Contact Tracing in School

Last week the Premier announced significant changes in the COVID restrictions that we have been operating under in Victoria. These changes have led to amendments to how cases of COVID-19 and contacts of cases are managed in schools.

Schools will continue the process of identifying contacts of a confirmed case of COVID-19 at schools. Contacts will no longer be contacted by the Department of Health about quarantine requirements. If your child is identified as a contact, the school will let you know directly.

Contacts will be required to complete a standard COVID (PCR) test within 24 hours from when they are identified by the school as a contact.

If the COVID (PCR) test returns a negative result, the student can immediately return to school. All negative test results must be submitted to the School nurse, Mrs Kerrin Laws, before children can return to school. Submit the test results via email to k.laws@caseygrammar.vic.edu.au

Rapid Antigen Tests

It is strongly recommended that school contacts complete five days of rapid antigen tests in the morning before they attend school. These tests are now available at COVID testing centres. You can collect Rapid Antigen Test kits when you take your child to complete their COVID test.

PLEASE NOTE: the school does not have a supply of Rapid Antigen Tests.

Quarantine

In exceptional circumstances, the Department of Health may determine that contacts in significant school outbreaks are required to quarantine for seven days. In this situation, students will be notified directly of any additional quarantine arrangements.

Face Masks

Face masks are now only required by staff, students in Grades 3 to 6 and visitors in indoor areas within the Junior School. Any adult or Year 3 to 6 student who goes into the Years 3 to 6 building must wear a mask.

Adults and Years 3 to 6 students must also wear a mask if they are in specialist classrooms, including the library and the gym. Adults and Senior School students do not need to wear a mask in the library or gym unless Year 3 to 6 students are in there.

The wearing of masks is recommended where physical distancing cannot be maintained.

COVID Safe Practices

The school will continue to maintain its COVID Safe practices. These include regular COVID cleaning, hand sanitising, social distancing where possible and wearing masks where social distancing is not possible.

The first of our air purifiers have arrived and we expect another delivery in the new year. Staff and students are keeping their classrooms well ventilated and, as the weather improves, some classes will have lessons outdoors. We are currently exploring spaces in the Junior School and Senior School where we can create more outdoor learning spaces using shade sails.

I remind all parents to keep their children at home if they are unwell and for a family to have COVID tests if any member of the household displays COVID symptoms. Children who come to school and become unwell during the day will be sent to the school nurse and parents will be required to collect them as soon as possible.

As we head into the final few weeks of the school year, please continue to care for yourself and those around you.

If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out for help. The helplines listed in this document offer 24/7 Mental Health support. 

Stay safe, stay well.

Fiona Williams

Principal