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Queen of Apostles School
Term 1 Week 2 - Thursday 10 February 2022
Tuesday 15 Feb
6.00pm Parent Information Night PP-Yr 6 - via SeeSaw
7.00pm P&F Meeting - via Zoom
Tuesday 22 Feb
Yr 6 Leadership Mass - Year 6 and Year 6 parents
Wednesday 23 Feb
6.00pm SAC Meeting - via Zoom
Wednesday 2 March
Ash Wednesday
Monday 7 March
Labour Day Public Holiday
Tuesday 8 March
Pupil Free Day - Staff PD
From the Principal
COVID
I would really like to thank everyone in our community for the way you have taken on the COVID guidelines for schools sent to you on Tuesday afternoon. I understand there will be some difficulties and changes as we move into the next phase of this pandemic for Western Australians. I can assure you that we will be doing everything we can to mitigate the risks of COVID 19 entering or being transmitted on the school grounds.
Since the communication on Tuesday, I have been advised that we are able to proceed with the Leadership Mass at 9am on February 22nd in the church. At this Mass, the Year 6’s will be presented with their leadership and committee badges. Year Six parents are able to attend the Mass with mask wearing, distancing, sign in and hygiene practices in place. We are also working on live streaming the Mass to the rest of the school. I have included the current protocols below.
COVID Protocols
School Events
We have been advised to take the following measures to minimise the risk of COVID-19 entering or being transmitted on school grounds.
These steps include:
- Prohibiting indoor face-to-face events (such as meetings, performances and rehearsals)
- Postponing Yr. 6 camp
- Limiting the contact between different year groups. This includes
o Cancelling Swimming Trials and Carnival
o Cancelling the Welcome Picnic
o Suspending Buddy Activities
o Suspending Junior and Senior Choir
o Closing the Playground After School
o Eating Recess and Lunch in Year Level Groups
Close Contact Definitions & Rules
From Tuesday, a new close contact definition for a high caseload environment such as a school is in place.
The definition of a close contact with a positive case in a school is as follows:
- Face-to-face contact for 15 minutes or more with an infectious person, where a mask was not worn by the exposed person or the person with COVID-19.
- Interaction for more than two hours in a small indoor space, or interaction for more than two hours in a classroom environment with an infectious person, where masks have been removed for this period; or
- Someone who is directed by WA Health that they are a close contact.
Testing and Isolation Protocols
If students or staff in schools or childcare centres have been in an exposure site, they are encouraged to get a PCR test to confirm if they are COVID-19 positive, especially while demand at clinics can be managed.
When demand gets very high, Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) will be made available to increase the speed of results, and RAT tests will be provided by the testing centre to the person who is to stay in isolation and test on Day 7.
The new testing and isolation guidelines include:
• confirmed positive case
- self-isolate for a minimum of seven days; and
- at Day 7, if symptoms still present, continue isolating until symptoms clear; or
- if no symptoms after Day 7, you can leave self-isolation. No testing required.
• symptomatic close contact
- self-isolate for seven days from the date of contact with positive case; and
- take a PCR or RAT on Day 1 or as soon as possible.
o if positive - follow positive case guidelines (as above).
o if negative - stay in isolation, take a RAT in 24 hours, and remain in isolation.
- if positive - follow positive case guidelines (as above).
- if negative - and no new household members have tested positive - take a RAT again on Day 7, before ending isolation.
• asymptomatic close contact
- self-isolate for seven days from the date of contact with positive case.
- if symptoms develop, take a PCR or RAT; or
o if positive - follow positive case guidelines (as above).
• if still asymptomatic, take a RAT on Day 7.
o if positive - follow positive case guidelines.
o if negative - and no new household members have tested positive - self-isolation ends after Day 7, and people should monitor for symptoms.
• symptomatic but not a close contact
• get a PCR test immediately and isolate until result returned.
o if positive - follow positive case guidelines (as above).
o if negative - you are not required to isolate but should stay home until symptoms clear.
• if you take a RAT, because a PCR test is unavailable:
o if positive - follow positive case guidelines (as above).
o if negative - continue to isolate and repeat RAT in 24 hours - if negative after this follow-up test, you are not required to isolate but should stay home until symptoms clear.
Parents on School Sites
- Parents will be permitted on school sites for drop-off and pick-up in outdoor locations only; consequently, we ask parents not to enter classrooms.
- A parent should only attend the school office in the event of a significant pastoral or welfare issue related to their child. Wherever possible interactions by staff with parents should take place over the phone or via email/online.
- If students are late or required to be picked up for an appointment during school hours, please call the office for instructions.
- Gatherings of parents on school sites will not be permitted.
- Parent-teacher interviews will occur online or over the phone.
- PP to Yr. 6 Parent Information sessions will be available via Seesaw on 15 February.
- Uniform orders will need to be done via email. Order forms are available on the school website.
- If parents/carers need to enter the school site, masks must be worn and QR sign in used.
As a Catholic school our priority is for the health, safety and wellbeing of our students and all members of our broader community. We are working through these changes and you will receive further communications as the details are confirmed. For more information on the high caseload protocols visit WA.gov.au.
Thank you for your understanding as we take the necessary steps to keep our school community safe.
If you have queries or concerns regarding your child please contact me. If you have health concerns, please contact WA Health on 1300 316 555 or at PHOpsClinical@health.wa.gov.au.
Best Wishes
Mark Ryan
Queenies P&F
P&F Class Reps for 2022
A really important part of the Queen of Apostles community is our group of P&F Class Representatives. These volunteers organise social events for their respective year levels, maintain the year level Facebook pages with important reminders and updates, and assist with our events.
To express your interest in being a P&F Class Representative for 2022, please email Louise Wynne louisewynne@me.com.
Community Notices
A note from the School Health Nurses
Welcome to the new school year. My name is Shabnam and I represent the Canning School Team, comprised of five Community health Nurses.
School Health Nurses work in schools to promote healthy development and wellbeing so students may reach their full potential. A major part of our work is focused on early intervention and the School Entry Health Assessment program. Additionally, we can be contacted at any time throughout primary school if you have concerns about your child’s health, development or wellbeing.
School Health Nurses serve as a health contact point for children and their families, providing information, assessment, health counselling and referral. They also work in partnership with schools to support teachers in health related curriculum and can assist in the development of health care plans for students with complex and chronic health needs.
The services provided are free and confidential. Please contact us on 92588053.