Catch Knowledge Not The Flu! By: Rachel Arrey 

As temperatures drop and classrooms are filled with coughs and sniffles, this year's flu season is affecting students and teachers heavily. There has been a heavy rise in flu cases urging schools to remind students and their families about the importance of vaccines and hygiene. At Hillgrove High School, more students are experiencing fever, fatigue, and sore throats, which are common symptoms. Influenza spreads easily through sneezes, shares surfaces, and close contact. Simple measures such as washing hands, covering coughs, staying home when sick, and getting an updated flu shot can make a beneficial impact. Hillgrove is taking extra precautions to stay healthy and increasing efforts to promote wellness and reduce the spread of illness throughout the campus.

Flu season can be seen as something that looks usual during fall, but it can disrupt learning, sports, and social activities. By staying informed and prepared, students can help keep classrooms healthy throughout the season. Ugochi, a student at Hillgrove High School, shares her opinion on the rise of the flu this school year. “I feel like everybody should just wash their hands thoroughly, use hand sanitizer, um, like keep their personal stuff to themself, like, don’t use somebody's water bottle, or like don’t "waterfall" from somebody's water bottle because it could get you sick. “Ugochi’s habits reflect responsible hygiene and awareness which are essential to keeping both herself and her classmates healthy. “I also make sure to take a lot of allergy medicine, and I make sure I wash my hands often, and make sure that I'm not touching a lot of dirty stuff in my environment.”

Overall, flu season serves as an important reminder of how quickly sicknesses can spread in our busy school environment. With students, teachers, and faculty sharing classrooms, materials, and activities every day, it only takes a few germs to affect many people. Staying proactive with healthy habits is vital to keeping everyone happy. When everyone contributes to creating a healthier environment, it not only reduces the number of absences, but it also keeps our school community stronger and more focused on learning.