Cranbourne South Primary School

Safety & First Aid News 

Face Masks

Please see below the  latest advice from the School Operations Guide dated 31st January 2022

 

Please visit coronavirus.vic.gov.au for the latest face mask requirements. 

For all school settings: 

  • School staff will be required to always wear masks indoors when not actively teaching or communicating with students. Masks are not compulsory for teachers and staff outdoors. 
  • Students in Year 3 and above must wear a face mask indoors at school, including specialist schools, and Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) programs, unless a lawful exception applies. Students must wear face masks even if vaccinated. Students are not required to wear masks outside. 
  • Everyone over 8 years old must wear a face mask when travelling to and from school on public transport, taxis or ride share vehicles.  
  • Visitors to schools aged 8 and above must wear a face mask in all indoor spaces, unless a lawful exception applies.  This includes parents who enter the school buildings for drop off and pick up times. 
  • Students in Prep to Grade 2 are strongly recommended to wear a face mask indoors at school or an OSHC program. 

A face mask must cover the nose and mouth. Face shields, scarves or bandannas do not meet these requirements.  

 

There are lawful reasons for not wearing a face mask, including for staff and students who are unable to wear a face mask due to the nature of their disability, medical or a mental health condition. Parent/carers of a student/s who meet the criteria for an exception should provide their approval in writing for their child/ren to not wear a mask to the school.  

 

Outside of lawful exceptions, schools should treat any deliberate and persistent non-compliance with the face masks direction as a serious matter. Usual school procedures for dealing with non-compliance with school rules should be followed, in the same way that school uniform enforcement is dealt with.  

PPE and face mask supplies in schools   

  • Encourage students, staff and contractors/visitors to bring their own face mask and provide enough single-use face masks for staff, students or visitors who do not have their own or for masks that get damaged/soiled or require replacement. 
  • Student masks can be provided although supplies are limited.

Vaccinations for children aged 5 to 11

It’s been really fantastic to see such excitement around the return to school and we want to keep it that way. A crucial part of that is getting as many students vaccinated as possible.

 

Alongside ventilation and other vital COVIDSafe steps such as regular rapid antigen testing, supporting as many students as possible to be vaccinated will help make our school as safe as possible.

 

Bookings for children aged 5 to 11 to receive the paediatric Pfizer vaccine are open and we encourage parents and carers to get your child vaccinated, if you haven’t already done so. The Pfizer vaccine is safe and recommended for children. The vaccine will help protect your child from getting sick from COVID-19, help to reduce the spread of COVID-19, and help ensure kids can have more time at school and playing with their friends.

 

Vaccinations for children aged 5-11 years old are delivered at 2 appointments, 8 weeks apart. Children with specific medical vulnerabilities can access their second dose 3 weeks after their first dose.

 

If you’d like more information about this, you can read a recent statement from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI): https://www.health.gov.au/news/atagi-update-following-weekly-covid-19-meeting-19-january-2022

 

To book an appointment 

 

You can book at your local GP or pharmacy: https://covid-vaccine.healthdirect.gov.au/booking 

 

You can also book at a family-friendly vaccination centre by calling the Coronavirus Hotline on 1800 675 398.

 

You can also make vaccination centre bookings for your children online, though you will need to use an email address that has not been used in the system before: https://portal.cvms.vic.gov.au/

 

Helping children to get their vaccination

 

Vaccination centres understand that children may feel anxious about vaccination or have other support needs. A range of options are available to help children get vaccinated. 

 

Please discuss your child’s needs with the vaccination centre when you book an appointment.

 

Appointments are also available at Aboriginal Controlled Community Health Organisations. 👉 Find out more about vaccination for kids: https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/vaccination

Third dose vaccination requirements for parents and carers

The COVID-19 Vaccinations – Visitors and Volunteers on School Sites requirements have been updated.

From Tuesday 15 March 2022, parents, carers and other adult visitors (excluding students who visit a school to complete a secondary school subject) who enter school buildings must have had their third dose of COVID-19 vaccine or have a valid medical exception. 

Parents, carers and other adult visitors attending school sites for drop-off and pick-up who do not enter school buildings do not need to comply with vaccination requirements.