Please turn off your engines!

If you are waiting in your car, please turn off your engines whilst parked. The constant emission of exhaust fumes is unpleasant for others and this practice is actually illegal in Singapore. You may like to refer to this Straits Times article.

Infection Control Guidelines

Recently there has been an increase in illness across Singapore and this has been reflected in the school community. Across the school we have seen both Viral and Bacterial infections including a number of Colds and Coughs, alongside limited cases of Chickenpox and Mycoplasma.

To limit the spread of infection within the school community, we ask that you ensure your child remains at home when unwell, and uses good respiratory and hand-washing techniques at all times.

For further information, please see the Infection Control Guidelines below:

Infection Control Guidelines

In order to reduce the spread of infection within school and to close family members, please monitor your child for any symptoms of illness and follow the Infection Control Policy stated below. Please do not send your child to school if she/he has any of the following symptoms:

• Fever (37.6 C or above) Please ensure your child is fever free without medication for 24 hours prior to returning to school.
• Diarrhoea – 24 hours after last episode
• Vomiting – 24 hours after last episode
• Persistent cough
• Heavy nasal discharge
• Sore throat
• Red eyes (particularly with discharge)
• Rash

Consider keeping your child at home if she/he is particularly tired.

Please cover all open wounds or sores that have any discharge with a clean dressing, and seek medical attention if wounds become infected.

You will be contacted to collect your child if she/he has any of the above symptoms or if the medical team feels that your child is unwell.

Breaking the chain of infection

There are a number of strategies that Nexus International School (Singapore) employs to reduce the spread of infection amongst our community. Breaking the chain of infection is more successfully achieved when Learners, Parents and School staff work in collaboration with each other.

Within the school the practice of good hand hygiene through hand washing and use of alcohol based hand rubs is widely encouraged. Learners are taught correct hand washing techniques in classrooms, and both verbal and visual reminders are given to assist good practice. Parents are in prime place to reinforce good hygiene practice within the home.

Prevention of illness is important in all age groups, but particularly with young people. Immunization is an effective method of reducing the incidence of contagious illnesses within school age children. Immunization records are requested from all parents when learners are admitted to the school. Learners attending the school come from a wide number of nationalities, and immunization schedules differ between countries. The large variety of vaccine schedules may have an impact on ‘herd immunity’ within the school population. Vulnerable people such as those with respiratory and cardiac conditions may be at greater risk from some communicable diseases. It is important to note that vaccinations for Diphtheria and Measles are compulsory by law in Singapore. If you would like advice on the vaccination schedule for Singapore, please see either your Family Doctor or the School Nurses who will be pleased to assist you.

A number of infectious diseases share similar symptoms, for example; a rash may present in Chicken Pox, Hand Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD), Scarlet Fever, Impetigo, Typhoid and non-specified viral infections. Fever can be present in any bacterial or viral condition including Chicken Pox, Influenza, Typhoid and Scarlet fever. Diarrhoea and vomiting are frequently seen in Influenza, Typhoid and Gastroenteritis. The symptoms described in the infection control guidelines are frequently seen in a number of different conditions. Parents are requested to keep sick children at home; to reduce the spread of infection, and aid recovery from illness.

Yearbook Photos Coming Up

School photos for the Yearbook will be taken in the last week of Term 3, from 18 to 22 March. Please ensure that your child is in school that week.