Dear Parents and Friends of St Agatha's Primary School,

I don't know if you have noticed or not but the days are starting to feel just a little warmer. Some mornings are still frosty but every now and then it can almost feel like Spring is on the way! I was beginning to think I had avoided the Winter flu season until last week when COVID19 finally caught up with me! This is my first time having COVID19 and it was truly an uncomfortable experience. I am grateful that I was double vaccinated and had already had one booster. As soon as I am able, I will be looking for my second booster shot (fourth vaccination), as I would not want to get that virus again! Like many of you, I experienced flu like symptoms and am still quite tired from the effects of the virus, luckily though, I am fit and healthy and will bounce back quickly. I will be out of isolation on Friday.

On the evening news we hear about the new COVID19 wave that is currently peaking in Victoria and I think about the students and staff at St Agatha's school. It surprises me how few Covid19 cases have been reported at our school. I ask all parents to ensure that they do not send their children to school with any flu-like symptoms and to use the Rapid Antigen Tests to test for Covid19. Any one who tests positive either via a RAT or PCR must isolate for seven (7) days from the day of testing positive and register the positive result on the Coronavirus Website. This is still a government mandate and is an important way that we can help to keep one another safe and healthy. If you need extra RAT kits please do not hesitate to phone the office and a kit will be sent home with your child.

Our staff thank you for taking this request seriously and for helping to slow the spread of the virus at our school. Finding replacement teachers for unwell staff is becoming almost impossible! Please help by not sharing any virus with our staff.

If your child is a Household Contact of COVID19, please contact the office and let us know. While Household Contacts do not need to isolate, anyone over the age of eight (8) is required to wear a fitted face mask if they are a Household Contact and all Household Contacts must test for COVID19 using a RAT each school day.

A few weeks ago I sent home an information sheet outlining current recommendations. Please take the time to read this if you have not already.

On Thursday August 4, our beautiful Foundation students celebrate their 100 days of school. This is a wonderful achievement, especially given the last two years our previous Foundation students struggled to be at school in person for 100 days over the entire year of 2020 and 2021! Please enjoy these happy snaps of the old dears on their 100th day of Prep.

Have a happy week and stay well!

Michelle Bruitzman

STAC Group News