Health Centre

Our First Aid Officer, Julie Zuk, is at school from 10am to 3pm Monday to Friday. 

Hay Fever

With the change in season and generally warmer weather, we encourage students to enjoy the outdoors whenever possible. On a regular school day, students would spend at least 1.5 hours outside between 9am and 3.30pm every day. We would also like to remind everyone of outdoor safety regarding UV and Pollen. Two helpful apps are:

Spring also brings the peak pollen season which of course brings on hay fever symptoms in people who suffer from this condition. Please be aware that many symptoms of hay fever overlap symptoms of COVID-19 that we are told to look out for. These include cough, runny nose, sore throat. People who experience asthma and hay fever are urged to keep their symptoms under control with the use of usual medications or other methods and be aware of the differences between their usual reactions and other viral symptoms. Please see your Doctor or talk to your Pharmacist if you have any questions about your child’s current management and treatment. It is advised that if you are unsure about your child’s symptoms, to test for COVID-19 by a RAT or a PCR. Ongoing, children with hay fever symptoms at school, such as a cough, runny nose and/or a sore throat will be assessed accordingly. If we have no record of hay fever or a current allergy plan for this, the child will be isolated with supervision and then the parent will be rung and asked to collect their child as soon as possible and not return to school until asymptomatic. If your child suffers from hay fever, or you believe they do, we need an up-to-date Allergy plan for 2022 to be completed preferably with your Doctor. On this we need the symptoms listed that are typical of your child’s usual hay fever symptoms. A copy of the 2022 Allergy plan to be completed and returned to the school is attached to the message in your Compass News Feed from Julie Zuk sent on 25 August. 

We advise parents to follow the Melbourne Pollen app and particularly on High Pollen days administer an antihistamine prior to your child coming to school in the morning if that is part of your Hay fever management plan. The Grass Pollen Count will be added to the Compass calendar each school day.