Flu, Respiratory Illness & COVID

As you are probably aware, respiratory illnesses are going around. We ask for your help in a few areas:

1. If your student is running a fever or has any symptoms of the flu, COVID, or other respiratory illness - PLEASE keep them home so they can rest and get better - and so they don't make others sick. (see button below for specific information on isolation). The state recommends a five day isolation period to prevent the spread of illness.

2. If your child returns to school when their symptoms are better, encourage them to wear a mask for the first few day back on campus and if they are still coughing. This will help us reduce the spread of illness. We have plenty of masks we can give them.

3. If someone in your home is out sick, isolate as best you can, wear a mask if you can, and try to limit exposure to others in the household that are leaving and coming to school or going to work.

4. Encourage hand washing frequently and disinfect surfaces often.

Thank you for your help keeping our staff and students safe.

Review the link at the top of this newsletter for isolation protocols for those who are sick. 🤧🤧🤧🤧🤧

Washington State Department of Health still recommends isolation of anyone who tests positive for COVID or for any other respiratory illness such as the flu.

What to do if you test positive for COVID-19 (translations available on the site).

When can my child go back to school after having flu? Please click on the link below to our newsletter on COVID/Flu isolation and return to school protocols.

The following information is also available:

Information about the flu:

• English: Flu: A Guide for Parents
• Spanish: La Influenza: Guía para padres

Thank you for your continued commitment to keeping our school community safe during these challenging times.

This letter is to inform you that our school uses BD Veritor SARS-CoV-2 & Flu A+B testing at Conway School. This requires parent permission and it done the exact same way as a COVID test with a simple nasal swab. We can test students and family members at our testing center. If you need a test, please call ahead and let Kristen know you are coming in for a test.

Commonly referred to as BD Triplex, this test detects Flu A + B as well as COVID-19 and can be a useful tool to detect respiratory illnesses during the winter months. Knowing if it is COVID-19 or the flu allows families and caregivers to make informed decisions about staying home and seeking follow-up care as needed. Our goal is to provide a healthy and safe environment for all students, so everyone can get back to in-person learning sooner!

Your next step is to sign a new consent form EVEN IF YOU HAVE SIGNED BEFORE: Parents/caregivers who want their student to participate in BD Triplex testing must sign a new consent form per state regulations as this is a NEW type of test (still administered with a nasal swab). To prevent gaps in testing, we request that parents or caregivers sign the consent form as soon as possible.

If your student has symptoms at school and you have not signed given permission, we will send you the link so you can give permission before we administer the test.

Also known as BD Triplex, this test is a rapid antigen test that uses one sample to detect three viruses: COVID-19, flu A, and flu B. It only takes minutes to get clear results for each sample. Watch this short video for more details on how this test works. You can also look at the BD Veritor for SARS-CoV-2 & Flu A+B Patient Factsheet for more information.

For More Information Contact:

Kristen Hawk khawk@conway.k12.wa.us (health room/school office)

Jeff Cravy jcravy@conway.k12.wa.us (superintendent)

Non Discrimination Statement

The Conway School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups.

Website: conway.k12.wa.us
Location: 19710 Washington 534, Mount Vernon, WA, USA
Phone: 360-445-5785