Dear parents and carers,

Welcome to a new school year, an exciting time as our students start or return to their school journey.

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. 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. Students are encouraged to wear masks if they are able to. No vented or cloth masks should be worn.

· 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.

· If dropping off your child, follow the same procedures as last year on the first day. You will be given written information if there are any changes to your child’s drop-off or pick-up routines.

· We will continue to use good hygiene, enhanced cleaning, good air flow and ventilation in learning spaces, as well as physical distancing practices.

Rapid antigen testing

We will distribute packs of rapid antigen test (RAT) kits for all students and staff on Friday 28th January. See RAT pick-up instructions below.

The use of RAT kits is an important step to support the health and wellbeing of our students and staff. Use of RAT kits is highly recommended but not mandatory. Additional RAT kits will become available to support testing for 4 weeks.

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 via this link https://www.tga.gov.au/covid-19-rapid-antigen-self-tests-are-approved-australia

The user guides will also contain a contact number for the suppliers if you need additional support.

RAT kits should be collected from school by a parent or carer or responsible person and the tests completed at home in the morning before attending school.

How and when do I pick up the RAT kits?

Please contact the school if you are unable to collect the kits. · Refer to https://www.tga.gov.au/covid-19-rapid-antigen-self-tests-are-approved-australia for all approved RATs if needed.

Additional information

· School staff will not be administering the rapid antigen tests to students.

· Each student will receive an initial supply of 5 RATs to be used every school day in the morning before attending school. This is because we cater for vulnerable students.

· If a student receives a positive RAT result, they need to:

1. Record the positive RAT result here https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/stay-safe/testing/register-positive-rat-test-result or via https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/campaign/service-nsw-mobile-app

2. Notify the school of the positive RAT or PCR result as soon as possible.

3. Follow NSW Health advice to isolate for 7 days. More information here https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/covid-19/Pages/self-isolation-and-testing.aspx

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 and they are displaying no symptoms OR they are diagnosed as another condition such as hayfever, 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.

Please contact the school if additional information is required.

Thank you,

Noel Gover (Deputy Principal)