Term 2, Week 4 2022
translator
Mrs W term 2 week 4
Calendar
To keep up to date with what is happening at school, I would ask parents and the community to check our calendar on the website and attached to the Emu News.
Opening the articles will give you further information about events etc.
Face Masks
Currently, face masks are not required to be worn by students, staff, or visitors at school however household contacts, over the age of 8 years, who are attending school are required to wear a face mask while indoors unless they have a valid exemption.
Everyone over the age of 8 must wear a mask when travelling on public transport, taxis, or ride share vehicles. This includes wearing masks on school buses.
Outdoor Learning Shade Sail
Last week we were able to pay the deposit for our shade sail after the grant money arrived. Our contractor is now in the process of getting the relevant permissions etc before we can start the building.
Kitchen Garden
Since we dismantled our old kitchen garden to make way for the new shade sail, we have had plenty of silverbeet, lettuce, parsley, and cornflower shoot. The students have transplanted some of the plants into new garden beds. Parents and the community are welcome to come and collect seedlings for use at home or to pick the larger produce. The seedlings are growing above the old weed matting so don't try and dig deeply.
Creative Centre
Changes to RATs from Monday 23rd May 2022
RATs will continue to be distributed to you as they have been throughout this school year for the remainder of this term.
However, from Monday 23 May 2022, students will no longer be recommended to undertake either twice weekly RATs in mainstream schools or 5 days a week in specialist schools.
RATs however will continue to be required by students who are household contacts to attend school (5 negative tests over a 7 day period) or who have symptoms.
The ongoing supply of RATs to families in our school will ensure that parents and carers will have them should they need them if their child is a household contact or has symptoms.
Families must continue to notify the Department of Health and the school if their child returns a positive RAT result. Additionally, you should inform us if any of your children are household contacts.
Thank you also to all families who has got their child vaccinated. Vaccination continues to remain the best way to protect students and staff in our school.
Getting vaccinated is easy and bookings can be done via the coronavirus website. If you have any questions about the vaccines, I encourage you to speak to your GP or a health practitioner.
Thank you again for your ongoing cooperation and support during this time.
Student COVID test portal
The portal can be accessed at Student COVID test portal. Further information for families about testing positive can be found at Checklist for COVID cases.
Extension of RAT screening program
The Victorian Government has announced it is extending the RAT screening program for the first 4 weeks of Term 2. Thank you to all students and families who have played their role in regularly testing – we know that hasn’t been easy.
Your work has seen COVID-19 cases being picked up at the earliest opportunity, meaning less cases in our school and more time in the classroom for our students.
The testing recommendations will remain the same next Term for students and staff with:
- Mainstream schools – recommended to test at home twice a week
- Specialist schools – recommended to test 5 days a week at home due to the higher risk of severe illness for medically vulnerable children.
As we approach winter and flu season, the vaccination of children aged 5 to 11 and booster shots for students 16+ remains the best way to ensure protection for students and staff. The Easter break is a good opportunity to get your child vaccinated ahead of this, with many options across GPs, pharmacies and the state run vaccination clinics.
If you have any concerns or worries about getting your child vaccinated, please get in contact with your GP or another health professional who can answer your concerns.
Tatura Blue Light
Victory Hall, Tatura.