Important Information for the Start of 2022

Welcome Back!

We hope that this newsletter finds all of our CNPS students, staff and families well and that you have all had a relaxing and enjoyable school holiday period. We are extremely excited to start a new year of school and welcome our students and families back onsite on Tuesday 1 February.

First Day of School for Students Years 1 to 6 - Tuesday 1 February

Start of the Year Dates for Foundations 2022

Term 1 Curriculum Days

On Friday 28 January our staff will be participating in a curriculum day covering the following agenda items:

• Welcome back and outline of the direction for CNPS for 2022.
• Acknowledgement of Country - staff will be participating in a workshop where they will be writing their own personal Acknowledgement of Country. This is part of the work our school has been doing within the Reconciliation Action Plan.
• ASD Workshop - conducted by Regional Support Staff
• An outline of the School Review Process and essential information for starting the school year.

On Monday 31 January all staff will be participating in First Aid Training and other information sessions outlining processes at CNPS.

2022 Staff

Staying COVID Safe at CNPS

We are aware you will have lots of questions about the return to school and practical covid-safe strategies given media reporting in the last week. We have in place 14 air purifiers throughout the buildings and we are waiting on supplies of more rapid antigen tests and additional masks from the Department. We hope that the following information assists our community in understanding the precautions that we will be taking to keep our students, staff and families safe.

Victoria’s Back-To-School plan

The measures set out in the Victorian Government’s Back-To-School plan will ensure every possible effort is made to ensure staff and students are safe and that schools remain open.

The plan maintains the importance of the 3Vs: Ventilation, Vaccination and Vital COVIDSafe steps and introduces some new measures.

Rapid antigen testing

Free rapid antigen tests will be made available for all staff and students in Victorian schools for the first 4 weeks of Term 1 2022. Rapid antigen testing will be voluntary for all primary, secondary and specialist school students and staff.

Distribution of test kits to schools

The Department has distributed some of the expected rapid antigen test kits to our school for the commencement of Term 1 2022. 

Rapid antigen test kits will be distributed to CNPS families on Monday 31 January. 

• Families with their surnames commencing A-K can collect the kits from the school assembly area between 2:00 pm and 2:30 pm. 
• Families with their surnames commencing L-Z can collect the kits from the school assembly area between 2:45 pm and 3:15 pm. 

Twice-a-week testing will be strongly recommended for both students and staff. 

Students and staff will do the tests at home; they only need to report their result if it is COVID-positive. They must report a COVID-positive result to:

• the school by phone or the RA Test Portal; this is so the school can support them, record that they 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.
• the Department of Health via the COVID-19 Positive Rapid Antigen Test Self-Reporting Form or call centre on 1800 675 398.

Information about how to do a test and how to read RAT results, including a how-to video translated into 33 languages, is available online.

COVIDSafe Plan

The Safety Management Plan for COVID-19 (COVIDSafe Plan) applies to all schools, outlines the key health and safety risks, and links to the latest guidance. 

The COVIDSafe Plan has been updated to align with the changes to the advice set out in this Operations Guide. Schools must ensure that a copy of the COVIDSafe Plan is available to provide to any Authorised Officers or WorkSafe Inspectors who request a copy.

Student attendance 

All students are expected to attend onsite unless they are formally registered as being home-schooled. Parent preference is not an approved reason for students to be absent due to COVID-19. 

Students who are required to isolate or quarantine will be supported in the same way as students with an extended absence due to illness or injury, with learning materials provided to support their continued learning. Schools are not expected to provide a full remote learning program in these circumstances. 

QR codes and visitors to schools

The use of Service Victoria QR codes for electronic record-keeping continues to be mandatory in all schools.  

Vaccination requirements

Parents and carers must have had two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine or have a validmedical exception (with limited exceptions) to enter school buildings. 

All staff working in schools need to be fully vaccinated or have a verified medical exception. 

COVID-19 vaccinations for students are not required for them to attend school but vaccination for students is highly encouraged. If your child has not yet had their first dose, please try to organise this before the term begins. 

For more information on how to book a vaccination, including important information about vaccination for children aged 5 to 11, visit Vaccination information for children and teenagers. 

Ventilation

We will also make sure that classrooms are well ventilated by opening windows and doors, to minimise the risk of infection. We have received 14 air purifiers, which will be used around the school as an added safety measure.

Vital COVIDSafe steps

Hand hygiene, mask wearing, and social distancing will continue wherever possible in Term 1.

CNPS Baby News

Congratulations to Mary and her partner, Tom who welcomed baby Bobbie D’Cruz Roberts, on Monday 3 January. Mary reports that, “she’s a dreamy, spunky, gorgeous little gal and she can’t wait for cuddles with the CNPS fam soon!” 

Rachel Corben, Erin Brown & Jane Bilby