to be addressing this question. And, aren't at least some kids still taking WASLs?<br /><br />If they have to make-up snow days, won't they need to make-up flu days? Or, could the difference be made up in eliminating all the end-of-year field trips (at least on the elementary level)? Shouldn't there be a plan for this?<br /><br />And...could the teachers use the Source as a means to assign some "homework" for the kids who are staying home? I hate to see so much instruction time lost to these kids.<br /><br />WV: "readi" Are we? Ready?SolvayGirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12709893209963350066noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-39051971616562351642009-05-01T09:09:00.000-07:002009-05-01T09:09:00.000-07:00Digital learning: It's the only answer. Telecommut...Digital learning: It's the only answer. Telecommuting. Grocery home delivery. Webcam chats with friends. Video e-cards to relatives.<br />Future humankind should live in sealed envirnments!seattle citizenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16724175257161649500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-26107571890541024962009-05-01T08:52:00.000-07:002009-05-01T08:52:00.000-07:00If, as Melissa says, they have to close schools fo...If, as Melissa says, they have to close schools for a week to give time to wipe everything down, could they reduce that time by having parent volunteers help with the cleaning? I would think most schools could do it in a day with volunteers. Or is it also important to give time for the airborne germs to die? (Or is there perhaps some Union related reason why parents can't clean?) Is there an epidemiologist/labor specialist out there who knows?!<br /><br />I'm just trying to plan in case they close down our school (maybe we should all start lining up bleach and rags and people to use them!).Maureenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18444916440000921599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-47039011368762060392009-05-01T07:43:00.000-07:002009-05-01T07:43:00.000-07:00Let's not forget the medically fragile population ...Let's not forget the medically fragile population at Lowell. While swine flu seems to be pretty mild as flus go, it could be a very bad thing for kids who already have a signficant health problem.TechyMomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04650916001250022778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-80291574817557263832009-05-01T04:28:00.000-07:002009-05-01T04:28:00.000-07:00dj said: "(I know there are kids from my daughter'...dj said: "(I know there are kids from my daughter's school who are in aftercare at the now-closed Stevens, so if exposure at Stevens is a problem, guess what?)"<br /><br />Let's explore this a bit.<br /><br />I read a recommendation (elsewhere, not on SPS site) that siblings of kids in closed schools should not attend school or day care as well. Makes sense, right? If you're trying to isolate exposed kids, then don't send the nasty bugs to the next school via a sibling.<br /><br />But what about this situation where many kids at Lowell use the after school care at Stevens? Since Stevens is closed, should the Lowell kids who are in the after school programs at Stevens also stay home? Oh, but wait! The kids who are in the after school program are probably the ones most likely to NOT have a parent who can take care of them during the day. Ugh!<br /><br />Let's think a bit further. Lowell is a bit unusual in that it's not only an all-city draw with young kids (harder to manage prophylactic hygiene), but one in which virtually every kindergarten (and preschool) sibling attends school in their home cluster - all over the city. If Lowell gets this swine flu, it'll be "game over" in no time for ALL of Seattle Schools. They'll be closed from one end of the city to the other. At least if they continue the path of closing shop wherever there are kids who are sick with this flu.<br /><br />So how far should the district reach? Was/were the sick kid/kids in an after school program in the building? If so, should the kids using Stevens after school care be asked to stay home? Is Lowell a special case, and should it be closed because they have kids that use the after school program at Stevens? Are there any other schools with significant numbers of kids that use Stevens after school programs? I have no answers, just posing questions.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-58665042837563140222009-04-30T21:11:00.000-07:002009-04-30T21:11:00.000-07:00I am just bemused at the varied ways other critica...I am just bemused at the varied ways other critical information is handled.<br />Death threats to a student, weirdo hanging around the playground/following kids home from school,sexual assault by a student after hours on school grounds.<br /><br />I know that some of these parents are not informed in a timely fashion.<br /><br />So what is the cuttoff?<br />If it is <I> already,</I> in the newspaper, then it is ok to alert parents?Jet City momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14804841958585043967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-27795724024302808952009-04-30T20:24:00.000-07:002009-04-30T20:24:00.000-07:00What I understand from watching the news from scho...What I understand from watching the news from schools in other states is that they need the schools closed to wipe down the entire school to disinfect it.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12588239576000641336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-57890604756572618172009-04-30T20:18:00.000-07:002009-04-30T20:18:00.000-07:00I'd rather have the information than not, and perh...I'd rather have the information than not, and perhaps it is false confidence, but the robocalls make me feel less like I am getting my information from the 21st century equivalent of a tin can and string.<br /><br />I do agree with Dorothy, however, in that while I am totally agnostic on whether or not the swine flu is actually something worthy of quarantine, I'm not sure how shutting down a couple of schools helps much. I doubt those kids will stay at home, and it's not like the kids from the schools don't mix in various ways (I know there are kids from my daughter's school who are in aftercare at the now-closed Stevens, so if exposure at Stevens is a problem, guess what?)djhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01720927162286657378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-51074464868638836312009-04-30T20:03:00.000-07:002009-04-30T20:03:00.000-07:00"The fact remains that quarantine is the most succ..."The fact remains that quarantine is the most successful method of reducing infection rates. Historically, places that were able to institute quarantines during flu outbreaks are much more successful at reducing infection rates."<br /><br />Yes, but weren't those real quarantines? This one isn't a real quarantine if all we do is wait for the infection to be detected at a school and then shut it down and then just tell people to stay home. Don't real quarantines have curfews and National Guard and some real enforcement? I'm not complaining that they shut down some schools. I just wonder what good that does if all the other schools and gathering places remain open. Creating public policy is hard. I do not envy the folks in charge.Dorothy Nevillehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17108759281089768738noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-40618630093759990502009-04-30T19:20:00.000-07:002009-04-30T19:20:00.000-07:00I think the information is valuable. It is just in...I think the information is valuable. It is just information - you are free to research and get more information and make your family decisions from there. I want to know what the schools know as soon as possible. They can't be blamed for working with the best information available at the time.<br /><br />I know everyone is trying to keep this in perspective. Hey, I have made the same arguments about worrying about 1 case of West Nile when 40,000 people die in car accidents each year. <br /><br />The fact remains that quarantine is the most successful method of reducing infection rates. Historically, places that were able to institute quarantines during flu outbreaks are much more successful at reducing infection rates. That is why people are cautioned to stay home when they are sick. Hand washing is great, but I don't really think my children can be relied upon to wash their hands multiple times during the day. <br /><br />It was a difficult decision to send my children to school today. They did go. I may make a different decision tomorrow.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13549425880887010652noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-40236897319481464582009-04-30T18:32:00.000-07:002009-04-30T18:32:00.000-07:00Yes, today's Robocall was useful. It had informati...Yes, today's Robocall was useful. It had information. But it assumed I knew about Madrona being closed. Did I miss that call?<br /><br />I still think last night's call showed poor judgment, but whatever. For anyone worried about their specific child and the flu, the information was too little too late. The Madrona boy who wasn't sick on Friday and was sick on Monday -- what did he do over the weekend? Baseball? A birthday party, the movies, the grocery store? The grocery store with the free samples? What did his classmates do over the weekend? We got some Eastside teens in Dallas at the International Robotics Competition. Danny Westneat just reminded us that Spring Reign just happened, bringing together teens from all over the Northwest and Canada. At least they were outside and there's not too much contact in Ultimate Frisbee. The Washington State Solos and Ensembles competition was last weekend. Thousand plus teens from all over the state hanging around the student union in Ellensburg for two full days. The whole world's a vector.<br /><br />(oh, but the robocall this evening said to go to the seattle schools website for more information. too bad it wasn't updated with the latest closure data.)Dorothy Nevillehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17108759281089768738noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-31640519805734123532009-04-30T18:17:00.000-07:002009-04-30T18:17:00.000-07:00Aki Kurose and Stephens are now closed too. Each ...Aki Kurose and Stephens are now closed too. Each for 1 week.North End Momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15781046556751463879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-52046964921746206012009-04-30T17:31:00.000-07:002009-04-30T17:31:00.000-07:00Two more elementary schools closed today, one in M...Two more elementary schools closed today, one in Mukilteo, and the other in Federal Way.anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03716725891562757052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-16676974293062986172009-04-30T14:14:00.000-07:002009-04-30T14:14:00.000-07:00Do the students at Madrona need to make up these d...Do the students at Madrona need to make up these days at the end of the year?Charlie Mashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17173903762962067277noreply@blogger.com