Wallkill Central School District - 19 Main St. - P.O Box 310 - Wallkill, NY 12589
845-895-7100 | FAX 845-895-3630

William J. Hecht
Superintendent of Schools

November 13, 2009

Dear Parents, Guardians and Staff,                                      

The purpose of this letter is to update you on the attendance rate in our District over the last two (2) weeks.  Unlike last week, we have observed an increase in the number of students absent from school.  Many of the absences are as a result of flu-like symptoms.  I appreciate the increased conscientiousness by families having children stay home if they are sick.  This is one measure that will help lower the risk of others getting sick.  Our faculty and staff continue to remain vigilant by sending students to the health office who are showing signs of illness.  I would like to thank families who have picked their children up early from school who are ill, another measure that will help lower the risk of others getting sick.

The District has also made the decision to suspend perfect attendance awards for our students for this school year.  We do not want to encourage students who are ill to come to school when they should be home recovering.

I would like to remind you to teach your children how to reduce the risk of getting the flu and protect others from infection.

• Keep children who are sick at home.  Do not send them to school.

• If someone in your home is sick with flu-like symptoms including a fever, contact your health care provider.

• People who are sick should stay home from work or school and stay away from other people until they are better and until 24 hours after resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medication.

• Teach your children to wash their hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds. Be sure to set a good example by doing this yourself.

• Teach your children to cover coughs and sneezes with tissues or by coughing into the inside of the elbow.

• Teach your children to stay at least six feet away from people who are sick.  

We will continue to post additional information on our Website as it becomes available.

Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our children and our school healthy.

Sincerely,

William J. Hecht
Superintendent of Schools