CHICKENPOX OUTBREAK AT ST ITA’S

Please find below a summary of our discussion regarding the exclusion of cases and contacts of chickenpox at school/childcare centre. I have also linked the relevant legislation and factsheets, and vaccination advise to distribute to parents and staff.

EXCLUSION:

• Legislated under the Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2019 (Schedule 7) - link provided below
• Cases of chickenpox in primary schools and children’s services centres must be excluded until all blisters have dried. This is usually at least five days after the rash appears in unimmunised children but may be less in previously immunised children. Note that some remaining scabs are not a reason for continued exclusion. Cases in secondary school are recommended to be excluded as above, but there is no statutory exclusion.
• Child contacts with an immune deficiency (for example, leukaemia) or receiving chemotherapy should be excluded from school or children’s services centre for their own protection. Otherwise, contacts are not excluded.

INFORMATION:

• Provide health information regarding transmission, signs and symptom prevention and treatment, refer to Chickenpox factsheet – link provided below
• All parents and staff should be alert to the potential for exposed (especially unimmunised) children to develop illness 2-3 weeks following exposure and to exclude them at first sign of illness.
• Pregnant or immunocompromised staff who could have been in close contact with the cases should seek advice from their GP.

VACCINATION:

• Vaccination reduces the likelihood of chickenpox infection and can lessen severity of the disease. Vaccination of exposed persons during outbreaks has shown to prevent further cases and control outbreaks.
• Identify and record details of non-immune children and staff (i.e., those who have never had chickenpox illness or are unvaccinated for chickenpox).
• In outbreak settings (2 cases within 21 days at the school), recommend vaccination for all non-immune children and staff in the same classroom (if cases are confined to the same classroom) or same year level or entire school/childcare centre (if cases are in multiple classrooms).
• A second dose of a varicella vaccine is recommended for children under 14 years of age who have received only one varicella vaccine. The second dose provides additional protection and minimises the risk of breakthrough varicella. However, a second dose of a varicella vaccine for children is not funded on the National Immunisation Program. Parents and careers should discuss this option with their GP.
• Post exposure vaccination should be administered within 5 days, and preferably within 3 days, after exposure.
• Immunosuppressed people or pregnant women should not be given the varicella vaccine, and anyone receiving the vaccine should avoid becoming pregnant for at least 28 days after vaccination.

 For further information please refer to the following links:

• Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2019 school exclusion table https://www.health.vic.gov.au/infectious-diseases/school-exclusion-table
• Chickenpox information sheet Better Health Channel https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/chickenpox
• Chickenpox – immunisation sheet Better Health Channel https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/chickenpox-immunisation

ST ITA’S MOBILE PHONE AND SMARTWATCH POLICY

Last week we finalised our student Mobile Phone, Smart Watch Policy for parents and students to sign off on. We sent the policy home to parents and students via hard copy to review, discuss and sign. This is an important policy to have in place in our school due to the legal ramifications that can occur with social media devices like Mobile Phones and Smart Watches and is designed to so that all students feel safe at St Ita’s. If your child has a mobile phone or a smart watch at school could I please ask that you read the policy with your child and support them to understand why we have it in place at St Ita’s. The policy is outlined below for everyone in our learning community.

CLASS STRUCTURES FOR 2023

Class structures for 2023 have now be finalised, and will be as follows;

• 3 x Foundation
• 3 x Grade 1
• 3 x Grade 2
• 5 x Grade 3-4
• 4 x Grade 5-6

We are currently in the planning process of allocating staff into the various grade levels, and we will inform our parent community in the coming weeks of final staff placements for 2023.

WHOLE SCHOOL APPROACH TO POSITIVE BEHAVIORS AWARD

Commencing from our next assembly, we will be replacing the Student of the Week Award with the Whole School Approach to Positive Behaviours (WSAPB) Award. Children who consistently display Teamwork, Resilience, Respect, Inclusiveness and Compassion in their daily schooling will be nominated by the teachers and peers and the School Executive will select 1-2 students each assembly to be the recipient.