The Ministry of Education is distributing information on the H1N1 flu virus to principals and directors of education on behalf of the Ministry of Health. This includes a draft letter to parents, Questions & Answers, four posters for different audiences, including teens, younger children, parents and teachers.

The Council of Ontario Directors of Education is pleased to support these efforts by posting this and any future materials provided by either the Ministry of Health or Ministry of Education on this web site.

1. Teach your children to wash their hands with soap and water thoroughly and often.
2. Keep alcohol-based sanitizer (gel or wipes) handy at work and in your car. Note that alcohol-based sanitizer should contain at least 60% alcohol to be effective.
3. Teach your children not to share personal items like pens, pencils, drinks, or food.
4. Teach your children to cough or sneeze into their sleeve or a tissue, not their hand. This includes teaching them to dispose of tissues in the garbage immediately, and to follow-up by washing their hands or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
5. Keep sick children at home until they are feeling well and are able to fully participate in all normal day-to-day activities.
   

Download these additional helpful documents. (.doc Format)

• Fact Sheet (PDF)
• Sample Letter to Parents (.doc)
• eBlast to Principals (.doc)

• Fact Sheet (PDF)
• Sample Letter to Parents (.doc)