Sultanate of Oman,
Education Ministry,
Directorate of Education.



From;
The Director General


To;
The Principals


Sub; Guidelines to handle the flu (H1N1) in schools
The ministry has decided on 26/08/2009 to form groups and committee to activate the caution period in order to prevent the spread of H1N1 and spread awareness about H1N1 in Oman and the states of Oman.

Therefore we are happy to give some guidelines which will help in the prevention of the spread of H1N1 in schools, It is advised to keep the environment clean to maintain the hygienic condition and to maintain the personal cleanliness among students, We expect you to follow these measures. Parents are also advised to take precautionary steps, and measures with the help of health care centers.

The committee can be formed in the school Under the Guidance of
 The Principal
 Health supervisor (Sociological Specialist)
 Supervisor of school activities
 Senior staff
 Parents Association Head
 First Aid advisor (Nurse)


Preface:

The Main aim of our health and educational ministry is to give prior importance to health, to prevent the spread of diseases and to follow healthy habits or behaviorism in life.

Therefore these guidelines will create awareness among the school committee, staff and parents and help them to understand the symptoms and how to cure the disease.

The main objective is to explain the preventive measures that need to be taken to prevent the flu (H1N1), to stress the need for individual and social hygiene.

We expect you whole Hearted co_operation to take the necessary steps to prevent this disease and to seek help from health centers.

A Team should be formed in the school for health awareness, and the following are their duties:

o To check the unexpected absentees in the school, and maintain a record of the same.
o A regular contact with the parents of affected children about the condition of the child and treatment during the absent time.
o Conduct the health awareness programme in the school for the students as well as for the parents about (H1N1).
o A regular contact with the health organization, the area educational group, schools and health supervisor of the area.

The school must take the following steps to prevent the flu (H1N1)

I: In school environmental field

To keep the healthy environment in the schools it is advised to follow the steps to create a healthy environment.
o All school must have proper ventilation in the class rooms, and halls.
o Keep soap, hand wash, towel, tissues etc..., near the toilets and wash basins.
o A regular and proper cleaning of the class rooms.
o Class rooms and staff rooms must have waste basket with lid.
o The cleaners should wear the masks and the gloves while cleaning.
o Provide the Tissues to each rows of the class rooms and instruct the students throw the tissues after their use.
o Provide the sufficient cleaning things (like dettol) to clean the floors and furniture.
o Every day the waste materials must be thrown out to the proper place.
o The area where the drinking water is kept must be kept clean, and taps of coolers needed a proper cleaning, changing the filter regularly.
o Instruct the students to wash their hands before and after their food.

Incase of a report of the flu H1N1, The school should follow:

o Provide necessary cleaning materials like
a. Soap.
b. The carry bags for the waste materials.
c. Masks.
o A regular cleaning of the class rooms, furniture, walls, tables etc..,
o Check the ventilation in the class rooms, allow the sunlight to enter the class rooms.
o Instruct the cleaners to wear masks, gloves and after the cleaning to wash their hands with soap, water and also to keep the garbage bags closed.

II: In the field of health awareness.

The health awareness group will check the following with the help of health group.
o Give awareness on communicable diseases, ask them to cover the nose and mouth while sneezing and coughing with tissues, keep the posters related this in the common places.
o Posters related to how to “wash hands” and how to “protect ourselves” in the places near by bathrooms and toilets.
o Conduct awareness programmes, seminars, distribution of pamphlet about flu (H1N1) for the students as well as staffs.
o Conduct the programme with the help of doctors, nurses to give correct information regarding the flu (H1N1) to the parents, and inform them how to tackle this H1N1 flu.
o Get the advice and help from others on H1N1.
o Instruct them how to handle H1N1 in the campus as well as outside the campus.
o Start the everyday classes with the instruction and precaution about H1N1.
o Proper awareness on how to “wash hands”.
o Ask the students and staffs to report the school board immediately after seeing the symptoms and they should follow the precautions steps.
o Proper instructions to the staff regarding how to handle the Victims of H1N1


III: Steps to reduce the crowd (gathering) in the school and to improve the air circulation in the class rooms.

o The school must arrange some steps to reduce the crowd in the school canteen.
o Reduce the number of students (if the number of student are more) in school buses and instruct the bus incharge to open the glass windows of the bus.
o While moving in queue students should keep a proper distance from one another.
o Stop the educational tours and camps.
o School windows should be opened regularly for air circulation.
o There must be a room (the health room) for the doubted students and its windows must be opened through out, and this room should not be used for any other purpose.

IV: Steps to be taken for the doubted cases

o Suspected students must be immediately asked to go to the school health room, The suspected child should wear a mask and gloves and then inform his/her parents immediately.
o The school health teacher or the health group should check the temperature of the child.
o The school is asked to take the suspected child to the health organization under which school comes.
o The person who is accompanying the child must wear the mask and gloves.

V: Keep a separate record of the absentees

o Make a record of absentees and short list the students and staff who has asthma, heart problems and sugar complaints and pregnant women etc..,these people can be easily Affected by the flu and take care of them.
o The school health board and teachers are requested to give awareness about the flu (inside the classes) and take the number of absentees.
o If the percentage of the absentees is more than 10 percentage of the class, the school should contact with the parents of absentees and get explanation.
o Advise the suspected children to take him/her to the nearby health centers for medical checkup and treatment. If it is positive (H1N1 positive) he is advised to take leave from the school at least for 7 days, when he is free from the attack of H1N1 ask him/her to submit the medical report.
o The school health group will check the class rooms of the affected child and observe his/her friends for some days.
o If more than three students from the same class of the affected child show the symptoms of the flu then the school is advised to give leave to the whole class for a weeks time with precautionary steps (Those students must be at home).
o If the symptoms are not found, the class will follow the same precautionary steps.


VI: Check the health status in the class

o If a child is found with symptoms like increase in body temperature, sneezing, coughing, oozing etc.., The school health board should immediately take the child to isolated room and he will be sent to the nearby health center for medical checkup, The school is advised to make a contact with the concerned doctor of health center and inform him about the child’s health status, Incase he is found positive school must give a sick leave for 7 days according to the medical report.
o The school health group should keep a regular contact with the parents of the affected children and keep a record of their health status until they recover, when he is back to school he must produce a medical certificate to the office from the authorized hospital.


VII: Guidelines to the teachers.

o Teachers must encourage the children to use tissues while coughing and sneezing and ask them to throw the used tissues into the dustbins.
o Advise the children to keep themselves clean and encourage them to have a personal hygiene.
o Teacher must observe the class thoroughly and if any child showing symptoms of H1N1 is found immediately take him/her to the health room of the school and send him for a medical checkup.
o The teacher should advise the students to stay at home incase of H1N1 symptoms found, ask him/her to go for a checkup and immediately inform the result to the school office, Incase if it is positive he is advised to stay at home and when he returns to the school submit the medical fitness certificate in the office.
o If any staff is having the symptoms of H1N1, especially pregnant women and those who are suffering from asthma, heart complaint, sugar complaint etc.., must immediately consult the doctor.

VIII: Health awareness for the parents

o School will conduct the parents meeting to make them aware about flu (H1N1).
o The school will send a letter to the parents about the precautionary steps and how to manage the flu (H1N1).
o If your child is affected by the flu (H1N1), please don’t send him to the school and get the treatment immediately and then inform the school office.
o The schools should advise the parents not to panic and take the necessary precautions to prevent the flu (H1N1).

Important Notes

1. The school must have a contact with school health supervisor, school health center; the teams formed in the area by the ministry of health and ministry of education and inform them about the flu in the school.
2. If the number of affected children is more the school should give a report to the main office of the ministry of health and ministry of education.

Guidelines to the parents

Dear parents,
The flu (H1N1) is known as swine flu, and it affects the respiratory system of the person, it spreads among human beings in the following ways:
It spreads through coughing, sneezing and handling the personal things of the affected.

The symptoms of the flu are as follows:
1,Fever,2,coughing,3,body pain,4,throat infection,5,headache,6,looseness, 7,congestion,8,cold.
The symptoms will be light till the middle stage, it will be cured with the help of treatment from the doctor in correct time.

Dear parents,
Students are an important part of the society, among the students the flu may spread very fast, so the ministry of health and ministry of education are taking effective steps to tackle the flu with the help of you (parents).


The following are the effective steps:

o Advise your ward to cover his/her nose, mouth while sneezing & coughing with the help of tissues, after the use the tissues must be thrown in dustbins.
o Advise them to wash their hands with water and detergent like hand wash and soap etc…,
o Ask them to avoid direct mingling with the students who have the symptoms of the flu.
o Avoid shaking hands, hugging and kissing others.
o Incase you or your child is showing any symptoms please note the following:
1. Stay at home at least for 24 hours without taking medicines for fever until you recovery.
2. Visit the nearest health center for checkup and treatment.
3. Ask your child to stay at home during the symptoms and get the treatment from the health centers.
4. Submit the medical certificate at the school office which is about his present health status, and his recovery.
5. If your child is tested H1N1 positive do not allow him to mingle with others.
6. Take rest & drink more water.

Medical Instruction for the Affected

o The affected person must be in an isolated room for minimum 7 days.
o The affected person must avoid shaking hands with others, hugging, kissing, and taking the food with others from the same plate.
o From the family only one member can seek the need of the affected and keep others away from him.
o The affected person must use tissues while coughing & sneezing, it must dispose the used tissues immediately.
o After coughing & sneezing the sick must wash his/her hand with water and soap.
o For the sick there must be a separate plate and glass and after the use it must be washed and kept separately.
o In any case the affected person must not come out his/her room at any cost, Incase of emergency he must wear masks and gloves.
o The doors of the isolated room must be closed and the windows opened.

Mr J.K. Arora
Principal
Indian School Sohar

Sir,

We in Oman Tribune are doing a feature on the recent decision of the Indian HRD ministry in regards with the board examination of class X.
You would be kind enough if you could ask 2-3 teachers of your schools as well 2-3 students of class 8,9,10th as well as their parent to send their opinion (100 words each) with their photographs, one each in email.

The question is:

"decision to make the class X th board examination optional is right or wrong"

We will be publishing them in next two days time.

Thanking your in anticipation

FAIZUL HAQUE
Deputy Chief Reporter
OMAN TRIBUNE

INDIAN SCHOOL SOHAR
CIRCULAR
ISS/CIR/40/09-10
8 September 2009

Dear Parent,
Sub: Hindi Declamation Competition for Std. V - VIII

We wish to inform you that the above mentioned competition wll be held on Thursday 17.09.09 during school hours. Selection will be held on 15.09.09. Students may choose their own topics for selections and final competition. Attention should be drawn to the following points:
*The speech should be of 2-3 minutes duration
*Content, Pronunciation, Voice modulation and expression shall be the main criteria for marking
*Negative marking shall apply if the time limit is not strictly adhered to
*No gestures (action) are encouraged
*Judges decision is final

Sd/-
JK Arora
Principal

INDIAN SCHOOL SOHAR
CIRCULAR
ISS/CIR/039/09-10
7 September 2009

Dear Parent,
Sub: Mehandi Competition for classes VI to VIII on 16.09.09
Mehandi Competition will be organised for classes VI to VIII on Wednesday 16.09.09. Students who are interested in participating should give their names to Mrs. Archana by Thursday 10.09.09. The participants should bring big size paper plate, Mehandi cone and tissue papers.

Sd/-
JK Arora
Principal

INDIAN SCHOOL SOHAR
CIRCULAR
ISS/CIR/034/09-10
31 August 2009

Dear Parent,

Sub: Holiday on Wednesday 02.09.2009

W would like to inform you that the school will remain closed for all classes on Wednesday the 02.09.2009 on account of Oman.

Sd/-

JK Arora
Principal

INDIAN SCHOOL SOHAR
CIRCULAR
ISS/CIR/031/09-10
23 August 2009

Dear Parent,

sub: Sastra Pratibha contest for classes V to XII

This is to inform you that Science India Forum, Muscat is conducting the Sastra Pratibha contest for classes V to XII on 25th September 2009. Interested students may pay the enrollment fee of RO1.000 at the school fee counter. They can collect the Enrollment Form and study material from the Bookstore by producing the Fee Receipt. Entry Forms duly filled have to be submitted to Mrs. Fathima at the Reception. Last Date of Enrollment : 03.09.2009.

Sd/-
JK Arora
Principal

INDIAN SCHOOL SOHAR
CIRCULAR
ISS/CIR/033/09-10
30 August 2009
Dear Parent

Teachers Day will be celebrated in the school on 05 September 2009 as per the following programme.

1. Arrival of the students 7.50 AM
2. Preparation of stage and other arrangements for the cultural programme by students 8.00-9.00AM
3. Cultural programme organised by students 9.00-9.45 AM
4. Departure of students 10.00 AM

Please do not give any gifts or parties to teachers on Teachers Day.The teachers will be glad to receive a small flower or a hand drawn greeting card from their beloved students. They only want respect and affection from the students. The students shall not collect money for any party or gifts.

Sd/-
JK Arora
Principal

INDIAN SCHOOL SOHAR
CIRCULAR
Dear Parent ISS/CIR/027/09-10
7August 2009
Sub : Pure Life English Essay writing contest for Std. VI-VII
We are pleased to inform you that the Pure Life English Essay writing contest 2009, sponsored by COOLEX will be held on 13.10.2009, during the school hours for all students of Std. VI-VII.
The details of the competition are as follows:

Topic : 'My Green World'
Duration : One Hour
Maximum word Limit:500 words
Prizes:1st prize RO.100, 2nd prizeRO.75, 3rd prize RO. 50 and 3 consolation prozes of RO 10/- each. Apart from this all participating students will get Certificate of participation and a token of appreciation by the sponsor.

Sd/-

JK Arora
Pincipal