Newsletter

Covid Updates

It’s been fantastic to see such excitement about the return to school and we want to keep it that way. Maintaining Covid safe practices at school will ensure we keep our students  as safe as practically possible.

Our current guidelines are in place for the first four weeks of school. Revised updates will follow from the government, dependent on how Covid is impacting schools across the state.

Rapid Antigen Tests

Thank you to those families who collected their first box of RAT's last week. A second box will be available for collection from the office next week. Parents are asked to continue testing their children twice a week before coming to school. We will leave it to parent discretion as to which days they test their children. If you are unable to come into the school office to collect another box of test we would ask that you contact the office and we make alternative arrangements to get them to you.

Learning Grids for Students in Isolation

Over the coming term/s it is expected that some families will continue to be affected by Covid and the need to isolate. Isolation may be required because a student is a close household contact or has the Corona Virus themselves. 

Our present Operation Guidelines indicate that when students are in isolation, the school provides some learning activities, not a full Home Learning program. So when a student is in isolation at home the school will provide an optional Learning Grid with a bank of activities for them to complete.

In distributing these grids we would like parents to keep in mind;

  • Ensuring rest and recovery for the family members affected is a priority. If a student is unwell with Covid at home we do not expect that the tasks are completed.
  • The learning grids are not mandatory
  • Teachers will aim to set the tasks as independent activities however we acknowledge that some students may require some extra guidance from home.
  • The tasks set will not involve new learning but will compliment the learning in the classroom.

Vaccinations

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, reduce the spread of COVID-19, and ensure kids can have more time at school and playing with their friends.

 

Vaccinations for children aged 5 to 11 years old are delivered at two appointments, eight weeks apart. Children with specific medical vulnerabilities can access their second dose three 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): www.health.gov.au/news/atagi-update-following-weekly-covid-19-meeting-19-january-2022.

 

To book an appointment

You can book an appointment 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 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 is 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 Community Controlled Health Organisations.

 

Find out more about vaccination for kids: www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/vaccination-information-children-and-teenagers.