The Fountain

COVID-19 

Supporting a safe return to school 

In partnership with Catholic Education Tasmania, St Mary's College has provided parents and carers with important information to support their child/ren's safe return to school. 

 

The COVID-19 Return to School | Advice for Parents/Carers document, linked here, outlines mask wearing requirements, expectations for student attendance, plans for online learning and information on rapid antigen testing, as well as recommendations for vaccination and symptom management. 

 

The safety and wellbeing of all in our school community is of utmost importance. We will

continue to keep families informed on COVID-19-related matters and will be sharing information as it comes to hand. Thank you all for your ongoing support and cooperation.

COVID-19 student packs

All students (K-12) will have now received a COVID-19 pack. Included in this pack are two surgical face masks and two rapid antigen tests (RATs) for the use of the student/s and some related information from Catholic Education and the Tasmanian Government, linked here. 

 

Please ensure that your child/ren have handed over their COVID-19 pack/s to you so they can be used if needed. 

 

If your child/ren were absent on the day that these COVID-19 packs were distributed, they can collect their pack/s from the Student Services office. 

Rapid antigen testing 

A rapid antigen test (RAT) is to be used at home when a child is symptomatic or for testing to rule out transmission where a confirmed case/s has been present at school. 

 

If your child develops COVID-like symptoms whilst at school, parents or carers will be asked to collect them and conduct the test at home. 

 

For a demonstration on how to use a RAT, please watch the video here. This website also includes a useful FAQ section. 

Registering a positive RAT result 

If your child tests positive to COVID-19, please ensure you register their RAT result on the Tasmanian Government COVID-19 website. You must also notify the Principal. Your child must isolate at home. 

  • The mandatory isolation period is 7 days. The day on which your child tested positive is counted as day zero.
  • Please inform the Student Services office that your child has tested positive and is isolating at home for 7 days.
  • If you need help with caring for your child during their isolation please call the school, the COVID@home care team on 1800 973 363 or your family doctor.
  • Online learning will be available for your child during home isolation.
  • Your child must not return to school until they are free of cold/flu/COVID-19 symptoms.

Reporting a COVID absentee

If your child has been diagnosed with COVID-19 or has been a close contact of a person diagnosed with COVID-19 and is required to isolate, please email the College at covid@smc.tas.edu.au with the following information: 

  • Your child’s name and Grade/Year level;
  • The last date they were at school; and 
  • If your child is positive or a close contact.

If your child has tested positive to COVID-19, please email a copy of the letter or text message from Public Health advising the date of the end of isolation prior to their return to school to covid@smc.tas.edu.au.

 

If your child is deemed a close contact, please email a photo of the negative RAT taken on the sixth (6th) day of isolation to covid@smc.tas.edu.au.

 

Please note that this process is required in addition to the normal system for notifying a student absence. When notifying of a student absence via the St Mary's College website or phone, please indicate COVID-19 as the reason.

Further resources