Covid-19 Update

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The Premier and Education Minister made some significant announcements on Sunday, 23rd January in relation to the start of the school year. Some of the key points are as follows:

Rapid Antigen Tests

Staff and students are asked to undertake rapid antigen tests at home twice a week.
We have been advised that the Department will be providing rapid antigen test kits to the school in the next few days. We will advise you as soon as the tests are available for collection.
Tests will be provided in packs of 5 individual tests, which will be distributed during week one and then again during week 3.
Information about how to do a test, including a how-to video translated into 33 languages, is available online.

Confirmed cases of Covid-19

If a student tests positive to COVID-19 (via a PCR or rapid antigen test), parents/carers should complete the form on the Department of Health system or via the coronavirus hotline on 1800 675 398.
Students (or their parents/carers) must also report a positive result to the school, either through the VicEd COVID portal or by phone on 5945 1433 or written notification; this is to ensure the school can support the student, 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.
Students who report a positive result must isolate for seven days and not attend school during that period.
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.
Students are to refrain from returning to school if they remain symptomatic, unless it is known that their symptoms are caused by an underlying health condition or medication.

Face Masks

Students must wear a face mask indoors at school, unless a lawful exception applies. Students must wear face masks even if they are vaccinated.
Students are not required to wear masks outside.
Visitors to the school aged 8 and above must wear a face mask in all indoor spaces, unless a lawful exception applies.
A face mask must cover the nose and mouth. Face shields, scarves or bandanas do not meet these requirements.

Vaccination requirements for parents, carers and other visitors to the school

All parents, carers and other visitors attending schools, including for drop off and pick up must adhere to physical distancing, density limits and face mask requirements.
Parents, carers and other adult visitors attending school sites for drop-off and pick-up who do not enter school buildings do not need to comply with vaccination requirements.
Parents, carers and other adult visitors who enter school buildings must check in using the QR code and the school must sight vaccination information; 2 doses of COVID-19 vaccine or a valid medical exception is necessary, with the following limited exceptions:
- when attending to administer medical treatment to their own child when the treatment cannot be administered by the school
- when attending to collect their child who is unwell and cannot leave the school building unaccompanied by their parent/carer
- when attending for a momentary period that does not involve any sustained contact with staff or students, for example, to collect a completed art project or similar.
When parents and carers do not meet vaccination requirements, the school will hold meetings and other discussions (such as Student Support Group meetings) virtually.