Principal's Message

Welcome to Semester 2

Welcome back to Term 3 everybody. I trust everyone was able to recharge their batteries and have some down time over the Winter break.   Unfortunately I will be away for the next 4-6 weeks as I am having an operation on my right knee.  As of Monday Mr Dean Lockhart will be the Acting Principal of Wedderburn College assisted by the school leadership team of Mr Danny Fowles, Mrs Lea Humphrey and Miss Amanda Campbell. I wish everybody all the best as we look towards a positive Term 3 and the warmer spring weather. We also look forward to JACKA winning the school sports to claim the House trophy.

Keep reading compass, the school calendar of events and the school newsletter to keep informed. Should you need to make contact or arrange an appointment with any staff members please call the school on 5494 3011 from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. 

I look forward to being back at school ASAP!

Cafe Opening

Last Thursday we were able to officially opening the new Wedderburn College Cafe. A huge thanks to everyone who assisted us with making this project happen. We were able to thank a few of the groups and tradies at the opening. Well done to our students leaders who did a great job of speaking at the event.   A special thanks to Alan, Kylie and Mr Lockhart for all the extra work that they did behind the scenes to make this project happen.   Thanks to the School Council for supporting the project. It was appropriate that Kylie and School Council President Carolyn Stevenson were asked to cut the red ribbon as they are two of our greatest supporters. The new furniture for the Cafe will arrive in the next two weeks which was kindly donated by an ex-student from Korong Vale. The Cafe has already proved to be a special social space for students and was a great space for the VCE/VCAL meeting last week.  The space will now be used as a cafe, training centre and a reward space for SWPBS.  We look forward to more fun social and positive cafe experiences in Term 3. 

Rat Device Testing 

The use of RATs will only be required where staff and children are close contacts (household contacts) or they have symptoms of COVID-19 (such as fever, chills or sweats, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath or a runny nose).

Children and staff will therefore no longer be recommended to conduct RATs twice a week if they have no symptoms. Close contacts will need 5 negative tests over a 7-day period to attend a service. RAT Devices are available from the Front Office. 

We will be continuing to supply RATs for the remainder of 2022.

Thank you for your ongoing support for, and implementation of, these COVID Safe measures.  Please contact the school office if you require further information. 

DET - Face Masks

It is strongly recommended by the Victorian Department of Health that face masks are worn in indoor settings, with face masks mandatory for those aged 8 and over who are household contacts and attending school. This is because the wearing of masks is effective in reducing the transmission of COVID-19.

What does this mean in practice for schools?

It is the department’s expectation that, through to the end of winter, students aged 8 and over and staff will wear masks when in class, except where removing a mask is necessary for clear communication or when a particular activity requires the removal of a mask. Masks are not required to be worn outdoors but can be worn when physical distancing is not possible. This expectation should not constrain student participation in the full range of school activities, including music, sport and performances.

 Please Understand: Schools are not required or expected to sanction students or staff who do not meet this expectation but are asked to communicate this expectation to the whole school community and seek their support for this collective effort.

*'Wearing masks is a simple step we can all take this winter to reduce the number of COVID-19 cases and ensure our schools are as safe as possible.' 

Exemptions for testing and isolation

The period of time when someone is considered a recently confirmed case and therefore exempt from testing and isolation requirements has been reduced from the previous 12 weeks to 4 weeks. 

This means that staff and children who are household contacts of people with COVID-19 are now required to undertake the testing and isolation requirements from 4 weeks after completing isolation with COVID-19. Previously, this exemption period was 12 weeks.

After the 4-week exemption period, students and staff members who are a household contact of a new COVID-19 case, must follow the rules for household contacts, including reporting this to their school.  

As part of this they must take 5 rapid antigen tests (RATs) over 7 days and receive negative test results and wear a face mask (if over 8 years old) in indoor spaces. Families and staff will also have to report being a household contact to their school after this 4-week period.

All the best

Mr Forrest