Castlemaine Secondary College News

Repeat Notices

COVID INFORMATION

General Covid Protocols

Throughout every school day the following protocols will be applied:

  • Students wearing face masks whilst indoors (not required outdoors).
  • 1.5m physical distancing to be adhered to where practical. 
  • Hand sanitiser will be available in all rooms.

Students who provided medical certification for a mask exemption will be provided with a mask exemption pass during the first week of school. Additional students who are eligible for an exemption must provide a medical certificate to the College’s Reception and a mask exemption pass will be provided.

 

Visitors to the College

All visitors to the College must show proof of vaccination status on arrival, which includes attendance during Mentor Interview Day. All visitors must also complete a QR code check-in. QR codes will be located on entry points to the Reception, the Library and all Precincts. Families should be aware that these regulations are mandated by the DET and we must operate within these guidelines. 

 

Air Purifiers

The College received 71 air-purifiers and these have been set-up in all classrooms and some common area spaces. We will maintain these devices in accordance with DET requirements and change filters as needed.

 

Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs)

The Department of Education (DET) will be delivering RATs to the school. Once they arrive, we will communicate with families on how these will be distributed. RATs will be the responsibility of students and their families to conduct at home, with students being asked to conduct 2 tests during the school week. More information and instructions on how to complete RATs are available online in this DET site with instructional video.

 

Signs and symptoms at school

Any student who shows signs or symptoms of Covid19 whilst at school will be asked to make their way to the College’s Reception, and they will be then taken to the First Aid room. Their family will be contacted and asked to collect them as soon as possible. Signs and symptoms include the following; fever, chills or sweats, coughing, sore throat, shortness of breath, runny nose and loss or change in sense of smell or taste.

 

If symptoms are caused by an underlying health condition or medication we ask families to please provide an appropriate medical certificate.

 

Positive test result

If a student returns a positive test result the following steps must be followed:

  1. Parents/carers should complete the RAT Test portal if a student tests positive to COVID-19 via a rapid antigen test. Students (or their parents) must also report a positive result to their school, either through the VicEd COVID portal or by phone or email castlemaine.sc@education.vic.gov.au.The school will record that the student will be absent while in 7-day isolation, and let the rest of the school community know there has been a positive case onsite and that they should monitor for symptoms.
     
  2. Students who report a positive result must isolate for seven days and not attend school during that period. Students should also not return to school after 7 days if they remain symptomatic. 
     
  3. Where a student is a household contact of a positive case (that is, they have spent more than four hours with someone who has COVID-19 inside a house, accommodation, or care facility) they must inform the school and isolate for seven days and not attend school during that period.

All students and staff who return a positive result from a rapid antigen test should also follow the latest advice at https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/rapid-antigen-tests.

 

Notification to families of positive result

When a student or staff member has (or multiple students or staff members) have

returned a positive COVID-19 test result and have attended the school the College will notify families of this situation.  The notification will include:

  • dates of attendance
  • affected group/cohort/year levels
  • any relevant extracurricular activities

 

Bus Travel

Bus staff, adult travellers and students are required to wear face masks in accordance with health directions.  School bus services will continue to receive additional cleaning at the completion of each journey to maintain a clean bus fleet. Students are not required to check-in via QR code when travelling on private school buses or disability transport services. 

 

Camps and excursions

Camps and excursions are permitted to proceed ensuring they can be conducted in a Covidsafe manner and we have staff available to provide the appropriate supervision ratios according to the DET guidelines.