Actually, stepped up cleaning and hand washing would help. When I worked in a well regarded DCPS the janitorial services were a joke - think dirty water sloshed on the floor a few times a week and no hard surface wipe downs, and there was no time built into the schedule for hand washing as that would take time off task (preparing for testing). With these kinds of practices dcps is ill prepared for any kind of contagious condition.

If there are enough flu cases the schools may close for a period of time? Any truth to that?! That has happened at other schools across the country. Not sure if DCPS has a policy...

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does Lafayette have a PTA?

Yes, but it has made a conscious decision to only raise money and be a mouthpiece for the principal, not advocate for parents' concerns. Donations are way down this year, in part because of that.

PTAs are NOT supposed to “represent parent concerns.” Seriously. That is what the LSAT is for.

Then please tell us what PTAs are supposed to do?!

Note that on the national PTA website, Value #1 is "Collaboration: We will work in partnership with a wide array of individuals and organizations to broaden and enhance our ability to serve and advocate for all children and families."

Cleaning the school isn't going to make much difference. Flu is contagious before the kids start to show symptoms. This is just one of those things you have to ride out, OP. Millions of kids get flu and the vast majority recover well. This year is scary, but it's not panic worthy.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does Lafayette have a PTA?

Yes, but it has made a conscious decision to only raise money and be a mouthpiece for the principal, not advocate for parents' concerns. Donations are way down this year, in part because of that.

PTAs are NOT supposed to “represent parent concerns.” Seriously. That is what the LSAT is for.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agreed Lafayette needs a listserv. It's so easy to set up - all you need is a Yahoo Group or Google Group, add parent emails, voila!

Unfair. People ask specific questions about specific schools all the time.

Keep posting here, Lafayette! I'm at a different school, but I'm glad to know about things like the flu going around nearby.

Anonymous wrote:Janney is only slightly smaller than Lafayette and it has a yahoo list Serv.

Murch too. Yahoo groups are super easy. Then again - we are allowed to say so on the school website! You could always spread it via word of mouth - or DCUM

Anonymous wrote:Agreed Lafayette needs a listserv. It's so easy to set up - all you need is a Yahoo Group or Google Group, add parent emails, voila!

Unfair. People ask specific questions about specific schools all the time.

Anonymous wrote:Does Lafayette have a PTA?

Yes, but it has made a conscious decision to only raise money and be a mouthpiece for the principal, not advocate for parents' concerns. Donations are way down this year, in part because of that.

Does Lafayette have a PTA?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agreed Lafayette needs a listserv. It's so easy to set up - all you need is a Yahoo Group or Google Group, add parent emails, voila!

There are about 650 families at Lafayette. Most of those families have two parents, so we're talking about 1200 emails. No one is volunteering to create (and moderate) such a list serve.

All you need to do is start a google group and post an opt-in link in the school newsletter for a couple weeks. It is neither hard nor time-consuming.

Haven't you been reading the threads about the Lafayette principal? There is no possibility that she would allow an official Lafayette newsletter to advertise a parent listserv.

Then make flyers and hand them out after school. It just isn't that hard.

Janney is only slightly smaller than Lafayette and it has a yahoo list Serv.

Norovirus and flu. My son got the norovirus all over the playground last week....

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agreed Lafayette needs a listserv. It's so easy to set up - all you need is a Yahoo Group or Google Group, add parent emails, voila!

There are about 650 families at Lafayette. Most of those families have two parents, so we're talking about 1200 emails. No one is volunteering to create (and moderate) such a list serve.

All you need to do is start a google group and post an opt-in link in the school newsletter for a couple weeks. It is neither hard nor time-consuming.

Haven't you been reading the threads about the Lafayette principal? There is no possibility that she would allow an official Lafayette newsletter to advertise a parent listserv.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agreed Lafayette needs a listserv. It's so easy to set up - all you need is a Yahoo Group or Google Group, add parent emails, voila!

There are about 650 families at Lafayette. Most of those families have two parents, so we're talking about 1200 emails. No one is volunteering to create (and moderate) such a list serve.

All you need to do is start a google group and post an opt-in link in the school newsletter for a couple weeks. It is neither hard nor time-consuming.