Covid-19 and Flu season

Masks and Sanitiser are provided in all classrooms at Caulfield Junior College.

Please see the below text regards the encouragement of mask wearing at schools.

Dear parents and carers,

We are writing to you as parents/carers of a child or children in government, Catholic and independent schools across Victoria. The Victorian Department of Health strongly recommends that face masks are worn in indoor settings. As a result, we are asking all students aged 8 and over and all staff in all schools across Victoria to wear masks when in class (except where removing a mask is necessary for clear communication) from now to the end of winter. Students won’t be required or expected to wear masks when outdoors, and this expectation won’t stop student participation in the full range of school activities, including music, sport and performances. We are asking for your support in explaining to your child or children the importance of this simple step that will help keep our schools as safe as possible. 

We also ask that you make sure your child (or children) takes a mask to school (and wears it if they are travelling on public transport) or collects a mask when they arrive at school. We all appreciate how important it is for students to be back at school. This action will help make sure as many students and staff as possible are protected from COVID and other winter illness.  Thank for your help with this collective effort to keep our communities safe and healthy. 

Dr David Howes - Deputy Secretary Victorian Department of Education and Training

Michelle Green - Chief Executive  Independent Schools Victoria

Jim Miles - Executive Director Catholic Education Commission of Victoria 

Managing colds, flus and Covid at school

Dear parents and carers,

I am writing to inform you about the impact of influenza (flu) among our school community and measures we can all take to reduce the spread of flu as we enter into the colder months.

I want to reassure you that we are taking this very seriously and continue to follow the expert advice of the Department of Education and Training and Department of Health, to help ensure that our school continues to run effectively.

To help protect our school and the wider community, we ask that unwell students stay home, given the impacts of flu and colds on our school community.

To help reduce the spread of flu, colds and COVID-19, students are being encouraged to:

• wash and sanitise their hands regularly
• avoid touching their eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
• cover their nose and mouth when they cough or sneeze * get tested for COVID-19 if they feel unwell and follow the current Department of Health isolation requirements if a positive result is shown
• if unwell, stay at home until their symptoms pass.

Face masks are available in all schools and can be worn by any staff or students who wish to do so, including those who are medically at risk.

Vaccination remains the best protection against both COVID-19 and flu, and we encourage you to get your child vaccinated. Flu vaccinations can be booked through GPs and pharmacies, many of which can also provide COVID-19 vaccinations.

Please see the letter from the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, Victoria Faculty Council Chair, about the importance of protecting your children and family.

If your child does become sick while at school, please also ensure that we have correct emergency contact details for yourself. This is so we can get hold of you as quickly as possible.

I am aware that this is a challenging situation and we thank you for your understanding and support at this time.

If you have questions about what this means for our school, please feel free to contact our school office.

Thank you again for your support.

Yours sincerely

Chris Chant, Principal