Newsletter 2 - Term 1 - Week 5 - 24th February 2022

Website: www.stgtraralgon.catholic.edu.au

Principal: Mrs. Michelle Charlton

Email: principal@stgtraralgon.catholic.edu.au

As you may have heard in press conferences over the past 2 weeks there are some relaxing of restrictions.   In regards to primary schools the only relaxation we have is we are no longer required to have visitor’s sign in using the state government QR code. All other restrictions including density limits, not accessing classrooms, wearing masks and not being able to gather as a school will need to continue for the time being.  This is definitely not the news we were hoping for and we are as disappointed as you.

To ensure the safety and health of everyone here at school, the staff are continuing to uphold strict COVID restrictions placed upon them by DOSCEL, as directed by the State Government. This includes not holding staff meetings in person and having to limit who can use our communal staff facilities such as the staff room

We have been advised that the recommendation for twice weekly Rapid Antigen Testing will now be in place for the remainder of term 1. Please be advised that whilst we are required to provide you with the test kits, it is a recommendation only that you test.  We will not be following this up with you.

Reporting and Managing positive results

If a student receives a positive test result at any time, they must:

1. Parents, guardians or carers must advise the School.
2. Parents, guardians or carers are required to register the result on the COVID-19 Positive Rapid Antigen Test Self-Reporting Form available on the Coronavirus Victoria website as soon as possible.
3. Students who report a positive result must isolate for seven days and not attend school during that period.
4. Where a student is a household contact of a positive case (that is, they have spent more than four hours with someone who has COVID-19 inside a house, accommodation, or care facility) they must inform the school and isolate for seven days and not attend school during that period.
5. Ensure students refrain from returning to school if they are symptomatic, unless it is known that their symptoms are caused by an underlying health condition or medication.

Parent Access Module (PAM)

You should have received an email regarding setting up PAM. Thank you to the parents who have verified their email address and set up student medical profiles. If you are yet to do so we would appreciate you completing this process as soon as possible please.  This system enables us to have everything in the one place rather than requiring you to use a range of different websites or apps to gain access to different things. It allows parents to:

• report absences directly into the software which reduces the double handling that has previously been occurring. 
• view school reports
• complete permission slips for excursions and camps
• receive notifications of information via email and text message
• book parent/teacher interviews

You are now able to enter your child/ren’s absence via PAM. This is now our preferred method of reporting student absence.  An instruction sheet was sent out Thursday afternoon.

I look forward to meeting more families in person when our restrictions are lifted.

Kind Regards

Michelle

PRINCIPAL