Dear Parents,

It is wonderful to be back together to begin our 2022 school year. I understand that some students and parents will have anxiety about Covid and returning to school, and if you feel that you need some additional support – please let us know. We will be following the Government health advice and school operations guidelines to ensure the health and safety of all our staff and families.

Victoria’s Back-To-School plan

The measures set out in the Victorian Government’s Back-To-School plan ensure every possible effort is made to keep staff and students safe and that schools remain open.

The plan maintains the importance of the 3Vs: Ventilation, Vaccination and Vital COVIDSafe steps and introduces some new measures.

Face Masks

For all school settings:

School staff will be required to always wear masks indoors when not actively teaching or communicating with students. Masks are not compulsory for teachers and staff outdoors.
Students in Grade 3 and above must wear a face mask indoors at school, including Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) programs, unless a lawful exception applies. Students must wear face masks even if vaccinated. Students are not required to wear masks outside.
For composite classes that include students in and above Grade 3 and below Grade 3, those below Grade 3 are strongly encouraged to wear masks.
When attending outdoor school camps and excursions, face masks are not mandatory, unless physical distancing cannot be maintained. Face masks must continue to be worn when indoors on camps and excursions.
Everyone over 8 years old must wear a face mask when travelling to and from school on public transport, taxis or ride share vehicles. It is vital that our students are correctly wearing their face masks on our school buses.
Visitors to schools aged 8 and above must wear a face mask in all indoor spaces, unless a lawful exception applies.
Students in Prep to Grade 2 are strongly recommended to wear a face mask indoors at school or an OSHC program.

A face mask must cover the nose and mouth. Face shields, scarves or bandanas do not meet these requirements.

Rapid Antigen Testing

Free rapid antigen tests will be made available for all staff and students in Victorian schools for the first four weeks of Term 1 2022. Test packs have been distributed to all students this week. Please contact school if you have not received a test kit, and perhaps check their school bag!

Students and staff will do the tests at home and must report any positive test results to the College.

Phone: 55721355

If students receive a positive test result at any time, they must also report this through the Department of Health system (Rapid antigen tests | Coronavirus Victoria) or via the coronavirus hotline on 1800 675 398.

Students or their parents must also report a positive result to their school, by phone or written notification; this is so the school can support them, record that they will be absent while in seven-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.

Advice for Positive Cases

All students who return a positive result from a rapid antigen test should also follow the latest government health advice at https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/rapid-antigen-tests.

Information about how to do a test, including a how-to video translated into 33 languages, is available online.

Students who report a positive result must isolate for seven days and not attend school during that period.

Where a student is a household contact of a positive case (that is, they have spent more than four hours with someone who has COVID-19 inside a house, accommodation, or care facility) they must inform the school and isolate for seven days and not attend school during that period.

Dr Hirst will notify the school community if a student or staff member has tested positive and this will include the date of attendance, affected group or year level and any co-curricular activities undertaken.

Staff and students must not return to school while they remain symptomatic, unless it is known that their symptoms are caused by an underlying health condition or medication.

Managing a Positive Case

Isolate at home or in private accommodation for seven days (inclusive of weekends) and do not attend school during this period. Our Director of Boarding Mr Andrew Monk has informed Boarding Parents of the process for a positive case in our Boarding House.
Inform the school, that they have tested positive to COVID-19.
A negative test is not required to return to school following completion of seven days of isolation.
Follow the Checklist for COVID cases located at: https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/checklist-cases

What if you are a close contact of a positive COVID-19 case?:

You have spent more than four hours with someone who has COVID-19 inside a house, accommodation, or care facility.
Follow the Checklist for COVID contacts. https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/checklist-cases
Students must quarantine for 7 days (inclusive of weekends) and must not attend school during this period.
Contact at school is not included in this definition, unless contact has occurred in a school based residential setting, e.g. school camp or boarding school.

What if your child has been in close contact with a positive case at school?:

If asymptomatic, students should continue to attend school and monitor for symptoms.
If symptomatic, all students must stay or return home, take a rapid antigen test, or get a PCR test if a rapid antigen testing kit is unavailable.
On receipt of a negative test result, and if well enough, the student can return to school. If students are too unwell to attend school, usual leave/absence policies apply.

Staff/student has contracted COVID-19, completed their 7-day isolation period and is asymptomatic.

Staff/ students can safely return to school. They do not need to be tested for 30 days.

No further action.

Parents are welcome onsite but must check in at reception using the QR code and you must confirm that you are fully vaccinated.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any further questions.

Uniform Expectations

We expect that students will uphold our College values, and that this will be reflected in their personal presentation, manners and communication with each other. The College expects each student to be in correct uniform. Please note that hats are to be worn for Term One and Term Four.

Girls:

The summer dress must sit at mid-knee (no higher) when the school jumper on.
Hair that is below shoulder length must be tied back neatly. School ribbon colours are navy, white, maroon or gold.
The only jewellery permitted is one pair of earrings, either plain studs or sleepers.
No make-up or nail polish is to be worn to school. Moisturiser and sunscreen should be colourless.

Boys:

Hair should be neat, tidy and off the collar.
Correct and neat uniform.
Blazer must be worn if you are wearing the summer shirt with the tie.

On February 14th, we will be holding the annual Scholars Assembly. This is a formal event in the College calendar and all boys whom are prize winners are required to wear long pants and a blazer and tie. Girls will be required to have a blazer with their summer dress.

We look forward to your continued support to reiterate these high standards to your children.

If you have any questions or concerns or questions, please do not hesitate to make contact. Best wishes for a wonderful 2022.

Miss Kristen Waldron

Deputy Principal Wellbeing

The Hamilton and Alexandra College Newsletter

Issue 39 · 04 Feb 2022

In this issue