SCHOOL NEWS

WHOOPING COUGH

We wish to advise that we have had a confirmed case of Whooping Cough in the Castle Unit. Whooping Cough (Pertussis) is a bacterial infection of the nose and throat and is spread by respiratory droplets. The illness often begins with cold-like symptoms of runny nose, watery eyes, low fever and general unwellness, although symptoms can differ from person to person. After 3-7 days a dry cough develops and can be present for many weeks and last for months. Prolonged fits of coughing occur, immediately followed by a deep breath in, resulting in the typical whoop-hence the name whooping cough. Some may even vomit due to coughing. Whooping cough is highly infectious. The incubation period (time between becoming infected and developing symptoms) is most commonly 7-10 days. The infectious period is when the cold like symptoms occur in the early stages. A person with whooping cough is to be excluded from school until 5 days after starting antibiotic treatment. If not treated, they should be excluded for 21 days from the start of symptoms. Diagnosis is made by a doctor either by testing the mucus from the nose or throat or by blood test. Anyone with suspicious symptoms should see their doctor.

Sally Slattery

Principal

RIGHT BITE

At Hackham East PS we follow the SA Right Bite Food and Drink standards and in line with this allow only water in student drink bottles to be consumed throughout the school day.

Please support us with this by ensuring children do not come to school with cordial or similar in drink bottles.

NEW LAWS REGARDING SMOKING AND VAPING

From 1 March 2024 new regulations will extend the smoke-free and vape-free areas to within 10 metres of site boundaries.

This includes:

•  School drop-off and pick-up zones that are within 10 metres of the school fence, gate or boundary
• Footpaths, roads, public nature strips and public recreation areas that are within 10 metres of a school boundary.