Especean

Deputy Principal

I trust you have had a good break and enjoyed some quality time with your son/s. As a community, we are keeping those who have been affected by floods towards the start of the holiday period in our thoughts and prayers. As we begin Term 3, I thought I would reinforce a few reminders as outlined in my letter sent to all families last week.

COVID-19 Update

As we return to school, there is an upward trend in cases of COVID-19 and influenza in the wider community.

 

Accordingly, parents and carers are asked to be vigilant for symptoms of contagious disease, particularly influenza and COVID-19. Rapid Antigen Home Tests (RAHT) should be used and any student displaying symptoms should be kept home from school. If your son has persistent symptoms and still tests positive on the RAHT, it is strongly recommended that he obtain a definitive PCR test instead. They now give results for Influenza A and B in addition to COVID-19 which will give you peace of mind.

 

Yesterday, we sent RAHTs home with your son/s and we are expecting to send more home later this term if needed.

 

This Friday 22 July, we will hold our first full School Assembly for Term 3 online to mitigate a large gathering of students and staff.

 

If your son tests positive over the weekend, please advise Dr Lavorato at principal@spc.nsw.edu.au in addition to logging his absence via the Parent Lounge. 

 

If someone else in your family tests positive to COVID-19, your son will be deemed a close contact and should wear a mask indoors for five days from the day of the reported infection. Again, please advise the College by emailing Dr Lavorato at principal@spc.nsw.edu.au. We often have to remind boys of this mandate and knowing his status assists all of us to minimise the risk of transmission. 

 

We expect face masks to remain a Public Health Order requirement on all public transport for all over 12 years of age; this includes buses, trains, and ferries. 

 

The principle behind the Public Health Order is to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all who use public transport. Parents and carers are asked to reinforce the importance of this requirement. 

 

We strongly encourage any students (and staff) who choose to wear a mask while at school to do so. This may be for several reasons, including having family members who are immunocompromised or being a household contact of someone in the family who has COVID-19.

 

Key points to remember if a student tests positive to COVID-19:

  • You must notify NSW Health and the School via principal@spc.nsw.edu.au
  • The student must isolate for seven days and can return to school after that if they are symptom free.
  • Seek medical advice if you have any concerns regarding your son’s health and ongoing symptoms.
  • The student does not need to re-test before returning to school.
  • The student is not required to test again within the next four weeks in the event of exposure, unless they have new symptoms.

Key points for Household Contacts attending school:

  • Household contacts are not required to isolate at home.
  • Are required to complete daily Rapid Antigen Home Tests when coming to school or engaging in school related activities.
  • Wear a mask in all indoor settings while at school.
  • Monitor for symptoms and stay home if unwell.
  • If your son is unwell with symptoms of COVID-19 or presents with any flu-like symptoms, please ensure that he does not come to school and that you seek and follow medical advice. If he becomes unwell during the school day, you will be called by Student Services to collect him.

Traffic Management and Transport Procedures and Expectations

To ensure the safety of members of the community and taking into consideration our neighbours, parents and carers are reminded to follow the guidelines below when dropping off and picking up students before and after school:

  • Between the hours of 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM, the ONLY place where students can be picked up and/or dropped off is along the Fraser Street ‘Kiss and Drop’ area.
  • You must line up in Shortland Street along the side of Breen Oval. If you approach Fraser Street travelling east along Shortland Street, you SHOULD NOT TURN RIGHT. Please continue along Shortland Street to Francis Street and go around the roundabout and join the line travelling west towards Shortland Street. I would ask that you support the community by following these directions.
  • Do not ‘double park’ or stand your vehicle in this zone from 8:00 AM – 9:30 AM and 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM.
  • Ensure that the driver does not alight from the vehicle while in the zone.
  • Ensure that passengers enter and disembark from the vehicle via the KERB side door, preferably the rear door. Items should not be collected from the boot.
  • In the afternoon, if your son is not there you are required to move off, do a lap of the block and join the end of the queue.

In relation to students catching buses from the College:

  • Students should be in possession of a valid OPAL Student Pass, ensuring that they are ‘tapping’ on and off when travelling.
  • Students should not be catching the public bus (407 Burwood to Strathfield) prior to 4:00 PM.  

I often write about these reminders in the Especean due to the fact that there are parents in the community that continue to ignore these directions, even as recently as this morning, and place themselves above the needs of the greater community, including our neighbours.

 

Adrian Byrne

Deputy Principal