Health and Safety News
Child Safe: Talking to your child about COVID-19
Don’t be afraid to discuss COVID-19 with your children. Most children will have already heard about coronavirus. Parents and carers should take the opportunity to talk to them about the current situation.
Honest and regular communication is key. Not talking about something can make children worry more.
Children often rely on their friends and social media for the news. Parents and carers can help by positioning themselves as a trusted source for information and as a person who can help children with their questions.
‘Stay at home when unwell and get tested’ policy
It is important to note that rapid antigen testing does not replace PCR testing for the purpose of diagnosis of COVID-19 in children, staff and students, regardless of their vaccination status.
Staff and students should adhere to current school policy and public health advice. Anyone unwell must remain at home and get tested for COVID-19 with a PCR test, even with the mildest of symptoms, regardless of a negative rapid antigen test result.
Management of COVID 19 in schools
Victorian Government have made changes to how schools need to respond to COVID19 cases. Please see the following link for all up to date changes
https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/management-coronavirus-schools
Up to date COVID Information for parents and caregivers
https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/education-information-about-coronavirus-covid-19
Masks in schools
Face masks will now only be required by staff, visitors and Grades 3 to 6 students in an indoor space within a primary school (or schools which have primary students such as P-12 school).
The wearing of masks remains recommended for Prep to Grade 2 students and in circumstances where physical distancing cannot be maintained.
While these changes will require another adjustment to school operations, they will considerably simplify the management of contacts and will enable more students to return to onsite learning more quickly.
Changes to how COVID 19 cases are managed in schools
Based on advice from the Victorian Chief Health Officer, some significant changes have been made to how cases of COVID-19 and contacts of cases are managed in schools as we reach the 90% double dose milestone for eligible people in the coming days. For more information, please see attachment.