Good afternoon, HPES Families --
It is the time of year when sickness typically impacts schools at higher rates than normal. That is especially true at High Point Elementary School right now. Today, we have 15 teachers absent (30% of the faculty) with only 10 of those positions covered with a substitute teacher. We also have almost 1/3 (212) students absent at HPES today. As a result, we will implement a Remote Learning Day for High Point Elementary ONLY for Tuesday, December 17 and Wednesday, December 18. Staff members will be available for a work or Chromebook pick up in the back of the building.
In addition to the extra cleaning that occurred over the weekend, the Remote Learning Days will allow for our maintenance staff to thoroughly clean HPES. Crews will work to sanitize high-touch areas such as drinking fountains, etc. We have been in contact with the Mount Rogers Health District on ways to mitigate illness in HPES.
When we return to In-Person Learning at HPES, it is important to keep your child home from school if they are sick. This not only benefits your child, but other children and staff. If you have any questions about if your student should attend school during an illness, please reach out to your school nurse for guidance.
Signs of Illness:
Temperature of more than 100.4 degrees orally
Nausea or vomiting
Stomachache
Diarrhea
Pale or flushed face
Headache
Persistent cough
Earache
Thick yellowish discharge from nose
Sore throat
Rash or infection of the skin
Red or pink eyes
Loss of energy or decrease in activity
To Prevent Sickness in Schools:
Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that are touched often, like desks, countertops, and doorknobs
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, and dispose of the tissue in a wastebasket
