Long Beach Elementary

"Health Update Dear Parents and Guardians, I want to provide you with an update regarding the recent health concerns at our school. Based on advice from the county health department, there is no need to close the school at this time. This appears to be an outbreak of viral gastroenteritis, commonly known as the stomach flu. While it does not appear more serious than other flu strains, it has impacted a large number of our students in a very short period of time. To help minimize the spread of illness, please follow these guidelines: 1. If your child vomits, they must stay home for at least 24 hours after their last episode of vomiting. 2. Encourage your children to wash their hands frequently and thoroughly. 3. Keep surfaces at home sanitized to reduce the risk of infection. There have been rumors suggesting this might be linked to food poisoning. However, we have no evidence to support this. Several students became ill before lunch, and others, including staff, who did not eat cafeteria meals have also been affected. To ensure the health and safety of everyone, staff will be heading home early this afternoon after dismissal, and we will conduct a thorough deep cleaning of all surfaces. Regarding the Winter Holiday Concert scheduled for Friday, I will make a decision tomorrow based on attendance numbers and any new information. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we navigate this situation. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have further questions. Sincerely, Jim Paxinos"