Arrangements for Kindergarten and Kindergarten-cum-Child Care Centres Under the Latest Development of Human Swine Influenza (HIS)

Dear Parents / Guardians:

The Education Bureau (EDB) announced on June 11 class suspension for 14 days in all kindergartens, kindergarten-cum-child care centres, primary schools (including private independent schools, international and ESF schools) and special schools (except those Schools for Social Development with secondary section only) from June 12 (Friday) to June 25 2009 (Thursday).  In view of the recent development of HSI in Hong Kong and significant increase in confirmed local cases, it is evident that the virus has turned active in the community.  The assembly of a large number of young students in the school premises for a long time would increase the risk of HIS outbreak and the consequence when young children get infected may be more severe.  After prudent deliberation with the Department of Health (DH), EDB has announced that classes will not be resumed within the current school year among the above-mentioned schools.

In view of the above, we will not resume classes this school year but parents should pay attention to the following special arrangements:

  • Class suspension is a mitigation measure aiming at reducing social contact to minimize the chance of HSI infection.  Therefore, students should stay at home during the class suspension period.  Parents should avoid letting their children go to crowded places, children playgrounds etc. or visiting places being affected by HSI with their children.
  • As the Nursery Section’s new school year will begin in August, we will maintain liaison with EDB and make further announcement on resumption of classes in the new school year in due course.
  • During the class suspension period, we will refer to the guidelines issued by EDB and DH to conduct the Graduation Ceremony, New Students Orientations and Parent-Teacher Conference as scheduled. Details for the Graduation Ceremony and the Parent-Teacher Conference will be announced on a later date.

For the period before the commencement of summer holiday originally scheduled, the teachers will continue to organize and arrange students’ assessments, portfolios, reports, etc. and will keep in touch with the parents.  They are also handling other school affairs and answering parents’ enquiries, and the aunties will also clean and disinfect the school premises.  If necessary, the school premises will remain open to take care of those students who would be unattended at home.  If you are unable to arrange for your relatives or friends to take care of your children, please contact Ms. Vickie Leung (Kindergarten Section: 2432-6628) or Ms. Ada Wai (Nursery Section: 2432-2223) for the arrangement of sending your children back to school.  As the school bus service and lunch provision have been suspended, you will have to escort your children to and from school and make your own lunch arrangements for them.

If any of the following occurs, please inform the school immediately to facilitate our school to decide on the contingency measures and notify the DH and the EDB accordingly:

  1. Your child is confirmed / suspected of having contracted HSI; and
  2. Any person in close contact* with your child is confirmed /suspected of having contracted HSI.

* “Close contact” means having cared for, having lived with, or having had direct contact with respiratory secretions and body fluids of a person with HSI.

Thank you for your kind attention.  Wishing you a happy and healthy summer holidays!!

Best regards,

Carmen Ka Mun Chan, JP
Chief Principal

June 24, 2009