OLA Newsletter

COVID Safety

We have received some changes to our Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) COVID School Operations Guide which we outline below.

 

Masks

Current advice from the Victorian Government on the wearing of face masks is available here: https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/face-masks  It states:

 

Wearing a face mask can help protect you and those around you. Face masks stop droplets spreading when you talk, cough, sneeze and laugh, which lowers your chance of spreading or catching the virus.

 

This information is especially important for those who are medically at risk.

 

The advice also strongly recommends the wearing of face masks in indoor settings (noting that exceptions to the recommendation apply to teaching circumstances when clear enunciation or visibility of the mouth is essential).

 

Household contacts attending school who are over 8 years of age are required to wear face masks indoors unless they have a valid exception. See updated close contact requirements below.

 

Everyone including students aged 8 years and above must wear a face mask when travelling on public transport, taxis or ride share vehicles.

 

Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT)

The Victorian Government has determined the rapid antigen test (RAT) distribution strategy for Terms 3 and 4. Under the approach, schools will receive up to three deliveries of RATs each in Terms 3 and 4.

 

Schools will be able to provide these RATs to parents/carers, staff or students on request, as the previous settings that required weekly or daily testing of students and staff have ceased.

 

At OLA, we will continue to send out one box of RATs per student each time we receive a delivery. If you require additional RAT’s please feel comfortable to reach out to the school and if we can assist we will. It is recommended that RATs are used by students and staff when symptomatic and a reminder that our previous practice was to test twice weekly. 

 

Vaccination requirements

Staff and students are strongly encouraged to ensure they keep up-to-date with all recommended and available vaccinations as vaccinations are the best way to protect individuals, families and school communities from the spread of COVID-19.

 

Please note, from Saturday 25 June, all school staff (including principals, teachers, administration and education support staff, including casual relief teachers (CRT’s), pre-service teachers, and Outside School Hours Care staff), volunteers, contractors and visitors are no longer required to meet COVID-19 vaccination requirements to attend work. 

 

Household contacts

As with last term, household contacts are no longer required to quarantine as long as they take additional safety measures, but are required to:

  • notify the school if returning during their 7 day period
  • undertake daily rapid antigen testing five times within the 7 days;
  • wear a face covering when indoors (if aged 8 years and above or unless they have a valid exemption);

There is one new change regarding parents dropping off and picking up children from school:

  • Parents/carers are able to leave isolation if other arrangements cannot be made to transport their non-infectious child via private vehicle to and/or from school. The person leaving self-isolation must travel directly to and from the location, making no stops, unless there is an emergency or as required by law. They must remain in the vehicle at all times, unless it is reasonably necessary to leave the vehicle to deliver the person to and from school, and must wear a face covering whilst outside the place of self-isolation.

Maintaining high standards of hygiene and safety

At OLA, we are maintaining our high standards of hygiene and safety. 

 

All classes are taking some time this week to have a conversation and remind our students about:

  • Washing our hands before we eat
  • Sanitising our hands when we enter a new building or classroom
  • We use tissues to blow our nose and then sanitise our hands
  • We sneeze or cough into our elbows
  • Desks are disinfected at the end of each day
  • Air purifiers are on in each classroom with doors and windows open where possible to ensure good ventilation 

 

COVID Safety and Sick Children - Please stay at home

Thank you for keeping your sick children at home. Both the end of last term and the start of this term have especially been challenging for our school as we have seen many staff and students unwell. We request that any children who show signs of being unwell must remain at home. Parents please note that children will be isolated in the sick bay and we will call parents if we identify that your child is unwell. This protocol is in place for the safety of all children and members of our community.

 

As always, please reach out if you have any questions. 

 

Kind regards, 

 

Caitlan & Richard