Return to School and RAT Kit Collection
Dear Parents and Carers,
Welcome to a new school year, an exciting time as our students start or return to their school journey. I want to share how we are building on our experiences of the last 2 years and continuing to safeguard our school community while keeping our school open, where we know the best learning happens.
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. The health and wellbeing of our students and staff remain our priority, and these measures are designed to help to keep our school open and our students learning in the classroom.
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 and is strongly recommended for all primary students. Masks will be provided by the school if required.
- Only fully vaccinated visitors essential to delivering and supporting learning or wellbeing can come on a school site.
- Up to 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.
- To minimise the spread of COVID-19 across cohorts, students will be kept in their year stage groups where possible.
- We will continue to use good hygiene, enhanced cleaning, good air flow and ventilation in learning spaces, as well as physical distancing practices.
While this is not going to be a normal start to the school year, we know that being together in the classroom is the most effective way for students to learn and grow. Your child's relationship with their teacher is important, but as we manage potential disruptions to staffing due to COVID-19, they may get to meet more teachers than usual.
Rapid Antigen Testing
We will distribute packs of rapid antigen test (RAT) kits for all students and staff at the start of Term 1.
The use of RAT kits is an important step to support the health and wellbeing of our students and staff. They are a quick and easy screening tool to help detect COVID-19. It is a simple process of placing a nose swab in a chemical solution, which is put onto a scanning device. Results can be ready within 15 minutes. Use of RAT kits is highly recommended but not mandatory.
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 through the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)External link website. The user guides will also contain a contact number for the suppliers if you need additional support.
How and when do I pick up the RAT kits?
We will have three times available for Pick Ups of our Rapid Antigen Test Kits.
- Friday 28 January from 1:30 - 3:00pm
- Saturday 29 January from 9:00am - 11:00am
- Monday 31 January from 9:00am - 12:30pm
These kits will be available for pick up from Perry Street. Please park your vehicle and walk up and find the table with your surname. Please wear a mask and socially distance if you have to wait.
Additional information
School staff will not be administering the rapid antigen tests to students. RAT kits should be collected from school by a parent or carer and the tests completed at home in the morning before attending school.
Each student will receive an initial supply of 4 RATs to be used twice a week in the morning before attending school. It is recommended that next week, students complete the test on Tuesday and Thursday morning.
If a student or staff member receives a positive RAT result, they need to:
It is recommended that staff and students that return to school after recovering from COVID-19 do not participate in rapid antigen test surveillance for 28 days (four weeks after recovery) following release from self-isolation. This is due to NSW Health advice that people who have recovered from COVID-19 have a low risk of contracting it again in the following 28 days. After 28 days (from week five after recovery) staff and students may resume participation in RAT surveillance.
Negative results do not need to be reported to Service NSW or to the school.
All students and staff at schools who attend our support unit will have access to a test each day, therefore, they will have access to 10 tests in this first two week period.
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.
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.
Use of surgical masks
All primary and secondary school staff will be required to wear masks indoors. No vented or cloth masks should be worn. If required, surgical masks will be available at schools. Primary school students are strongly recommended to wear well-fitted masks indoors, but please note this is not mandatory. A face mask will be available in their RAT kit and many more available at school if desired by the family.
Masks are also strongly encouraged in outdoor settings where you cannot physically distance. Your child can remove their mask when eating, exercising or playing a musical instrument.
For more information, refer to Face masks in NSWExternal link.
Visitors on school sites and vaccinations
Unfortunately, we are still in a space where parents, carers or visitors will not be allowed on school site.
There are some exceptions which include:
- Up to two parents or carers are allowed to accompany their child into school on their first day of Kindergarten
- Volunteers or staff operating uniform shops and canteens must be fully vaccinated.
- Visitors supporting school operations and curriculum delivery must be fully vaccinated. e.g. Assisting with reading groups, mentors, etc.
- Allied health partners for the wellbeing of students must be fully vaccinated.
All staff on school sites are required to be fully vaccinated, including having their booster when eligible.
We strongly encourage our students and their families to consider vaccination when eligible. Find a vaccination clinicExternal link to book an appointment near you.
Other key measures
Ventilation
We will continue to follow NSW Health ventilation guidelines that natural ventilation is the most effective measure so we will maximise fresh air flow in learning spaces through opening doors and windows.
This approach is strongly supported by expert advice. Where natural ventilation is not sufficient, mechanical ventilation and/or air purification will be used and we will continue to use outdoor settings where possible.
Air purifiers have been provided to schools as a supplementary measure to support common areas in schools and can be deployed at the principal's discretion. These purifiers could be located in areas where high levels of student and staff mixing occurs, such as staffrooms, internal canteens, student centres and music rooms.
Cleaning
We continue to have enhanced cleaning focusing on high-touch and high-traffic areas.
Supplies in Classrooms
Just a reminder, as mentioned last year, all basic stationery etc will be provided by the school so there will be no need to go out and buy a whole heap of books and supplies for the classrooms. If students in Years 1-6 wish to purchase their own pencil case with their own textas, glue sticks, etc they of course, are most welcome to do so.
Dates for the Beginning of the Year
- Friday 28 January: School Development Day 1 – Staff Only.
- Friday 28 January: 1:30pm - 3:00pm RAT Kit Collection
- Saturday 29 January: 9:00pm - 11:00pm RAT Kit Collection
- Monday 31 January: School Development Day 2 – Staff Only
- Monday 31 January: RAT Kit Collection 9:00am - 1:00pm
- Tuesday 1 February: STUDENTS RETURN Year 1 - 6
- Tuesday 1 February - Thursday 3 February: Kindergarten Best Start Assessments
- Friday 4 February: Day 1 for KINDERGARTEN students
I will touch base again next week with more information
Looking forward to seeing your students at school next week.
John Carters
Principal | Mudgee Public School
44 Perry Street, Mudgee, NSW, 2850
0263722036 |mudgee-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au
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I acknowledge the homelands of all Aboriginal people and pay my respect to Country.
