Can I please ask everyone in our school community to keep the Joseph Family in their thoughts and our prayers, as they try to come to terms with a terrible Family loss.

RESPECTFUL BEHAVIOUR

Today I met with all Grade 5-6 students and talked to them about being respectful, and compassionate of each other in relation to the new Covid-19 vaccination requirements, that state children 12 years and 2 months can now be vaccinated.

Earlier this week, children were participating in conversations relating to their vaccination status, their vaccination intent, and the impact that non-vaccinated students would have on the schools ability to run the Grade 6 Big Day Out, and the Grade 6 Graduation. These conversations should not be taking place at school, these types of conversations can place children in really awkward situations without the sufficient skills to navigate the conversation. These sorts of conversations are invasive and are not respectful of the dignity of each individual.

Our Whole School Approach to Positive Behaviour has 5 pillars (Compassion, Team Work, Respect, Resilience and Inclusiveness) that are their for all in our learning community to follow. It’s during these challenging COVID times that we need to remind ourselves of the importance of respect, compassion, resilience and inclusiveness.

Please continue to pray for those who are unwell with COVID-19 in our community, respect their privacy, and continue to treat them with the dignity they deserve. Stay safe and stay well.

BAW BAW SHIRE

There are currently 65 active COVID-19 cases in Baw Baw being managed by the GRPHU.

Testing opportunities in Baw Baw include;

Lardner Park, drive through, Warragul. 8am – 3pm Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Pre-fill your details using the Testing Registration form https://testtracker.covid19.dhhs.vic.gov.au/citizen-prefill

Warragul Respiratory Clinic, 9am – 5pm weekdays. By appointment for bookings go to:

https://bit.ly/3Fbd8eH

CHANGES TO MANAGEMENT OF COVID-19 CASES AND CLOSE CONTACTS IN SCHOOLS

The Victorian Government has announced important changes to the management of COVID-19 cases and close contacts in schools and other settings effective from 11.59 pm on 18th November 2021.

The most important change is that non-household contacts will now only be required to quarantine until they complete a standard (PCR) test and receive a negative result. The Department of Health (DH) will no longer send a text message to confirm the quarantine requirements of contacts.
This applies to all students and staff who are identified as a school-based contact (formerly primary close contacts or PCCs) and listed on the spreadsheet completed and returned to the Diocese of Sale Catholic Education Limited (DOSCEL) Secretariat following notification of a confirmed case at your school.

All school-based contacts (staff and students) can return to school after they have provided evidence of a negative PCR test to their school.
All contacts should follow the strong recommendation that they complete five days of rapid antigen testing each morning before attending school.
Schools will not distribute rapid antigen testing kits. Instead, these will be available for collection from PCR testing centres at the time a student or staff member attends for the PCR test. Contacts will receive a pack of five rapid antigen tests and should take the test each day before school until they run out.

Any student or staff member who returns a positive rapid antigen test result must notify the school and immediately get a PCR test and remain isolated until they receive a negative result.

In exceptional circumstances, DH may determine that contacts in significant school outbreaks are still required to quarantine for seven days. In this scenario, parents, guardians and carers will be notified directly of any additional quarantine arrangements that apply to their child (ren).

For schools with students and staff who are currently under existing quarantine requirements, the above arrangements apply and they will be able to return to school immediately with evidence of a negative PCR test.

If you have any queries or concerns related to the information above please contact School Admin on (03) 5623 7222 or via email admin@stidrouin.catholic.edu.au

STUDENT VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS FOR SCHOOL ACTIVITIES HELD AT EXTERNAL PREMISES

Clarification has been provided by the Victorian Government regarding the participation of students aged between 12 and 15 who are not fully vaccinated in school activities held at external premises.

Students aged between 12 and 15 who are not fully vaccinated can attend if the premises is being operated only for the purpose of one school using the premises exclusively.

In addition, students aged between 12 and 15 who are not fully vaccinated will be able to attend camps, excursions, graduations and other school activities held at open premises that are also used by other schools or patrons from Tuesday 23 November 2021.

The Open Premises Directions will be amended to reflect this and will be in place from Tuesday 23 November 2021. If you are engaging with venues, you will be able to advise them of these directions.

This exception to the current directions will apply only to school-organised activities when at least one teacher is present.