Community Notices

Library News 

Our Library has welcomed a new class of year 7s and several new students to WHSC.  

Movie Monday has resumed on Monday lunchtimes, starting the year with the Simpson’s movie, and currently screening 100% Wolf. Board games, whiteboard table, chess and cards continue and are on offer Tuesday to Friday lunchtimes. 

Tuesday the 15th of February we welcomed all students to the Library for the Lantern Festival, the last day of the Lunar New Year. Our international students, led by Jane Xing, hosted games, calligraphy, and traditional clothing (courtesy of Miss Bian) to dress up in. It was a wonderful celebration.  

The nonfiction shelving is now well sign-posted on the ends of the bays, and we are awaiting some further shelf signs for sections such as Warriors and Weapons, and Myths & Legends. Students seem to now be browsing our non-fiction almost as much as the fiction shelves! 

February is traditionally Love your Library month, and we have celebrated the books and stories we love reading with a “pink” display near the entrance of the Library.  

There are new bookmarks, some of which advertise our Instagram page: @wheelershillsclibrary so check our page out! 

Pride display - set up during the Melbourne Midsumma Festival, we celebrate all things pride with our diverse range of novels.  

We are always processing new books, and whilst it may seem to be quiet on this front, we are working hard behind the scenes to bring new and exciting novels and non-fiction to your library shelves. 

The Library Team 

Wellbeing Information 

DET Privacy Policy 

Our school collects, uses, discloses, and stores student and parent personal information for standard school functions or where permitted by law, as stated in the Schools’ Privacy Policy.

Please take time to remind yourself of our school’s collection notice, found on our website https://www.education.vic.gov.au/Pages/schoolsprivacypolicy.aspx . 

For more information about privacy, refer to:  Schools’ Privacy Policy — information for parents. This information is also available in ten community languages:

* Amharic

* Arabic

* Dari

* Gujarati

* Mandarin

* Somali

* Sudanese

* Turkish

* Urdu

* Vietnamese.

DET Extension of COVIDSafe measures for Term 1 

Dear School Community, 

I am writing to let you know that the Victorian Government has extended the COVIDSafe measures initially announced for the first four weeks of Term 1 2022. 

The use of rapid antigen tests (RAT) as a screening tool, getting vaccinated, providing adequate ventilation, and adhering to vital COVIDSafe steps such as hand hygiene, mask-wearing, and physical distancing has played an important part in reducing the impact of COVID-19 on our school community. 

These measures will continue to be in place for the remainder of Term 1. 

On behalf of the school, I would like to thank you for your continued support in implementing these important COVIDSafe measures. 

Free rapid antigen tests 

As part of the extension, it is anticipated an additional 24 million RATs will be provided to schools and early childhood settings to continue to support early detection and prevent infection, for use at home. This is in addition to the 15.6 million RATs rolled out during the first four weeks of Term 1 and means more than 39 million RATs will be delivered in total across schools and early childhood settings throughout Term 1.

Department of Health modelling indicates that in the first two weeks of school returning, the program has already prevented more than 21,000 cases in schools alone. 

Their modelling indicates, assuming a 75 percent compliance rate with the screening of students, that by continuing RAT screening in schools for the full 10 weeks of Term 1, we will prevent: 

• 61,000 COVID-19 infections in children aged 5 to 17 
• More than 150,000 COVID-19 infections in the overall community (on average 15,000 per week over 10 weeks, or more than 2,100 per day) 
• Around 400 hospital admissions. 

We will continue to monitor the RAT screening in schools program. 

This voluntary screening program is one component of our school’s COVIDSafe settings to minimise the spread of COVID-19 in schools. 

The need for the program will continue to be monitored, and it may end earlier based on health advice. The department will continue to supply the tests to our school. 

Currently, Wheelers students and staff have enough tests for the first 4 weeks of the school year. Once received, we will distribute the next round of tests to families via the students as per previously. Each kit contains 5 tests, enough for two weeks including one spare. 

MAINSTREAM PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS - Twice-a-week testing is strongly recommended for both students and staff. At Wheelers Hill Secondary College we recommend Monday and Thursday mornings or on the morning of a camp or school excursion including a day out on sports competition. 

Students will do the tests at home; they only need to report their result if it is COVID-positive. They must report a COVID-positive result to: 

• The school via the Student COVID-19 Test Portal or phone; this is so we can support you and your child, record that they will be absent while in 7-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. 
• The Department of Health via the COVID-19 Positive Rapid Antigen Test Self-Reporting Form or call center on 1800 675 398.  

 Information about how to do a test and how to read RAT results, including a how-to video translated into 33 languages, is available.  

Vaccination requirements 

Vaccination remains the best way to protect students and staff in school settings.  

Vaccinations for children aged 5 to 11 are open, and third dose vaccinations for 16 to 17-year-olds are now available.  There are lots of convenient options to access vaccinations. These include state-wide vaccination hubs, your local GP, or pharmacy. 

You can book your appointment in a few different ways, including:  

• Online: coronavirus.vic.gov.au/vaccine 
• By phone: 1800 675 398 (Coronavirus Hotline) 
• In-person: talk to your local pharmacy, doctor, or attend a state-wide vaccination hub.  
• Using the COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Finder - COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Finder | Australian Government Department of Health 

In addition, schools provide a trusted place among the community to access vaccinations, particularly for families who may experience language or social barriers.  

Following the successful implementation of school pop-up clinics at the commencement of Term 1, more than 230 schools across Victoria are currently hosting mini-vaccination clinics led by GPs and pharmacists. Many of these clinics will also make vaccinations available to the broader school community, inclusive of families of students and school staff. 

Ventilation 

Improving ventilation is one of the most effective measures to keep education settings safe. 51,000 air purifiers were delivered to schools by Term 1, 2022 to support COVIDSafe settings in schools. 

Up to an additional 60,000 air purifiers will be rolled out to schools ahead of winter to supplement natural and mechanical ventilation during the cooler months based on current enrolments. 

The winter allocation will provide enough purifiers to cover all classrooms in government schools and low-fee non-government schools. This includes general-purpose classrooms and other specialist classrooms such as art and science rooms. 

Vital COVIDSafe steps 

Hand hygiene, mask-wearing, and social distancing will continue wherever possible in Term 1. 

Mask rules will remain the same, with students in Grade 3 and above required to wear masks – although they will not be required outdoors. Together, these measures will give us the best chance to keep children healthy and reduce the risk of them catching and spreading COVID-19.  

Thank you for your continued support.  Please contact our General Office (9561 5811) should you have any queries, 

Kind regards, 

Aaron Smith 

College Principal 

Wheelers Hill Secondary College