7 July 2009

Dear Parent/Carer

As you are no doubt aware there are increasing numbers of cases of swine flu being diagnosed across the country. I thought I would take this opportunity to share with you the advice we have been given by the Health Protection Agency and other local health services about dealing with any cases we may have in the school.

In line with the current treatment only policy in the UK, school closures and the distribution of antiviral medicines for prevention are no longer normally recommended due to the virus being widespread within the community. This means that people are likely to be repeatedly exposed to the virus in their every day lives so such precautions would now be ineffective.

The most important advice we have been given is that parents of children who have signs and symptoms of swine flu are asked to keep their children away from school until they have recovered and are free of symptoms. If children are prescribed antiviral drugs for treatment, they should also stay at home until they have finished the course. This is to avoid spreading the infection as much as possible. If anyone is concerned about flu-like symptoms they should phone their GP or NHS Direct on 0845 4647 for further advice.

There are various measures that people can use to reduce the spread of infection. General infection control practices and good respiratory hand hygiene can help to reduce transmission of all viruses:

• Covering your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, using a tissue when possible.
• Disposing of dirty tissues promptly and carefully.
• Washing your hands frequently with soap and water to reduce the spread of the virus from your hands to your face or to other people.
• Cleaning hard surfaces (such as door handles) frequently using a normal cleaning product.
• Making sure your children follow this advice.

Further information is also available on line on www.nhs.uk, or through the Swine Flu information line on 0800 1 513 513. Alternatively, on the Health Protection Agency's website at www.hpa.org.uk/swineflu.

Yours sincerely

Neil Morrison
Headteacher

It was cold and raining hard on the night of Fauré's Requiem, a perfect fitting for the dramatic piece being put on by Hexham's Queen Elizabeth High School orchestra and choir.

Requiem, written by Gabriel Fauré in 1887, was a piece intentionally written to avoid the operatic style of the day that was viewed 'right and proper'. The QEHS team did him proud that night. Looking immaculate in the spectacular surroundings of Hexham Abbey, they managed to put across a confident and technically wonderful show under the careful direction of conductor and Head of Music, Martin Hoile.

The choir soloists helped make the evening even more stunning. Michael Ronan, Claire Le Tissier and Conor Cook all left the audience in no doubt about their abilities as singers and they were fantastically backed by the orchestra, led by Aiden Berry and trained by Pete Seago. The force of the choir was another high point of the night; the strong harmonies reverberating round the massive structure of the Abbey gave an amazing sound.

Topping it off, the astonishing sound of the organ provided the perfect backing to the orchestra and choir, completing the night. It seemed that all the hard practice of the choir and orchestra had really paid off as the audience showed their appreciation at the end, the faces of the QEHS team breaking into wide smiles as they turned to their neighbours before applauding the soloists and conductor.

"I was really pleased with the overall result", said Martin Hoile. "The prospect of performing with choir and orchestra in the Abbey had appeared daunting at first but it came out well in the end. Many thanks to all the performers and to Michael Haynes who played the organ for us."

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