Engagement and Wellbeing
Update on Coronavirus
As you are aware, the Coronavirus outbreak from Hubei Province in China is still a high risk to the Australian community and as such the Department of Health and Human Services has issued the following statement relating to managing the disease:
“As of 1 February 2020, the case definition for a person suspected to have contracted novel coronavirus has been expanded. Any person who has an acute respiratory infection and has been in mainland China or has had close contact with a confirmed case of novel coronavirus in the 14 days prior to onset of illness should be tested for the infection.
As a precaution, people who have been in mainland China (excluding Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan) are advised to self-isolate if they were in mainland China on or after 1 February 2020, when the risk of human to human transmission across many provinces of mainland China was identified to have significantly increased.
If a person who has been in mainland China on or after 1 February 2020 begins to feel unwell and develop shortness of breath, a cough or respiratory illness during the 14 days since they were last in mainland China, they should seek medical attention. Call ahead to your GP or emergency department and mention your travel to mainland China.
The Australian Government has announced travel restrictions and has advised that visitors from mainland China who are not Australian citizens or permanent residents or their dependents will not be allowed entry into Australia. The Australian Government has also recommended that Australians should not travel to mainland China at the current time.
Call the Department of Health and Human Service’s dedicated hotline on 1800 675 398 if you develop these symptoms. This hotline is serviced by Nurse-on-Call.
Please keep Triple Zero (000) for emergencies only.
For more information visit:
Better Health Channel - Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV)
The World Health Organization page on the Novel Coronavirus outbreak “
As a school, we are asking that any families who have travelled to China to contact the school via phone to speak with a principal and must not send their child until clarification has been sought on their circumstances. In addition to this, staff will be working with students on appropriate hygiene strategies and some helpful posters are currently being displayed around the school. These posters can be accessed via the links below for your reference and use at home:
Wash your hands regularly poster
Cover your cough and sneeze poster
Further factsheets for your reference can be accessed at:
Novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) factsheet for Victorians - updated 1 February 2020 (Word, 52.54 KB)
Novel Coronavirus factsheet for school students and children (Word, 45.36 KB)
Novel Coronavirus advice for Victorians poster (PDF, 1.81 MB)
Home Isolation Guidance - Australian Federal Government (PDF, 152.16 KB)
High Risk Medical Student Meetings
Over the next 2 weeks families with students with high risk medical needs will be contacted to review and update health plans for their child. If you have a child with a high risk medical need (Anaphylaxis, Diabetes, Heart Condition, Epilepsy, etc) please be prepared to come along with updated medical advice from your health professional in order to make the plan as effective as possible. Thank you!
Hours of Supervision Reminder
A reminder to all of our families that our hours of supervision are between 8:45am and 3:45pm each day. To ensure child safety, we ask that you do not leave your children unattended outside of these times.
If you require additional supervision outside of these hours, please contact Mel in the office (03) 5341 3560 to discuss our Outside of School Hours Program (Base1270) for before and after school care.
Asthma Plans
Please ensure your child's Asthma plan is in date
Our school is requesting that those families who have students who are at risk of Asthma, to please provide a current (2020) Asthma Action Plan from Asthma Victoria as soon as possible (in line with our school’s Asthma policy). If you have indicated that Asthma is a medical condition on your child’s enrolment, please expect to receive some correspondence soon as to ensuring all of your child’s medication and plan is in date.
Did you know?
That allergies to rye grass can make people susceptible to thunderstorm asthma? If you would like to have your child tested for asthma and allergies, you can do so by contacting UFS Bridge Mall and asking for a bulk-billed asthma allergy test.
If you are unsure of your child’s current plan and its expiry, please contact Mel in the office who can advise if you need to make any changes.
Parent Liaison Person… Are you interested in becoming the link between home and school?
At Buninyong we have our PLP program functioning with the aim of strengthening the partnership between home and school. Through various feedback forums, we also aim to increase the effectiveness of communication as well as creating opportunities for our parents and families to contribute to the broader school community.
Our teachers are now seeking the support of at least one parent to take on the role of PLP for their class. The role generally entails:
- Representing your child’s class at each of the PLP Meetings (2 per term)
- Supporting new families to connect with others in their classroom
- Assisting teachers to organise events and activities that are inclusive of all members of the classroom (Helper roster, catch ups, play dates, etc)
- Supporting major event development throughout the year.
If this is something that may interest you, please read a bit more about the program below and contact your child’s teacher as soon as possible.