Hospitals all over our area are seeing lots of people who think they may have swine flu. Many of them are children out of school. One school district in central Pennsylvania is helping kids keep up online.
At the Danville Area High School attendance is down for this time of year. Concerns over the H1N1 flu and other illnesses are taking a toll in the classroom. Teachers and staff said the students who are staying home will not be left behind. Thanks to new technology they can log on and keep up with their studies.
"They are up to speed. They are not coming back and missing work. They are missing the time in class. They still have to get that information but at least they are coming back and keeping up with the homework," said Craig Burger, Danville Area High School principal.
Each teacher in the Danville Area School District has a website. On it students can find lessons and homework posted.
"We update them everyday or every week. And students or parents can just go online and check out what's going on in class if they are not here in person," said social studies teacher Melissa Boonie.
This year the H1N1 virus has hit this area hard. Pediatric Chairman at Geisinger Medical Center Dr. Michael Ryan said he seen nearly five times more patients this year than years past. He said they all have the swine flu.
"The consequences of a pandemic are it usually has three waves. So we saw a wave in the spring time. We are certainly seeing a wave now and we'll see a wave next year sometime, probably the March, April time frame. It will be back," said Dr. Ryan.
Despite the prediction Burger said he's confident his students will be able to stay on track with their school work.
"The students can keep right on task and it helps with the teacher too because the student can come right back they don't have to make up material," added Burger.
At the Danville Area High School attendance is down for this time of year. Concerns over the H1N1 flu and other illnesses are taking a toll in the classroom. Teachers and staff said the students who are staying home will not be left behind. Thanks to new technology they can log on and keep up with their studies.
"They are up to speed. They are not coming back and missing work. They are missing the time in class. They still have to get that information but at least they are coming back and keeping up with the homework," said Craig Burger, Danville Area High School principal.
Each teacher in the Danville Area School District has a website. On it students can find lessons and homework posted.
"We update them everyday or every week. And students or parents can just go online and check out what's going on in class if they are not here in person," said social studies teacher Melissa Boonie.
This year the H1N1 virus has hit this area hard. Pediatric Chairman at Geisinger Medical Center Dr. Michael Ryan said he seen nearly five times more patients this year than years past. He said they all have the swine flu.
"The consequences of a pandemic are it usually has three waves. So we saw a wave in the spring time. We are certainly seeing a wave now and we'll see a wave next year sometime, probably the March, April time frame. It will be back," said Dr. Ryan.
Despite the prediction Burger said he's confident his students will be able to stay on track with their school work.
"The students can keep right on task and it helps with the teacher too because the student can come right back they don't have to make up material," added Burger.
