The new school year is now officially underway and as I am writing this, cars and buses are returning students to their homes after the first day of classes. I want to thank all of the hard working staff of the Reed Custer Schools who made it possible for this day to be a success. When you see one of them, shake their hand and thank them for taking care of our future so well.

One issue that is of primary importance this year is the H1N1 flu virus. The Will County Public Health agency is keeping us posted on the latest in guidance from the Centers for Disease Control so we know how to approach our decisions relating to this outbreak. It has been relatively quiet over the summer but with fall approaching, they tell us it will again become more widespread. There are many ways you can help to protect your child including keeping them informed about washing hands and the proper way to cover a sneeze or cough.  Our school nurse, Kathy Jones, can keep you up to date on those recommendations. Click here to go to her page for more information.

If you click on this sentence, you will see the latest information we have from Will County Public Health about what to do for any reported cases of the disease.  Unlike last year, they do not recommend closing the schools except in the most extreme of circumstances.  What they do recommend is keeping children home when they have the disease and for 24 hours after the last fever disappears without tylenol or other assistance to reduce fever.  We ask you to conform to that standard and help us minimize the effects of this virus.

It is going to be a great year and we look forward to seeing your children and youth grow and learn moving toward their full potential.  Working with you, we can give our kids the best opportunities for their future.