Polo Community Unit School District No. 222
Dr. Kelly Mandrell, Superintendent
September 3, 2025
Hand, Foot, and Mouth
This notice is to inform you that the Illinois Department of Public Health has notified us that there has been an increased incidence of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD) in Illinois and nationally, including our community. Polo Schools only have a small number of cases at this time, however we want to make parents aware of what this is and what to do if your child contracts this virus.
CAUSE: Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease is a common illness in infants and children caused by a group of viruses called enteroviruses.
SIGNS/SYMPTOMS: This illness usually begins with fever, poor appetite, not feeling well and often stomach ache. One to two days after the fever, painful sores usually develop in the mouth. A non-itchy rash develops in 1-2 days. The rash has flat or raised red spots sometimes with blisters and is usually located on palms of the hand and soles of the feet. The rash almost always disappears on its own in 4-5 days. A less common strain of this virus can cause a more extensive rash.
HOW THE ILLNESS IS SPREAD: HFMD is transmitted by direct contact with respiratory droplets or feces from the infected person.
INCUBATION: It usually takes 3-6 days from the time a person is exposed for symptoms to develop.
CONTAGIOUS PERIOD: Infected person is most contagious during the 1st week of illness.
EXCLUSION: Exclusion is not mandatory. Children are only excluded for fever over 100.0.
TREATMENT: There is no treatment and disease will resolve on its own. Consult your healthcare provider for treatment of symptoms.
PREVENTION/CONTROL:
1. Careful hand washing practices. Refer to CDC.gov/handwashing
2. Avoid close contact with an infected person if possible.
3. Avoid sharing items that may come in contact with infected child’s saliva.
NEVER USE ASPIRIN-CONTAINING MEDICATIONS TO TREAT VIRAL ILLNESSES
Please contact our School Nurse, Brenda Rhodes, RN with any questions or concerns at brhodes@poloschools.net.
Polo Parents & Guardians, the Safe Routes to School survey has been sent to your email address on file with the district!
Your participation is crucial. Completing this quick survey will directly help the City of Polo and our schools in our effort to secure funding for safer sidewalks and student safety programs. The survey is open until September 8th.
Thank you for your partnership!
The City of Polo and Polo CUSD #222 are teaming up to apply for the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) grant! This grant could provide major funding for new sidewalks, bike lanes, and safety programs to protect our students as they walk and bike to school.
To make our application successful, we need your help! Here’s what to expect:
📧 PARENT & GUARDIAN SURVEY | Sept. 2 - 8 Next week, please check the email you have on file with the school for a short survey. Your feedback is essential data for our grant application!
📸 PHOTO DOCUMENTATION | Sept. 9 A city representative will take photos of areas needing sidewalks to show why this grant is so important. IMPORTANT: These photos are for grant purposes only, and NO student faces will be included. (Rain date: Sept. 10th)
Let’s work together to make our community safer for every student!
The IMPACT Program is a fantastic opportunity for students at Sauk Valley Community College to earn their tuition for any program the college offers. It's designed to reward students for their community involvement and preparedness for college. To earn their tuition through this program, students must meet three main requirements:
Complete 25 hours of volunteer service each year.
Fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) during their senior year of high school.
Complete at least one scholarship application. The deadline for this year's freshmen to sign up for the IMPACT Program is September 1st.
To sign up, visit the official page: IMPACT
Thank you, Flowers, etc. For the kind gesture!
We would like to thank Pastor Suzanne and the Pine Creek Christian Church members for their generous donation of school supplies!
