COVID Update

Dear parents and carers,

Welcome to Term 3! We hope that everyone had a relaxing and enjoyable break. 

As we head into another term, we continue to implement Covid Safe Measures to help prevent the spread of illness and keep everyone in our school community safe. Please read the following information carefully, and contact the school should you have any questions. 

Face Masks

The Victorian government’s current advice recommends people over 8 years of age wear a face mask in indoor settings, including at school. 

We will be encouraging students to wear a mask while indoors at school. We have a supply of masks readily available in each classroom and will ensure that any children wishing to wear a mask are supported to do so.

Anyone (8 years and older) who is a close contact must wear a mask indoors unless an exception applies. 

Wearing a face mask can help protect you, your child/ren and those around you. Face masks stop droplets spreading when people talk, cough, sneeze and laugh, which lowers the chance of spreading or catching the virus. This information is especially important for those who are medically at risk.

For more information about face mask requirements, visit the Coronavirus website. 

Rapid Antigen Tests

Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) will continue to be available in our school in Terms 3 and 4.

RATs continue to be required by students who are household contacts to attend school (5 negative tests over a 7 day period) or who have symptoms. 

The ongoing supply of RATs to families in our school will ensure that parents and carers will have them should they need them if their child is a household contact or has symptoms. 

These will be distributed once they arrive. 

Notification of Positive Result and Household Contacts

Families must continue to notify the Department of Health and the school (Buninyong.ps@education.vic.gov.au or call 53 413 560) if their child returns a positive RAT result or if any of your children are household contacts.

This is so the school can record that they will be absent while in 7-day isolation, provide support and learning materials as needed, and let the relevant classes in the school community know there has been a positive case onsite and that they should monitor for symptoms.

Vaccination

Thank you also to all families who have got their child vaccinated. 

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) has updated its recommendations around fourth doses of COVID-19 vaccination. From Monday 11 July 2022, people over 30 years will be eligible for a fourth dose. ATAGI recommends that people aged 50 to 64 years should have their fourth dose, while those aged 30 to 49 years may choose to have a fourth dose. For further information see the ATAGI website. 

Getting vaccinated is easy and bookings can be done via the coronavirus website. If you have any questions about the vaccines, I encourage you to speak to your GP or a health practitioner. 

Thank you again for your ongoing cooperation and support during this time.