Atkinson Academy Closed Friday by Gastrointestinal Illness

An elementary school in the Timberlane Regional School District will be closed Friday thanks to a spike in gastrointestinal illness.

A message from the school said that 125 students, or one-third of the enrollment, was either home sick or sent home on Thursday. The decision was made to cancel classes for the day Friday as a result.

Classes are being held as usual Friday at all other schools in the Timberlane district.

Atkinson Academy has an enrollment of 346 in pre-kindergarten through 5th grade as of the 2021-22 school year, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

According to the CDC, gastrointestinal illness is the inflammation of the stomach and the small and large intestines. The main symptoms include vomiting and watery diarrhea.

Other symptoms may include fever, abdominal cramps, nausea, muscle aches, and headache.

It is spread by touching handrails, elevator buttons, shared utensils, and other people while they are ill. Infections that cause gastroenteritis can also be spread through contaminated food or water, according to the CDC.

Frequent hand washing and keeping your hands away from your mouth are ways to reduce the chance of getting sick.

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com or via X (Twitter) @DanAlexanderNH