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August 25 - No school for students Teachers will attend a professional development day September1 - Labor Day - No school! September 22 - No school for students Teachers will attend a professional development day      *****Letter from Mr. Hubbell concerning staph: August 20, 2008 Dear Parents/Guardians, Lewisburg Middle School is aware of the concerns that you may have regarding the recent cases of staph in the state.  At this time there have been no cases of staph reported at our school.  We are making every effort to keep our school safe from this bacteria.  Our custodians are disinfecting locker rooms, restrooms, lockers, door knobs, and other areas where this bacteria would be most likely to thrive.  We have enclosed some information for you on staph and are asking that you help us to explain to your child the safeguards that they need to take.  This strain of staph is contact friendly, so we should encourage our children to respect the personal space of others.  If you have any concerns or questions, please feel free to contact our office at 359-1265.  We take the responsibility of your child’s learning, safety and well being very seriously.  Thanks in advance for your help. Sincerely,   Randy Hubbell,  Principal   Information about MRSA Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Staph is a common bacteria found on the skin or in the nose of healthy people. Methicillin-Resistant Staph aureus (MRSA), on the other hand, is resistant to certain antibiotics. MRSA originated in a hospital setting years ago, infecting the patients who were immune or compromised due to illness or surgery. At that time the bacteria developed a resistance to certain antibiotics. Now it is no longer found just in a hospital setting, but is seen in people throughout the community all across the country. In a community setting it is typically seen as a skin infection, such as the appearance of a spider bite, a pimple, or a boil that can be red, swollen, painful, or have pus or other drainage, and it occurs in otherwise healthy people. Going to your healthcare provider if you develop an area, as described, will allow you to get on the proper antibiotics before the infection worsens or spreads to other parts of your body. This infection is contagious, and to keep it from spreading to others, precautions need to be taken. The CDC recommendation is to practice good hygiene, which includes: •  Keep hands clean by washing thoroughly with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that has a concentration of 60%-95% ethanol (ethyl alcohol) or isopropanol . •  Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered with a bandage until healed. •  Avoid contact with other people's wound or bandages. •  Avoid sharing personal items such as shin guards, socks, towels, razors, clothing, or uniforms that may have had contact with the infected wound or bandage. Wash sheets, towels, and clothes that become soiled with water and laundry detergent. •  Encourage your child to report “sores” to you, the coaches if applicable, and the school nurse. When cleaning the home environment to prevent, or control the spread of a MRSA infection, you need to use a product that states on the label that it kills Methicillin-Resistant Staph aureus (MRSA). If it does not state this, then there is no assurance that the product will destroy the bacteria. Products that you would think kill MRSA, but does not state that on the label, i.e. chlorox wipes, is not the best product to use. These products typically kill staph aureus, but not the MRSA bacteria. Listed below are samplings of some products that meet the criteria for destroying the MRSA bacteria. Read all labels of cleaning supplies to determine other cleaning agents. •  Mr. Clean Antibacterial Multi-Surface spray states it kills MRSA. •  A bleach:water solution of 1:10 (3/4 cup bleach in 1 gallon of water) kills MRSA and is effective for bathrooms and locker rooms, * but this bleach solution only remains effective for 24 hours after mixing , so should be discarded at the end of the day . The solution can be put in a spray bottle and the area sprayed with the solution and allowed to dry to kill MRSA. •  A bleach:water solution of 1:100 (1 Tablespoon bleach in 1 quart of water) can be used effectively to clean areas less likely to be as contaminated (kitchens) *as above. •  Hand soaps are effective in washing off the germs when used correctly. The important thing to remember is to wash your hands vigorously with warm soapy water for at least 15 seconds. •  Sani-Cloth Plus Hard Surface Disinfectant, Super Sani-Cloth Germicidal Disposable Cloths, Sani-Cloth HB, Sani-Dex ALC, and Vionex wipes kill MRSA. •  Hibiclens soap kills MRSA. Keep bleach and all other cleaning products away from children. Bleach should be used in a well ventilated area. Wear gloves when mixing the bleach solution. For more information go to www.cdc.gov and search under MRSA.

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