Covid Update Parent Letter

22^nd February 2022

Dear parents and carers

A big thank you for your efforts in supporting our school and students in these challenging times and for prioritising their safety and learning.

The recent announcement to the changes in how schools use RATs as a surveillance measure against COVID-19 means that students and staff will only need to test if they are displaying COVID-19 symptoms.

• From Monday 28 February we will move to symptomatic testing. Tests are to be used at your discretion such as if your child is displaying COVID-19 symptoms. For our school, this means:
  • 8 tests per student and staff in schools
  • 20 tests per student and staff in SSPs or support classes.

• Beyond that students and staff can access PCR tests or purchase RATs directly.

• Our school will continue to ensure our core COVID-smart layers are in place, including vaccinations, physical distancing where possible, maximised fresh air flow through natural ventilation, continued good hand hygiene practices and enhanced cleaning.

Picking up your RATs

Our school will receive additional RAT kits over the coming weeks to support testing for students who have COVID-19 symptoms. These kits will be distributed through regular classes during the week commencing 28.2.2022.

If your household is isolating during this time due to a positive COVID-19 case, please contact our school to arrange an alternative distribution method or to hold your RAT allocation until the time you’re able to receive them.

Registering your child’s RAT result

If a student or staff member receives a positive RAT result, they need to:

• record the positive RAT result through the Service NSW websiteExternal link or Service NSW appExternal link and please include the name of your child’s school when prompted
• notify the school of the positive RAT or PCR result as soon as possible
• follow NSW Health adviceExternal link to isolate for 7 days.

Registering your child’s positive RAT with Service NSW is a requirement of the Public Health Order and helps NSW Health track COVID-19 in schools and address any public health issues early on if required.

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.
• In NSW, positive COVID-19 cases are provided a Medical Clearance Notice after 7 days and allowed to leave self-isolation as long as they do not have COVID-19 symptoms.

For further information refer to the NSW Government’s Rapid antigen testing fact sheetExternal link.

Thank you again for your continued support during this school term.

Kind regards