December 15, 2022 - District Health Advisory

Many schools are experiencing high and increasing rates of illnesses, and student and staff absences due to influenza, COVID, colds, and other communicable diseases. 

 

Action Steps for Students, Staff, and Families

We urge staff and families to take the following precautions to reduce risk and support each other. Our primary goal is to maintain sufficient staffing and district operations to protect and preserve in-school learning on every day possible, and enjoy a healthy holiday break:                                               

  • Monitor yourself or your child for any signs of illness, such as cough, sore throat, runny nose, fever, and fatigue. 

  • Stay home if ill.

  • Monitor yourself or your child for any COVID symptoms using the Student COVID-19 Symptom Checklist. Consider testing if symptoms are present.

  • No matter what the illness, the child should not return to school until free of fever, vomiting and diarrhea for at least 24 hours. Use your best judgment if they are fever-free but are experiencing symptoms that make it difficult to engage at school.  

  • Students and staff are strongly advised to wear a mask at school, especially in schools where parents have been notified that their student’s classroom or building is experiencing high levels of illness. 

  • Please notify the school office of the reason your child is out ill and any specific diagnosis to help us track what is circulating in our school community. 

If your student is at risk for severe illness, please check with their healthcare provider for any additional steps. 

 

Steps We Are Taking in the AAPS

Our school nurses and the district team continue to implement several steps to prevent communicable disease transmission and respond to illness in our schools. These steps include:  

  • increased indoor air ventilation across classrooms and schools, 

  • closely monitoring illness at the building and district levels,

  • communicating with families when building or classroom illness reaches 20% of students or above,

  • completing additional deep cleaning and disinfection in classrooms and schools where cases are emerging, and

  • continuing close communication and consultation with the Washtenaw County Health Department. 

 

Everyday Healthy Habits

Just a reminder that these everyday healthy habits help everyone avoid illness:  

  • Make sure you and your family get a flu shot and stay up-to-date with COVID vaccination.

  • Avoid contact with those who are ill

  • Wash hands or use hand sanitizer frequently, especially after sneezing or coughing 

  • Remind your student to avoid touching their nose, mouth and eyes

  • Drink lots of fluid and eat a healthy diet

  • Stay physically active

  • Get plenty of rest

The Washtenaw County Health Department offers these helpful tips for a Healthy and Safe Holiday Season. 

We will continue to share updates as we move through this time. Thank you for your partnership and support of our students, staff and these Ann Arbor Public Schools. 

Take Care, 

Jeanice K. Swift
Superintendent of Schools

Jenna Bacolor
Executive Director
Student and School Health / Community Division