26 Jan 2022
Dear parents and carers,
Welcome to a new school year, an exciting time as our students start or return to their school journey. I want to share how we are building on our experiences of the last 2 years and continuing to safeguard our school community while keeping our school open, where we know the best learning happens.
We will start 2022 with a layered approach to COVID-smart measures that have been developed in partnership with NSW Health to help to minimise transmissions at school. The health and wellbeing of our students and staff remain our priority, and these measures are designed to help to keep our school open and our students learning in the classroom.
These key measures include:
• Rapid antigen test (RAT) kits will be provided to all students to help monitor your child’s health and minimise transmission of COVID-19 across our school.
• Wearing of surgical masks indoors is required for all staff and students in Year 7 and above and strongly recommended for all primary students. Masks will be provided by the school if required.
• Only fully vaccinated visitors essential to delivering and supporting learning or wellbeing can come on a school site.
• Two parents or carers are allowed to accompany their child into school on their first day of Kindergarten or Year 7 or students starting at a new school.
• Students will be kept in their year groups on school grounds, with staggered drop-off and pick-ups, break times, playground, and canteen access to minimise the spread of COVID-19 across cohorts.
• We will continue to use good hygiene, enhanced cleaning, good air flow and ventilation in learning spaces, as well as physical distancing practices.
While this is not going to be a normal start to the school year, we know that being together in the classroom is the most effective way for students to learn and grow. Your child's relationship with their teacher is important, but as we manage potential disruptions to staffing due to COVID-19, they may get to meet more teachers than usual.
Rapid antigen testing
We will distribute packs of rapid antigen test (RAT) kits for all students and staff at the start of Term 1.
The use of RAT kits is an important step to support the health and wellbeing of our students and staff. They are a quick and easy screening tool to help detect COVID-19. It is a simple process of placing a nose or throat swab in a chemical solution, which is put onto a scanning device. Results can be ready within 15 minutes. Use of RAT kits is highly recommended but not mandatory.
Instructions are included in the kits detailing how to use the tests, check the results and dispose of the tests safely. You can also download the instructions through the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)External link website. The user guides will also contain a contact number for the suppliers if you need additional support.
How and when do I pick up the RAT kits?
Parents of students in Years 7, 11 and 12 can bring their daughters to the school on Friday 28 January between 12pm and 3pm to pick up their RAT kits.
Parents of students in Years 8, 9 and 10 can bring their daughters to the school on Monday 31 January between 12pm and 3pm to pick up their RAT kits.
We request that only students enter the school grounds, and they will be directed to a location where they can pick up their kits. Students should always wear masks while on school grounds.
Additional information
• School staff will not be administering the rapid antigen tests to students.
• Tests are to be completed at home in the morning before attending school.
• Each student will receive an initial supply of 4 RATs to be used twice a week on Mondays and Wednesdays.
• If a student or staff member receives a positive RAT test, they need to:
o record the positive RAT result through the Service NSW websiteExternal link or Service NSW appExternal link
o notify the school of the positive RAT or PCR test result as soon as possible
o follow NSW Health advice to isolate for 7 days.
Negative results do not need to be reported to Service NSW or to the school.
Unwell at school
Any student or staff member who is unwell and/or displays symptoms of COVID-19 will be asked to go home and stay until they can complete a RAT or PCR test.
• If symptoms continue, they should stay at home and take another RAT in 24 hours or have a PCR test.
• If the second RAT or initial PCR test result is negative, the student or staff member can return to school.
What happens when a student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19?
Under the new close contact rules, schools are no longer included in contact tracing. I will inform the school community when there is a positive case in our school and advise families on public health advice, including monitoring for symptoms.
Use of surgical masks
All primary and secondary school staff will be required to wear masks indoors.
No vented or cloth masks should be worn. If required, surgical masks will be available at schools.
Secondary school students will be provided with surgical masks as a backup when needed, which they are required to wear indoors.
Masks are also strongly encouraged in outdoor settings where you cannot physically distance. Your child can remove their mask when eating, exercising or playing a musical instrument.
For more information, refer to Face masks in NSW.
Visitors on school sites and vaccinations
No parents, carers or visitors will be allowed on school site until further notice with the following exceptions:
• Two parents or carers are allowed to accompany their child into school on their first day of Kindergarten or Year 7 or students starting at a new school.
• Volunteers or staff operating uniform shops and canteens must be fully vaccinated.
• Visitors supporting school operations and curriculum delivery must be fully vaccinated.
• Allied health partners for the wellbeing of students must be fully vaccinated.
All staff on school sites are required to be fully vaccinated, including having their booster when eligible.
We strongly encourage our students and their families to consider vaccination when eligible. Use Service Finder (healthdirect.gov.au)to book an appointment near you.
Service Finder - healthdirect
Free COVID-19 vaccinations are available to everyone aged 12 years and older. For people aged 12 years and older, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation - link opens in a new window (ATAGI) recommends either the Comirnaty (Pfizer - link opens in a new window) or the Spikevax (Moderna - link opens in a new window) vaccines.. People aged 18 years and older can receive the ...
covid-vaccine.healthdirect.gov.au
Other key measures
Ventilation
We will continue to follow NSW Health ventilation guidelines that natural ventilation is the most effective measure so we will maximise fresh air flow in learning spaces through opening doors and windows.
This approach is strongly supported by expert advice. Where natural ventilation is not sufficient, mechanical ventilation and/or air purification will be used and we will continue to use outdoor settings where possible.
Air purifiers have been provided to schools as a supplementary measure to support common areas in schools and can be deployed at the principal's discretion. These purifiers could be located in areas where high levels of student and staff mixing occurs, such as staffrooms, internal canteens, student centres and music rooms.
Cleaning
We continue to have enhanced cleaning focusing on high-touch and high-traffic areas.
Physical distancing
We will continue to follow physical distancing guidelines and maintain 1.5 metres distance wherever possible.
Invitation to a virtual school assembly
To welcome you and our students back to school and to share more detailed guidance about the settings for Term 1, we will be holding an online parent meeting early in Term 1. The time and date will be shared shortly.
During the meeting, we will outline our school’s plan and cover many of the things you will need to know for the return of school in Term 1 2022, including testing, masks, vaccinations, ventilation, visitor protocols and potential learning from home arrangements.
If you can’t make the meeting, we will record and share the outline of our return to school plan on our website after the meeting has finished.
Thank you again for your continued support during this school term.
Kind regards,
Suada Bilali
Principal