community
Flu Season
Hillel Day School handles virus outbreak with fast action.
Ronelle Grier
Contributing Writer
A
n outbreak of stomach flu
believed to be norovirus affect-
ed an estimated 25-30 students,
a teacher and a handful of siblings fol-
lowing an eighth-grade Shabbaton that
took place Feb. 27-28 at Hillel Day School
in Farmington Hills.
Parents began comparing notes on
Twitter and Facebook after several chil-
dren who attended the Shabbaton began
experiencing symptoms usually associ-
ated with stomach virus the next day.
Food poisoning was originally suspect-
ed as the cause of the illness until one
of the affected students was diagnosed
with norovirus, a highly contagious and
common cause of gastroenterological
symptoms such as diarrhea, nausea and
vomiting.
According to Head of School Steve
Freedman, administrators sprang into
action as soon as they became aware of
the illness, consulting the school's medi-
cal committee as well as the Oakland
County Health Department.
Emails were sent to parents of students
in the eighth-grade class, including a link to
a fact sheet about the virus and a reminder
about the importance of hand washing. The
school was also cleaned extensively once
the illness was discovered.
Elana Lofman of Farmington Hills,
whose daughter Sami came down with
the virus, believes the school staff acted
quickly once they became aware of the
problem.
Lofman, who accompanied Hillel
K-8 principal Melissa Michaelson on a
fourth-grade field trip the Monday fol-
lowing the Shabbaton, said Michaelson
spent much of the day on the phone
communicating with staff members and
parents to determine the best way to
handle the situation.
There was some initial confusion
about how long the children should
remain home from school, but Hillel
administration sent an email mid-week
JVS To Host Trade Secrets On March 18
M
elanie Bergeron, chair of Two
for her family. Sheets launched a small
Men and a Truck, will share
moving business with an old green pick-
her trade secrets of success
up truck left behind by her husband.
at JVS' seventh annual
As her business steadily
Trade Secrets fundraiser
grew, she awarded the first
Wednesday, March 18.
franchise to her daughter,
More than 400 people
Melanie Bergeron, who now
are expected to attend the
serves as chair of the board
event at 6 p.m. at Knollwood
of directors and has helped
Country Club in West
build the company into an
Bloomfield. Proceeds will
international corporation
benefit the JVS Women to
with more than 1,900 trucks
Work Program, which helps
and 300 locations worldwide.
women reinvigorate and
During the event, Stefanie
reinvent themselves through
Steinberg of Waterford, a
career counseling, computer Melanie Be rgeron
Women to Work graduate, will
training and job search
be honored with the JVS Women
strategies.
to Work Award for successfully retooling her-
In her keynote address, Bergeron will
self to re-enter the workforce.
relate her family's story, which mirrors
Women to Work helps those who need
immediate employment after drastic life
that of many Women to Work partici-
pants. Divorce left her mother, Mary
changes, such as divorce or the death,
disability or unemployment of their
Ellen Sheets, scrambling to provide
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26 March 12 • 2015
spouse or partner. The program includes
individual and group support, job search
assistance, financial education and other
services to help participants overcome
challenges, build self-confidence and
become successfully employed.
"After completing the program, 85
percent of participants are employed or
enrolled in further training or educa-
tion," said Judy Richmond, Women to
Work coordinator.
"The program has changed the lives of
thousands of women and their children,
making a cross-generational differ-
ence for families throughout southeast
Michigan?'
Cheryl Margolis, Liz Elkus and Shayna
Silverman are co-chairs of the event.
For ticket and sponsorship informa-
tion, visit www.jvsdet.org/tradesecrets
or contact Fran Victor, chief develop-
ment officer, at fvictor@jvsdet.org or
(248) 233-4290.
informing parents the school would
follow the policy established by the
Oakland County Health Department,
which recommends waiting 48 hours
after symptoms have subsided before
returning to school or participating in
extracurricular activities.
Freedman said it was difficult to esti-
mate how many students were affected
by the virus because some students were
kept home as a precaution.
"We've had years that were much
worse Freedman said.
Outbreaks of norovirus have since been
reported in other schools in the area,
including North Farmington High School
and Longacre Elementary School.
❑
Volunteers For Israel
Names Coordinator
Carol Kent, co-regional director for
Volunteers for Israel Great Lakes region
with Paul Matlin and Ed Kohl, has
been appointed ambassador coordina-
tor for the region. She will oversee
the recruitment of volunteers and the
ambassadors that recruit volunteers in
Michigan, Wisconsin and Indiana.
Sar-El/Volunteers for Israel volun-
teers spend two or three weeks work-
ing at Israel Defense Forces bases and
warehouses replenishing medical and
field supplies or servicing vehicles and
equipment for the soldiers. The pro-
gram offers a way to contribute to Israel
in a very direct way, using volunteers
from age 17 through senior citizens.
For information, contact Ed Kohl,
(248) 420-3729, michgan@vfi-usa.org;
or Carol Kent, (248) 865-8580,
carolkent@ aol.com ; or visit the VFI-
USA website, www.vfi-usa.org .
❑
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