COVID-Smart measures at School

Term 1 2023

We know that being together in the classroom is the best thing for our students. This term we will continue to implement several measures to allow us to prioritise both the wellbeing of our students and a consistent and productive learning environment.

The following guidelines have been updated for students and staff at Kinross Wolaroi School:

Stay home if unwell

•  If your child is unwell, you must keep them at home. If they are displaying COVID-19 symptoms, they should take a COVID-19 test (PCR or RAT) and follow the advice from the NSW Government on managing COVID-19 safely at home.

•  Your child should only return to school when they are symptom free.

Vaccinations

•  Vaccinations for COVID-19 and other viral illnesses are one of the best ways of protecting yourself, your family and the community. Vaccination is a safe and effective way to give your immune system a helping hand against many illnesses.

•  All eligible students and staff are strongly encouraged to keep up to date with their vaccinations to protect their health.

Rapid antigen testing

•  Rapid antigen tests (RATs) should be used if your child is displaying COVID-19 symptoms.

•  Students who test positive to COVID-19 are encouraged to notify their school and register their positive test results with Service NSW to have access to timely advice and support from NSW Health.

•  The School will maintain a reserve stock of rapid antigen tests onsite for surveillance testing purposes in the event of an outbreak.

•  Cleaning at school will continue to focus on high-touch areas and other hard surfaces, door handles, lockers, light switches and hand rails in stairways.

Hygiene and cleaning

•  Students are encouraged to regularly wash their hands with soap and warm water, and to use personal protective equipment as required.

Ventilation

•  Fresh air is the most effective form of ventilation to minimise the risk of transmission.

•  All learning spaces in the school have been checked to ensure appropriate levels of ventilation and air purifiers have been provided where needed.

•  Using outdoor spaces will continue to be encouraged where possible.

Masks

•  Mask-wearing is strongly encouraged where possible for all students, staff and visitors, particularly indoors and/or when physical distancing is not possible, and if they have been exposed to COVID-19.

Visitors

•  Visitors can attend school sites regardless of their vaccination status.

Activities

•  Health and safety risk assessments will be integrated when planning activities, including excursions and overnight camps.

•  Parents and carers will be made aware of the risk of exposure and will need to give permission for certain activities.

Responding to local situations

•  The School will work with the AISNSW and NSW Health to respond appropriately to local situations, including outbreaks of viral illness.

•  In some extreme cases, the School may temporarily introduce additional measures as a ‘circuit breaker’, including requiring mask-wearing, postponing or limiting non-essential activities and directing cohorts to learn remotely.

Learning remotely

•  The School will continue to have access to digital and printed learning resources to support students who need to learn remotely.