The Boarding Buzz

Health Centre

Late last year we renovated one wing of Michaelmas to ensure we had a Health Centre that meets our nurses and student’s needs. COVID altered our requirements for separate rooms for isolating students. Our amazing nurses have now settled into the Health Centre and students have their own room to isolate or rest and recuperate depending on their needs. 

COVID Regulations

COVID and changing regulations have kept us busy this term. We appreciate your patience as we navigate our way in this new territory. It would be most helpful if all students had a supply of masks, as we do not have enough to continue to supply students every day. We are providing every boarder with one fabric mask, but if your boarder could have a supply of at least three labelled fabric masks that will allow us to ensure they are washed daily and ready for the next day. If you prefer surgical masks, please supply your child with enough for one per day. 

 

Currently, we are unable to allow visitors into the boarding houses. Please ensure your boarder’s hosts knows to pick up students from outside the boarding house. We also are required to limit the time students spend in boarding houses other than their own. Students are welcome to meet up in the outdoor areas between the boarding houses.

 

If you would like us to book an appointment or transport your boarder to a COVID immunisation, please contact the Health Centre on 9844 0319 or via nurse@gsg.wa.edu.au

 

Medical Appointments

We would like to explain the jigsaw puzzle required to ensure boarding students can attend appointments throughout the week. We have a driver working every day, mostly starting at 7.00am with the TAFE and Work Place Learning transportation, however the hours they can work vary each day. On a Monday, Tuesday, Thursday the drivers work from 7.00am to 2.30pm. On a Wednesday and Friday the drivers work from 7.00am to midday. 

 

Here are the factors our amazing nurses consider when they make an appointment for a student:

  • If the student requires a supervisor to stay with them for the appointment
  • The time and day of the appointment (On Wednesday and Friday for example our day driver must have a break before they return for a 3.00pm shift)
  • The number of appointments on a day and if the driver can get students to the appointments on time and return to school in time for the next appointment
  • How many COVID screening tests are required on that day
  • Multiple orthodontic appointments often occur
  • If the afternoon boarding bus driver can start early to take a student to a later appointment
  • The various destinations around Albany for appointments and the time it takes to transport between these destinations
  • Trying to ensure students miss minimal class and learning time.

If an appointment is made by you or your boarder, outside of these constraints, it can be very difficult for us to get them to the appointment.

 

We request that all appointments during the day be booked by our Nurses. This allows them to consider all of the factors required. If you wish to make your own appointments, you will need to either transport them to and from these appointments or arrange that the student can catch the 3.30pm boarding bus into town and get to the appointment on their own.

 

The nurses can be contacted by email via nurse@gsg.wa.edu.au, landline on 9844 0319 or mobile on 0475 964 163. 

 

Thank you for your help in ensuring our appointments run smoothly.

 

Mrs Liz Cosh and Ms Rebecca Davies | School Nurses