Lion’s Roar: October 2, 2017 Dear Parents,

The October School Calendar is always very full with end of the first nine weeks,

parent/teacher conferences, health screenings, and of course the anticipation of the

Parish Fair. Please note the “no school” or “early dismissal” days during October. We

have included the most important dates below, but the full calendar can always be found

on our website.

Please note all the important attachments including information on flu season; we

already have confirmed flu cases at school. The Boy Scout Jambalaya Fundraiser is this

Wednesday, and information on the Fall Speaker Series is also attached. We hope you

will join us on October 10th for this special presentation. –Erin Candilora

“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the

right to become children of God.” Amen

___________________________________________________________ IMPORTANT DATES – October 3 – Parent-Teacher Online Conference Sign-up opens at 8:00 p.m. October 4 – Blessing of the Animals in the Old Gym October 6 – No School for Students – Teacher In-Service Day October 9 – No Bus Service October 11 – Parent-Teacher Online Conference Sign-up closes at 8:00 p.m. October 11 – End of First Nine Weeks October 12 - Vision Screening Grades 1, 3, 5 and 7 October 13 – All School Mass October 18 – No school for PreK-4, Conferences for PreK – 4 October 19 – Early Dismissal 11:00 for grades 5-8

Afternoon conferences grades 5-8 October 20 – No school grades 5-8, Conferences for 5-8 October 30, 31 and Nov 2 - Hearing Screening Grades PK, K, 1, 2 ____________________________________________________________ GRANDPARENTS’ DAY (K-2nd Grades)- It will be held on Friday, October 20. Grandparents are to report to church before 8:00 mass, and the students will meet you there. Please pass this information to your child's grandparents or special adult friends. _____________________________________________________________ SAVE THE DATE FOR THE SAS BOOK FAIR-November 30 is the Grand Opening! _____________________________________________________________

PARENTS WITH TUITION LOANS THROUGH GULF COAST BANK – Please be advised if your loan becomes 60 days or more past due, access to the Parent Plus Portal will be suspended until the loan is made current. _____________________________________________________________ LIONS FC MIDDLE SCHOOL SOCCER IS HERE! – Registration forms will be sent home tomorrow (10/3) to all sixth, seventh and eighth grade students. DEADLINE TO REGISTER, INCLUDING ALL PAYMENTS, IS TUESDAY, OCTOBER 17TH. This program consists of weekly team training and games on the weekends of November 12, November 18/19, December 2/3, December 9/10, December 16/17, December 31 and January 6/7. The End of Season Tournament will be held January 12-14th. All games are played at the Burbank Complex. Lions FC Soccer gives our students the opportunity to play soccer in a fun and competitive league with their schoolmates. It is NOT a school-sponsored sport and is NOT available to fifth graders. Please contact Stacey Mengis at mengis@bellsouth.net or 921-2375 if you have any questions. _____________________________________________________________ CHURCH NEWS- ST. ALOYSIUS PARISH FAIR - OCTOBER 27-29, 2017 Have you ordered your child’s fair t-shirt yet?? – Visit the Fair Store today at www.staloysiusfair.org/store to buy T-shirts. Order by 10/09 to guarantee size – price increase until store closes for good on 10/11! Students may wear their Fair T-shirts the entire week of the Fair! Spooktacular 5K & Fun Run October 28th – Wake up and get dressed in your best Halloween costume and come run in the Spooktacular 5K & Fun Run. The best costume will receive a prize! The one-mile fun run begins at 8:30 AM, and the 5K begins at 9:00 AM. Register and reserve T-shirt sizes at www.staloysiusfair.org/annual-5k- fun-run. Raffle Tickets on Sale NOW! – $10,000 Grand Prize! $2,000 and $1,000 Prizes! Consolation prizes ranging from $25-$300! Tickets may be purchased at the online store now or at the fair with cash, check or credit card. Tickets will also be sold at Holy Smoke on October 7th, as well as after all masses the weekend of October 14-15. Friday Night Food Options – Let’s get excited about our new Friday night food setup. We will have our delicious Fish Fry, Phil’s Oyster Bar, Superior Grill, and City Pork to keep all your belly’s full. _____________________________________________________________

THE MISSION OF ST. ALOYSIUS SCHOOL IS TO EDUCATE THE WHOLE CHILD IN THE CATHOLIC TRADITION FOR A LIFE OF MEANING AND

PURPOSE

To Parents and Guardians:

Our flu season has begun at St. Aloysius School. I encourage you get a flu

shot for you and your family if you have not already done so. The flu season

continues through April.

When your child is sick, keep them home from school. Wash your hands often and

reinforce at home the lessons we are teaching your children for good hand washing,

coughing and sneezing hygiene. Students with fever of 100 degrees or above may

NOT return to school until they are fever free for 24 hours without Motrin or

Tylenol. This rule is for all students and adults and including

after school activities.

In order to track illness patterns it is essential that you include the symptoms or

diagnosis when you report your child absent due to illness. Often people call any

winter illness “flu”. Flu is a specific disease that is diagnosed by a medical provider.

I ask that you don’t report your child has the “flu” unless it has actually been

diagnosed.

Please be sure to have alternate care plans already in place. Make sure your contact

information is updated. In the event we have to send your child home with flu or

other illness we must be able to get in contact with you. Children who are ill must

be picked up in a timely manner and cannot remain at school when ill and contagious

for their wellbeing and the safety of all our students.

We appreciate your attention to this important health matter and your support of

the health and safety of the school community.

Nurse Michaelyn

Please review the following Flu Facts for additional information on questions you

may have.

Flu Facts:

What should I watch for?

Influenza has an abrupt start with a fever, chills, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, headache,

body aches and tiredness. Nausea and vomiting may occur in children.

How is influenza spread? Most experts believe flu viruses are spread mainly by droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby. A person might also get the flu by touching a surface or object that has flu virus on it and then touching their own mouth, eyes or nose.

When is a person with influenza contagious?

A person with influenza is most contagious 24 hours BEFORE the symptoms begin. Once symptoms begin

children can be contagious up to 7 days and adults up to 5 days.

How long should they stay out of school and other activities?

Until fever is gone for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication and the student is feeling

well enough to participate in routine activities.

What is the treatment for influenza?

Antiviral medications can shorten the course of illness if given within 36 to 48 hours after the symptoms

begin. Influenza is a viral illness; therefore, antibiotics are not effective.

CAUTION: NEVER GIVE ASPIRIN OR ANY PRODUCTS CONTAINING ASPIRIN TO ANY CHILD OR ADOLESCENT UNDER

18 YEARS OF AGE. Reye’s syndrome is a serious illness associated with Aspirin, including any products containing

aspirin, associated with viral illnesses.

How can influenza be prevented?

It is not too late to get a flu shot. Clinics administer them either by injection or the nasal spray vaccine. The good news is this year’s flu vaccine is a close match to the current flu virus. Since you are most contagious PRIOR to having symptoms, the Flu vaccine is the BEST WAY TO PREVENT the spread of influenza!

Cover nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, or cough/sneeze into your sleeve (inside elbow).

Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm running water after contact with any secretions from the nose or mouth or handling used tissues.

Clean and disinfect commonly touched surfaces (door knobs, refrigerator handle, water faucets, cupboard handles, computer keyboards, etc.) Studies have shown that human influenza viruses generally can survive on surfaces between 2 and 8 hours.

COLD FLU

Onset of symptoms: Gradual Onset of symptoms: Sudden

Fever: None Fever: High

Body aches: Slight / none Body aches: Often severe

Headache: Not common Headache: Common

Runny nose: Yes

Sneezing: Yes

Runny nose: Sometimes

Sneezing: No

Sore throat: Common Sore throat: Not common

Cough: Hacking Dry cough: Yes