Notices/Reminders

School Tours & Enrolments for 2023

Dates for school tours for Term 3 have been set and published to the community.  Anyone wanting to book a school tour should do so by contacting the school.  

Enrolments for 2023 are open and we ideally like to have enrolment forms submitted by the end of June to assist with planning for the following year.  If you have siblings commencing in 2023, please obtain an enrolment pack from the school office or download the enrolment form from the school website.  When submitting enrolment forms, please attach a copy of the child's birth certificate and immunisation history.

Moving on to Braemar

Could parents who have students moving on to Braemar for Year 5 in 2023 please contact administration here at Newham Primary School in writing to confirm this departure as soon as possible. This will assist us with planning for 2023. Last year we were aware that Braemar made some late Term 4 offers. Please let us know as soon as you accept one of these as well.

COVID UPDATE- SCHOOL OPERATIONS GUIDE 18th JULY

Rapid Antigen Testing

It is recommended that rapid antigen tests are used by students when symptomatic. Household contacts are required to test negative using a rapid antigen test on at least 5 out of 7 if they are attending or working at a school onsite. 

If students receive a positive test result at any time, they must report this through the Department of Health system (Rapid antigen tests | Coronavirus Victoria) or via the coronavirus hotline at 1800 675 398.

Face Masks

It is strongly recommended by the Department of Health that face masks are worn in indoor settings, with face masks mandatory for those aged 8 and over who are household contacts and attending school. This is because the wearing of masks is effective in reducing the transmission of COVID-19.

It is the Department’s expectation that, through to the end of winter, students aged 8 and over and all staff will wear masks when in class, noting that exceptions to the recommendation apply to teaching circumstances when clear communication or when a particular activity requires the removal of a mask.

Masks are not required to be worn outdoors but can be worn when physical distancing is not possible. Household contacts attending school who are over 8 years of age are required to wear face masks indoors unless they have a valid exception.

Current advice from the Victorian government on the wearing of face masks is available here: https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/face-masks

Everyone including students aged 8 years and above must wear a face mask when travelling on public transport (including school buses), taxis or ride share vehicles.

Managing a Confirmed Case of COVID-19 in Schools 

Where a student is identified as a positive case, the following steps should be taken:

1. Parents/carers must complete the Student COVID-19 COVID Test Portal if a student tests positive to COVID-19 (via a PCR or rapid antigen test). 
2. Students who report a positive result must isolate for 7 days and not attend school during that period.
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. Household and household-like contacts are no longer required to quarantine as long as they take additional safety measures in the 7 days that would have been their quarantine period.If household contacts do not undertake the safety measures, they are required to isolate and test on Day one and Day 6 of isolation.  Household contacts are required to inform the school that they are attending during the 7-day period.
4. Covid positive parents/carers are able to leave isolation if other arrangements cannot be made to transport their non-infectious child via private vehicle to and/or from school. The person leaving self-isolation must travel directly to and from the location, making no stops, unless there is an emergency or as required by law. They must remain in the vehicle at all times, unless it is reasonably necessary to leave the vehicle to deliver the person to and from school and must wear a face covering whilst outside the place of self-isolation.
5. Schools will notify the school community when a student or staff member has (or multiple students or staff members) have returned a positive COVID-19 test result and had attended the school during their infectious period
6. Ensure that students refrain from returning to school if they remain symptomatic, unless it is known that their symptoms are ongoing, or caused by an underlying health condition or medication. 
7. School bus services will continue to operate. Bus staff, adult travellers and students are required to wear face masks as is the case for public transport.  
8. Students who are required to isolate due to their positive Covid infection will be supported in the same way as students with an extended absence due to illness or injury, with learning materials available to support their continued learning. Schools are not expected to provide a full remote learning program in these circumstances. DET has also prepared online learning activities that may be useful in instances where families are seeking additional activities and support for individual students’ learning while isolating.

Vaccinations

As part of the COVID-19 vaccination roll-out, all school staff and all students aged 5 and over are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Staff and students are strongly encouraged to ensure they keep up to date with all recommended and available vaccinations as vaccinations are the best way to protect individuals, families, and school communities from the spread of COVID-19.

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. 

Parents & Friends News

Where

Event address for attendees: https://eduvic.webex.com/eduvic/onstage/g.php?MTID=ecd5529393ea1c073b7d37513272b436a

Event number:              2651 204 6927

Event password:           EjSmMUvT742

Who is Dr. Billy Garvey?

Billy is a developmental paediatrician with over 18 years experience working with children in a number of settings. His clinical and research interests include child development and mental health, multidisciplinary collaboration, improving health literacy and promoting community engagement to support all families. Billy holds clinical, advocacy and research roles in government and not-for-profit organisations at a national, state and local level. He is currently undertaking a PhD piloting a model to support child emotional and behavioural development in primary schools and is a Churchill Fellow exploring how social media can be used to support parenting. He is also the co-founder of the Pop Culture Parenting podcast which aims support child development and wellbeing using evidence in a meaningful, fun and realistic way.

Who is Jennifer Dix?

Jennifer is a Clinical Psychologist who has worked for several years in community welfare, specialising in working with children, adolescents and adults who have experienced trauma or are caring for others with a history of trauma. Jennifer has experience in adult inpatient care and community mental health, as well as in facilitating children’s therapeutic groups and parenting workshops. She is particularly passionate about empowering adolescents and young adults to develop the tools necessary to reach their potential.