News

■ SNOW UPDATES:
-- Tune in to local radio and TV for announcements of school openings
and closings.
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-- Report Cards go home February 8.
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-- Presidents' Day, February 15, will be a regular school day/make-up day.

■ SPECIAL MEETING: The SPECIAL MEETING: The Richmond County School Board will hold a special meeting on Thursday, February 11, 2010, at the Richmond County Public Meeting Room, 101 Court Street, Warsaw, Virginia at 11:00 a.m. to consider the financial options for building a new high school/school board office.

■ H1N1 Influenza A
The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE), in cooperation with the Virginia Department of Health, has produced brief videos to inform parents and educators of the steps they can take to prevent the spread of H1N1 A and seasonal influenza in schools.

Please view “H1N1 for Parents” (length 3:05) by clicking this link: http://www.vdoe.whro.org/h1n1_parents/DOE_H1N1_PAR.swf.

A companion video, “H1N1 for Educators” (length 3:54), describes the steps schools should take to protect the health of students and staff and may be viewed at this address: http://www.vdoe.whro.org/h1n1_educators/DOE_H1N1_EDU.swf

Additional information on H1N1 A Influenza and schools is available on the VDOE Web site at this address: http://www.doe.virginia.gov/support/health_medical/influenza/index.shtml

If you or your child gets the flu, you should get plenty of rest, increase your fluids, and avoid crowds. Aspirin is never recommended to treat flu symptoms in children. The Center for Disease Control emphasizes personal responsibility (cover your cough, stay home if you are sick) to limit the transmission of the virus. As parents, please encourage your child to follow the preventative measures below to protect themselves and decrease the possibility of spreading the illness to others:

Cover your mouth and nose when you cough.
Wash hands immediately after coughing and frequently throughout the day.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Stay at home when you are sick.

If your child gets the flu, or is sick, please keep them home. This will allow your child time to rest and prevent transmission to others. Children should not return to school until until they have been without a fever (less than 99 degrees) for 24 hours without the use of medication and have not vomited or had diarrhea for 24 hours.

Many of our students strive for perfect attendance. During the 2009-2010 school year, Richmond County Public Schools will reward students for 'Outstanding Attendance.' A student may miss five days for illness and achieve 'Outstanding Attendance.'

■ The academic calendar for the 2009-2010 school year reflects the school system’s change to 9-week grading periods. Progress reports will go out every 4½ weeks.

■ Congratulations to Richmond County Public Schools for achieving AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress). The RCPS report cards are posted on the Department of Education web page: https://p1pe.doe.virginia.gov/reportcard/

■ The Richmond County School System offers a variety of free special education programs serving children from age 2 through 21. To locate those who are suspected of having a disability, the school system conducts an annual Child Find Campaign. Children with a disability who turn two on or before September 30, and who have not reached their 22nd birthday by that date, can be considered for these programs. Those who think they may know a child with a disability should phone Diane Carter, Director of Special Education, at the Richmond County School Board office at 804-333-3681.