TOPEKA, Kan. - Seaman USD 345 is joining the ranks of many other school districts staying in touch with Kansas health officials on the topic of the H1N1 "swine flu" virus.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment continues to provide updates to hospitals, clinics, state and local officials, and schools.

Pleasant Hill is part of the USD 345 district. Teachers from the school said Thursday they have been very well informed by the district, which has information posted on it's website.

Teacher Peggy Kuhn said the kids have learned about H1N1 at school and at home. "We teach the kids to wash their hands, cough into their elbow. We're just trying to keep it calm for them while still acknowledging it's out there," Kuhn said.

Fourth graders Jaycee Sumner and Cameron McCracken understand the virus is serious. "You can die from it," Jaycee said. "It's very dangerous," said Cameron, who added he knows which precautions people should take to lessen their chances of catching the flu. "Stay away from people who are coughing real badly and make sure that you wash your hands."

While they understand - at least on the surface - the gravity of the situation, the students don't seem panicked by the outbreak. Physical education teacher, Jane Hennes, said the situation doesn't have her worried either, but the potential for concern to grow is there.

"But when you see the alert levels get higher and the pictures on t.v. of people with masks over their faces, it's kind of scary. I guess I haven't thought of it impacting us here," Hennes said.

She said she realizes schools can become a problem because of the crowd and close contact students, faculty and staff have with each other, but added that she trusts district and state officials to be on top of the situation. "If we start seeing kids sick I think they'll make the call real quick to stay home and cancel places where people are crowded," Hennes said.