Molong Central School Newsletter

From the Principal's Desk

Welcome Back

2020 promises to be an exciting year for learning at Molong Central School. With Kindergarten students starting school this week and Year 7 transitioning into Secondary Education. It is an exciting time for students, teachers and families. It can also be a daunting time as school life has unique challenges for each individual student.

 

During the next few weeks,  families will have opportunities to connect with teachers to gain information to help support their child at school. While these opportunities are offered, teachers are always available should you wish to have an interview, or find out some additional information in person or via the phone. Staff are often busy in the afternoons due to after school meetings and Professional Learning,  so making an appointment with a Primary teacher can be done via the front office.

 

In the Secondary the best first point of contact is the Year Advisor.  Each Year Advisor supports a year group in many aspects of school including wellbeing. Please contact the school on 63668224 should you wish to make an appointment with a staff member.

 

We also have 2 School Councillors available to our students. Elizabeth Sams and  Baden Bogdanovs are our school councillors in 2020. Mr Bogdanovs visits on Mondays' and Ms Sams on Tuesdays'.

 

Welcome to our new staff members

We have a newly appointed Aboriginal Education Officer Katrina Lane. Katrina will be available to support our Aboriginal students and her first task will be introducing herself to families and supporting students through the process of a specialised learning plan, in conjunction with our learning support teachers.

Elizabeth Simpson has been appointed as an Assistant Principal and class teacher of 4 /5 Magenta

(NB: photo not available at time of print)

 

 Laura McKay has been appointed to Molong Central School as a permanent Music Teacher

Lee-Anne Thomas has joined the Mathematics Department for a temporary appointment for 2020

Mitch Akers has a temporary appointment in the Industrial Technology Department for 2020

And we welcome Mrs Nicole Penson to the School Admininstrative Support Staff for 2020

ANAPHYLAXIS INFORMATION

Earlier this week information was distributed to families regarding Anaphylaxis. Below is a copy of the information and I ask that all families take the time to support us in our effort to ensure the safety of students whilst under our care. 

Molong Central School is concerned about the safety and well-being of all our students. Many of you will be aware that we have a number of students at our school who are affected by anaphylaxis, a life threatening allergic reaction. Our school does its best to be an allergy aware school. Staff have had training in severe allergy management and we have implemented lots of strategies to help keep students at risk of anaphylaxis as safe as we can.

 

We have students who live with the risk of anaphylaxis to eggs,  peanuts and other foods at Molong Central School. Whilst all anaphylactic children are being taught to care for themselves at an age appropriate level, we ask that you help us educate your child, particularly younger children,  on the importance of not sharing food with others, washing hands after eating and calling out to an adult if they think their friend with allergies is sick. With increased awareness and understanding of anaphylaxis, we will all be able to help protect those around us.

 

Whilst we are not a nut free or egg free school, we encourage you to avoid packing these items as a precautionary measure, as this will help the staff in their daily duty of care and responsibilities.

 

A food allergy is an immune system response to a normally harmless food protein that the body believes is harmful. When the individual eats food containing that protein, the immune system releases massive amounts of chemicals, triggering symptoms that can affect a person’s breathing, gastrointestinal tract, skin, and/or heart.

 

Anaphylaxis is the most severe form of allergic reaction and is potentially life- threatening. It must be treated as a medical emergency, requiring immediate treatment and urgent medical attention.

 

It is estimated that up to 400,000 (2%) Australians, including 1 in 20 children suffer from food allergies and some of them will experience a life-threatening (anaphylactic) reaction.

 

Further information will be presented at the upcoming P&C meeting on the 10th of February and if there are any questions we can help you with please contact our office, who will direct your question to the appropriate person.

There is also a copy of our latest Canteen Menu and an Allergens list in our Canteen section of this Newsletter, to help parents and students make informed choices.

 

                             PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING SYMPTOMS FOR YOUR INFORMATION

 

Symptoms of food allergy can include:

Mild to moderate allergic reaction

 

• Tingling of the mouth

• Hives, welts or body redness

• Swelling of the face, lips, eyes

• Vomiting, abdominal pain

(note these are signs of a severe allergic reaction if the person has insect allergy)

 

Severe allergic reaction - ANAPHYLAXIS

• Difficult/ noisy breathing

• Swelling of the tongue

• Swelling or tightness in the throat

• Difficulty talking or hoarse voice

• Wheeze or persistent cough

• Persistent dizziness or collapse

• Pale and floppy (young children)

 

P&C Meeting

Our P&C meet on the Monday of Week 3 and Week 7 each term. There will be presentations on staffing and anaphylaxis and I encourage parents to become members of the MCS P&C Facebook Page, to stay abreast of activities and opportunities. Put the 10th of February into your diaries and come along, you will be most welcome.

Novel Coronavirus  Update

  • Any student and staff arriving in Australia from 1 February 2020 who has been in mainland China or transited through mainland China (not just Hubei province) is excluded from school and child care services for a period of 14 days from the date they left mainland China as the Novel Coronavirus’ incubation period can be as long as two weeks.  
  • Any confirmed case of Novel Coronavirus will be excluded until they are medically cleared to return
  • Close contact of a confirmed case of Novel Coronavirus will be excluded for 14 days since last contact with the confirmed case.
  • Any student and staff arriving before 1 February our previous advice remains that students and staff who were in Hubei province are excluded from school or child care services for 14 days, and those who were in the rest of China are requested not to not attend school or child care services for a period of 14 days after leaving China.
  • More information can be found at NSW Health.

Students who returned to Australia from mainland China more than 14 days ago and have shown no symptoms are able to return to school.

 

The Ministry of Health has processes in place to identify any close contacts of cases confirmed in Australia. Advice about not attending school would be provided to these close contacts by the Ministry of Health.

There has been a small number of confirmed cases of Novel Coronavirus in NSW.

Consistent with current guidelines, staff and students who are unwell with respiratory illness should remain at home until symptoms resolve. In accordance with our current practice if any child becomes unwell we will implement our infection control guidelines and follow the advice provided by the Ministry of Health as appropriate.

The Department of Education will continue to work with the Ministry of Health to monitor and respond to the unfolding international Novel Coronavirus situation.