Changes to mask wearing

From 11:59pm Friday 22 April 2022, face masks are not required in any school setting.

This means students in grades 3 to 6, staff and visitors in primary schools are no longer required to wear face masks. Any student or staff member who wishes to wear a mask may do so.

Rapid Antigen Test Program

The rapid antigen test (RAT) program for schools has been extended for the first 4 weeks of Term 2. Tests were distributed via your child's classroom teacher last week. If your child was absent and you require a test kit, please contact the office to arrange collection.

Household contacts (close contacts)

Students and staff who are household contacts of a COVID-19 case are no longer required to quarantine.

They can return to school as long as:

they undertake rapid antigen tests (RAT) 5 times within their 7-day period
wear face masks indoors if they are aged 8 and above, unless they have a valid exemption.

Students who return a positive RAT result during this period must isolate for 7 days and not attend school.

Update to testing and screening requirements for students and staff

Students and staff who have tested positive for COVID-19 and have completed their 7-day isolation period now do not need to undertake RAT screening for 12 weeks from the end of their isolation. This period was previously 8 weeks.

Vaccinations for Visitors

Parents, carers and other adult visitors are no longer required to show evidence of 2 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine if not performing work or volunteering at the school. Information about vaccination requirements for volunteers is available at COVID-19 Vaccinations - Visitors and Volunteers on School Sites.

Symptoms

The best tool we still have to manage the spread of Covid remains isolating when we have symptoms related this disease.

https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/symptoms-and-risks#what-are-the-symptoms-of-covid-19

The symptoms to watch out for are:

fever
chills or sweats
cough
sore throat
shortness of breath
runny nose
loss or change in sense of smell or taste.

Some people may also experience headache, muscle soreness, stuffy nose, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.

Please, do not send your child to school if they display these symptoms. If students present at school with these symptoms the current advice for a symptomatic person in the community who is experiencing Covid-19 symptoms should undertake a Covid-19 PCR test as soon as possible.

I fully understand for families managing work commitments that having to continually leave work or take time of work can be frustrating. However, we need your support in managing the prompt collection of students if they do display the mentioned symptoms at school. This can also be a timely reminder for families to have up to date Emergency Contact details. If parents are at work we will happily use an emergency contact to collect students. Simply put students who display symptoms related to Covid-19 as listed above are not to attend school.

What to do if you test positive

A COVID positive result must be reported 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.

Vaccination for 5 - 11 year olds

COVID-19 vaccinations for students are not required for them to attend school but vaccination for students is highly encouraged. Please read the attached letter from the Department of Education Victoria which includes information about vaccination for children aged 5 to 11 and how to book a vaccination.

Ventilation

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

Important Links

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Victoria

Managing COVID at home

Your COVID Checklist | Coronavirus Victoria

Reporting a Positive Rapid Antigen Test

Financial and other support for COVID-19 | Coronavirus Victoria

Coronavirus Hotline - 1800 675 398

eSmart

App Checklist for Parents