COVID-19 UPDATE

A timely reminder to families running into the holiday period, COVID-19 numbers appear to be increasing in our community.  To keep our community safe prior to the end of Term 4, we ask all families to be please be respectful of the guidelines that are set out to protect our most vulnerable.

Staff, contractors and volunteers:

• Who test positive to COVID-19 are strongly recommended to isolate for five (5) days;
• Must not attend a DOSCEL workplace, including a DOSCEL school, for five (5) days from the date they received their positive rapid antigen test (RAT) or PCR test result;
• Report their positive test result to the school;
• Who are symptomatic but have not tested positive should not attend school until their symptoms resolve.

It is strongly recommended that students:

• Who test positive to COVID-19 should stay home and isolate for five (5) days;
• Should not attend school after (five) 5 days if still symptomatic;
• Who are symptomatic but have not tested positive should not attend school until their symptoms resolve;
• Parents, guardians or carers advise the school of the COVID-19 positive test result.

To assist with limiting the spread of COVID-19 and other illnesses, parents, guardians and carers should be strongly encouraged to ensure that their child(ren) remain at home if they are unwell, including if they have tested positive to COVID-19.

The Department of Health also recommends that face masks should be worn by a person who is a close contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 when leaving home.

Additionally, the Department of Health recommends that face masks should be worn by a person who has COVID-19 for 10 days after a positive test when they need to leave home. This includes when attending school.

Rapid Antigen Testing

It is recommended that rapid antigen tests (RATs) are used by students and staff when symptomatic.

The Department of Health recommends that all Victorians should report their RAT result to the Department of Health online, or by calling 1800 675 398.

Staff and students continue to be required to report a positive COVID-19 test result to their school on the day they receive a positive test result.

Management of Unwell Students and Staff

Staff and students who are displaying symptoms of COVID-19 should be recommended to undergo testing for COVID-19.

Parents, guardians and carers of students who are displaying symptoms of COVID-19 should be asked to collect their child from school and to keep them home until they are no longer symptomatic.

Staff who are unwell should not attend the workplace and should remain at home until their symptoms resolve.

Medically Vulnerable Students

Schools must ensure students with medical needs have an up-to-date health plan and accompanying condition-specific health management plan (such as an Asthma Action Plan), based on medical advice from the student’s medical or health practitioner, and consultation with the student and parents, guardians and carers.

Responding to A Confirmed Case and Household Contact Students

If a student receives a positive test result at any time:

1. Parents, guardians or carers should advise the School.
2. Parents, guardians or carers are recommended to register a positive Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) result on the COVID-19 Positive Rapid Antigen Test Self-Reporting Form available on the Coronavirus Victoria website as soon as possible.
3. Students who test positive to COVID-19 are recommended to isolate for a minimum of five (5) days and not attend school until their symptoms have resolved. Students who isolate as a result of a positive COVID-19 test should be supported in the same way as students with an extended absence due to illness or injury, with learning materials provided to support their continued learning.
4. Where a student is a household or household-like contact of a positive case (that is, they have spent more than four hours with someone who has COVID-19 inside a house, accommodation, or care facility) they should inform the school that they are attending during the seven-day period.
5. Household and household-like contacts are not required to quarantine and are recommended to undertake additional safety measures in the seven days that would have been their quarantine period, including:

• • undertake daily rapid antigen testing five times within the seven days
  • wear a face mask indoors (if aged eight (8) and above) unless a lawful exemption applies.

Positive Case Community Notifications

There is no longer a requirement for principals to inform the school community of a positive case associated with the school.
Schools must treat health information, including an individual’s diagnosed medical condition (including positive COVID-19 test results) in accordance with the DOSCEL Privacy Policy. COVID-19 diagnoses are not to be shared or discussed unless the individual (or their parent, guardian or carer) provides consent, or unless schools are legally obliged or authorised to do so with the authorisation of DOSCEL.

SCHOOL SUMMER UNIFORM

A reminder to all parents that children should now be wearing full summer uniform and the expectation is that students have all black shoes, not runners with white or coloured logos. If your child has grown out of their school shoes could you please send a note to your child’s class teacher and please replace them within a couple of days.

HEAD LICE AT SCHOOL

As we have come into the warmer months we have had some cases of headlice within different levels at our school.

To stop a severe outbreak could all student with shoulder length or longer hair please use a hair tie as outlined in our summer uniform policy, and could we ask all students to refrain from sharing hats.

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.