Well, we have certainly felt the pinch of the COVID-19 Coronavirus at St Ita’s this week with numerous staff and students absent for 7 days. The rapid spread rate and the impact it had on those who contracted it was seriously frightening in how quickly it took hold of both kids and adults.

For this reason, it is vitally important that parents understand we are obligated to provide a safe work environment for all our students and staff onsite. My main role is to make sure we manage the situation here on site, so that we maintain staff health for our teachers to keep our school operational.

It is vitally important that children are kept home if they are displaying any symptoms at all of CoVID-19 or influenza. We are getting a few children returning to school after being absent due to illness, still presenting symptoms of the illness which cannot happen. In this situation, the school will be in contact with parents to come and collect their child.

We will continue to work our way through this situation with a strong focus on making sure both children and staff safety are at the core of all we do. Please keep those who have contracted COVID-19 in our prayers and we hope that they get through their illness safely.

I’d also like to thank all the staff and students at St Ita’s who have been so flexible dealing with role changes, late changes, adjusted learning and going the hard yards. We are truly blessed to have such a cohesive group of teachers in our learning community.

Regards

Andrew Osler