PORTLAND, Ore. -- Summer break at the Catlin Gabel School in Southwest Portland started one day early after an eighth-grader was found to have the swine flu.

All first through eighth grade students were told not to come to class Friday. The school, at 8825 S.W. Barnes Road, also cancelled graduation for the fifth and eighth grades, which they call "promotion."

“A significant number of fifth graders were out with flu like symptoms, and the student that has the H1N1 is an eighth grader,” said Karen Katz, communications director for Catlin Gable School.

The school used an emergency communication system that simultaneoulsy emails and phones parents with messages.

 Also: First swine flu death in Oregon

The email said, “At this time, health officials are not recommending school closures for individual cases of the H1N1 virus; however, we are acting prudently based on the confirmation and the very significant number of children who are sick in the lower and middle schools,” wrote Palma in the email.

Earlier this week, the World Health Organization officially declared the swine flu as a pandemic, calling it unstoppable. The number of cases worldwide is nearing 30,000, with at least 140 deaths.  It is the first pandemic in more than 40 years.