I mousied on over to my school's website where I saw this on the 'News' section:

"Swineflu newsletter sent out to all parents; to view this online click here.."
So I clicked and it had things like "Should your child develop any symptoms please keep him/her at home untill symptoms no longer persist."

First, Has swineflu actually got this dangerous?
Second, How many people do you reckon will use this as an excuse for days off?
(I would, but I gots a day of football tomorrow which idhave to be paid to miss.)

Well you can't just use swine flu as an excuse to take off school because your parents would be required to give a doctors. Excuse stating that you had the swine flu from whatever date and then usually an expected return date.
Parents can usually write (or at least in the old days) a letter saying they were absent for two or three days but needed a doctors excuse for any more than that.
With swine flu I am sure you would be out more than two or three days anyway.
Also if you are going to be out more than a few days they will have your homework assignments given to you in advance so you would be expected to have them all caught up when you went back.