05-05/Terrier-ific

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2009/05/04/2009-05-04_st_francis_prep_reopens_classes_monday_a_week_after_school_closed_over_swine_flu.html

St. Francis Prep reopens classes Monday, a week after school closed over swine flu cases
BY Barry Paddock, Joe Kemp and Samuel Goldsmith DAILY NEWS WRITERS
Tuesday, May 5th 2009, 6:30 AM
St. Francis Prep students head back to class Monday, a week after school was closed because of swine flu.
Students and teachers streamed back to St. Francis Preparatory School Monday, 11 days after swine flu canceled classes and sent panic throughout the Queens school.
"We're feeling awesome," said Daniela Serringer, 15, who spent last week afraid she'd come down with the virus like so many of her friends.
The Fresh Meadows school was meticulously cleaned, washing away her fears along with the germs in her classroom.
"I really trust the school," Daniela said.
Workers at St. Francis spent days sanitizing the building from floor to ceiling, even scrubbing the ventilation system that pumps air through the building.
"I'm just delighted, and thank God, that we're getting back to normal at some point today," the school's principal, Brother Leonard Conway, said.
Still, 204 of the school's 2,700 students called in sick.
"The vast majority of calls were from parents who said, 'Just to be on the safe side, I'm keeping them out for another day or two,'" Conway said.
Mayor Bloomberg welcomed students and staff back to the epicenter of swine flu in the U.S. As many as 1,000 people have been sickened and 45 diagnosed with the virus at the school.
"It's always good to be back with your friends and get back to studying," Bloomberg said over the intercom shortly after the opening bell. "I'm sorry for anyone that got sick, [but] it turns out the flu was not that serious."
The number of confirmed swine flu cases in New York went up to 90 Monday after 17 suspected cases of the virus were confirmed, Gov. Paterson said.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Monday that closing schools in swine flu outbreaks doesn't effectively halt the virus' spread.
The Federal Trade Commission warned consumers to stay away from fraudulent swine flu remedies being advertised on the Internet that could actually harm you.
Colloidal silver, a mineral supplement that some believe has healing properties, is being hocked online as a cure, but the drug is not recommended or approved by the FDA.
A bag of "baphicacanthus root" was touted on eBay as "the best drink to prevent Swine Flu" because it removes "toxic heat" from the blood.
"There is no competent and reliable scientific evidence to support [such] claims," said FTC spokeswoman Betsy Lordan.
Globally, the number of swine flu victims topped the 1,000 mark as the United Nations most senior health official warned a second wave of the virus in the coming months could be far more .

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2009/05/04/2009-05-04_st_francis_prep_reopens_classes_monday_a_week_after_school_closed_over_swine_flu.html#ixzz0EdQ8ugND&A

Class President Phil Paparella stood with Mayor Bloomberg after the announcement for photos. Unfortunately, the PA was still on when this was overhead...
"Bloom, here's how its going to happen. You're going to set me up with a nice job in the city, a place on the upper west side, and lots of broads to canoodle with."
"And what do I get in return?"
"The football team's vote for your next election."

Life was carrying on for the rest of the largest co-ed Catholic High School's student body. As 1700 females prepared for their day at school, FC and CK were spotted sitting next to each other in the corner of the cafeteria having a bagel eating contest.

Steve Famoso, who was in the cafeteria since 6:15, saw the two and opted to sit with Dave and have a staring contest.

ck