SAFETY

Please be aware we have had children with -Impetigo,  Vomiting & Gastroenteritis

Impetigo

What is impetigo? 

Impetigo is a bacterial skin infection caused by Streptococcus and Staphylococcus bacteria. It is commonly known as ‘school sores’ because a majority of cases are in school-aged children. However, it can also affect infants, adults and adolescents. Uncomplicated impetigo does not cause permanent damage to the skin, but is highly contagious. 

What does it look like? Impetigo occurs in two forms, blistering and crusted. In blistering impetigo the blisters arise on previously normal skin, and rapidly grow in size and number. The blisters quickly burst and leave slightly moist or glazed areas with a brown crust at the edge. The spots expand even after they break open and can be many centimetres wide. They sometimes clear in the centre to produce ring shaped patterns. They are not usually painful, but can be itchy. Crusted impetigo has a thick soft yellow crust. Beneath this crust is a moist red area. Crusted impetigo spots grow slowly and are always smaller than the fully developed spots of blistering impetigo. They are not usually painful, but can be itchy. Impetigo can occur on top of other skin conditions, particularly itchy ones. When the skin is scratched the infection can enter through the broken skin. Some of these conditions are atopic dermatitis (eczema), scabies, insect bites and head lice. In cases where a larger area of skin is affected, patients may also have a fever, swollen lymph nodes or feel generally unwell. 

How is it diagnosed? Your doctor may diagnose impetigo based on a visual inspection of the blisters/ sores, or by taking a swab to test for bacteria and check which antibiotic to use. The result of the swab takes several days. How is it treated? Depending on how bad the infection is, your doctor may recommend the use of an antibiotic ointment or oral antibiotics in severe cases. Antibiotic ointment should be continued until the sores have completely healed. If oral antibiotics are given it is important to finish the whole course of treatment (usually 5 days) and not stop when the impetigo starts to clear. Sores should be cleaned every 8 – 12 hours, dried thoroughly and covered with a waterproof dressing. Bathing the blisters with salty water will help to dry them out (use saline solution or dissolve about half a teaspoon of salt in a cup of water).

How is it spread? Impetigo is very easy to catch from other people. Impetigo is usually spread through direct contact with other infected people. The bacteria primarily enter through damaged skin. People with conditions causing long-term damage to their skin, such as eczema or atopic dermatitis, are at greater risk of infection. How can you avoid spreading the infection? While you have the infection: · Sores should be kept clean and covered with a waterproof dressing to prevent them being touched or scratched. · Used dressings should be placed in a sealed bag and put in the garbage bin as soon as they are removed. · Hands should be washed thoroughly with soap and running water for 10 – 15 seconds after sores are touched or redressed. · Children with impetigo should be kept home from school or other group settings if their wounds cannot be kept covered until 24 hours after antibiotic treatment has been started, or until the blisters have dried out if antibiotics are not used.

Vomiting & Gastroenteritis

What is Norovirus infection? 

Norovirus infection causes gastroenteritis (disease of the stomach and intestines). Norovirus infections are highly contagious and are a leading cause of gastroenteritis in Australia and worldwide. Outbreaks occur in residential care facilities, hospitals, schools and child care centres. Outbreaks can occur at any time of the year but are much more common during winter. 

What are the symptoms? Gastroenteritis caused by norovirus usually starts suddenly and causes vomiting and watery diarrhoea. Vomiting can be frequent and is more common among children. People may also have nausea, fever, stomach pains, headache and muscle aches. People, particularly young children and the elderly, can become dehydrated. Symptoms usually begin between 24 and 48 hours after exposure to the virus and can last for one or two days. 

How is it spread? Noroviruses are highly infectious and are spread from the vomit or stool (faeces) of an infected person through: · direct contact with vomit or stool of an infected person · person-to-person contact, for example shaking hands with someone who has been sick and has the virus on their hands · contaminated objects · contaminated food or drink -oysters and other shellfish can sometimes become contaminated with norovirus from dirty water · airborne particles when people vomit. People are usually infectious from the start of their symptoms until at least two days after the symptoms stop, but some people may remain infectious for up to two weeks after they have recovered. Good hygiene standards, including frequent hand washing, are very important during this period.

COVID 19 March 2021                                                          Update from Catholic Schools NSW

Attendance 

Parents are asked to inform the school if their child is absent from school. Please contact the school by phone call, note, email or responding to the SMS sent home on the day of absence. 

Being on time for school is really important. At the beginning of the day, teachers set the plan for the day and give reminders. We ask that families make every effort to be on time. Students who arrive after the bell must sign in at the Front Office so our attendance data is accurate.

Students Arriving Late or Leaving School Early

PLEASE NOTE that all students arriving late, or being collected early for an appointment, MUST REPORT to Mrs Pittman at the Office to be signed in or out by a parent /guardian.

Unwell students

It is very important for unwell students to stay at home until they are better. If your child has any symptoms of a cold or flu then they should stay home until the symptoms have ceased. A general rule of thumb about whether you should send your child to school is as follows:

• If you have to give your child Panadol or Nurofen for a fever today, they should STAY AT HOME
• If your child has a hard cough, constant runny nose, sore throat or swollen glands THEY SHOULD NOT BE AT SCHOOL
• If you have given them Panadol or Nurofen in the morning to get them “through the day” THEN THEY SHOULD NOT COME TO SCHOOL
• If your child has vomiting and/or diarrhoea today, they should not come to school for 48 hours AFTER SYMPTOMS HAVE RESOLVED

Please do not send your child to school if they are still unwell or recovering from an illness.

Students who are unwell will be sent to the Sick Bay & if necessary parents will be called to collect them.  If your child or a member of your household has been tested for COVID 19 please keep them at home until the test has been returned negative.

Medication 

If your child needs to take medication during school hours eg. antibiotics or antihistamines, a Medical Permission Form is required to be completed and handed into the front office along with the medication.    Please see Mrs Pittman in the Office.

School Hours & Supervision

Teachers commence duty at 8:30am and finish duty when the last bus leaves St Patrick’s approximately 3:10pm.

Supervision begins at 8:30am in the COLA,  School starts: 9am (Bell  - 8:50am)

Recess: 11.00am – 11.30am, Lunch: 1.30pm – 2:10pm  School finishes: 3.00pm.

SCHOOL OFFICE HOURS

The school office hours are 8:30am to 3:30pm

Afternoon Process

Students are dismissed from class at 2:55pm and assemble in the COLA area for messages & dismissal. Students are dismissed at 3pm.

Buses are loaded at 3pm, pickups are taken to the front gate at St Patrick's Church, walkers are seen across  Apsley Street.