Cold and flu season has returned to Duncan Middle School. And joining in this year is strep throat.
As of Thursday, 185 DMS students were absent with the number increasing throughout the week. The week began with about 130 absent.
“There are currently 185 kids sick right now,” Assistant Principal Amie Moore said. “We want them to stay home if they are sick but come to school if they are healthy and not sick.”
Several of the illnesses going around include flu, strep throat, rhino virus and the stomach bug. And the sicknesses are not just affecting students; teacher attendance is also being impacted.
“There are lots of fevers going around mainly caused by kids not washing their hands and spreading germs,” DMS nurse Crystal Ford said. “When kids get sick, teachers become sick as well.
“Hand washing and covering your mouth should help a lot with not getting sick. We need kids to stay home and get lots of rest so they can be ready for school.”
Despite the high number of absences, the school has not canceled classes as of yet. In previous years, the threshold for canceling classes was about 20 percent of the DMS student population, which is about 150 students.
Moore said it’s important to keep sick students home to prevent a spread of illnesses, but that when students are healthy enough to be at school, it is important for them to attend.
“I believe it damages our education because they miss a day which could throw off the learning and throws the teacher off track,” Moore said. “It ends up with them being thrown off in their education and has to make the whole class redo it.”
Four school days remain until Christmas Break. Between the upcoming break and the ongoing spread of illnesses, student and teacher attendance is expected to be impacted.
Lisa Adair, DMS attendance clerk, said the increase in absences will also impact what happens in the classroom.
“Kids get behind when they’re missing,” Adair said. “Students need to be washing hands and getting good rest.”
