Principal News

Dear Sacred Heart School Community

Firstly I would like to express my appreciation for the the understanding of our parents and guardians these past two days in what has been a challenging time for all. I would like to thank the parents who have had their children tested and in some cases themselves. The great news is that all our staff who have tested, have returned negative results and all students so far have also reported a negative result.

Very importantly, I would like to report that our student with the positive result has not displayed any symptoms and is behaving like any normal six year old. A phone call today from his grandfather ended with "it's going to be a long fourteen days in isolation" as the little boy is oozing energy.

At about 2.00pm this afternoon, I was contacted by my regional manager from MACS, to say our school can reopen tomorrow for those students whose parents are permitted workers. At this stage I have not been contacted by DHHS and are receiving directions from MACS, my employer.

Unfortunately those students who attended school last Friday and were in the Year Prep/One group with our positive student cannot return to school tomorrow and Friday even if they have returned a negative result. Our four staff  including myself who were in contact with our student are also not allowed into the school for the next two days. I apologise for this but are confident you will understand the reasons for this decision from MACS.

When I am given the information about when the affected year prep and one students can return, I assure you I will let you know. 

When I contacted MACS on Monday evening to alert them of our positive student, I was the eleventh principal in the northern zone to do so in three days. Can I assure all our parents and guardians, that I am fortunate to be in a school where all our staff have had at least one vaccination and nearly all both. We will continue to put in place all the protocols and procedures we can to keep our students safe. However we also understand that the virus is rampant in our community and that there will be children who will be carrying it. In the event of another positive case, we will continue to be guided by MACS to minimise any affect on our students safety and wellbeing.

Please take care

Regards

Mark

Yours sincerely,

Mark Tierney

Principal

Sacred Heart School