JAN 26: RAT TESTING AND COLLECTION
Dear Parents and carers,
As you were made aware on Monday, all children will be given a supply of 4 rapid antigen tests (RATs) to be administered at home, with a first test before school commences. This supply is for the first two week period and a further two week period will be sent home later in the term.
These tests will need to be administered every Monday and Wednesday morning at home before school. In the first week, we ask that children take the test on Tuesday and Thursday and for Kindergarten Wednesday and Friday.
Pick up times for the first lot of tests will be as follows; Friday 28th January, Monday 31st January and Tuesday 1st February 12pm -3pm from the canteen area. We ask that parents enter the school ground through either gate and use the undercroft doors to the canteen, please wear a mask and leave the premises immediately after picking up the tests.
If these times are not suitable you may call the office to arrange for a different time. Alternatively, if you wish for a friend to pick up your child’s tests we ask that you email the school prior to them coming to pick them up as we can not hand them out to other families without permission.
Provided within the kits are instructions on how to: use the tests, check the results and how to dispose of the tests safely. You can also download the instructions through the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) website.
Please note the following:
- School staff will not be administering the rapid antigen tests to students.
- Tests will need to be administered at home before the student comes to school.
- If a student or staff member receives a positive RAT test, they need to
- record the positive RAT result through the Service NSW website or Service NSW app
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- notify the school of the positive RAT or PCR test result as soon as possible
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- follow NSW Health advice to isolate for 7 days, isolation will be required by all family members and siblings.
If your child has had COVID in the past month we ask that you follow the health advice that has been given to you regarding testing.
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 a student or staff member displays even mild COVID-19 symptoms, they must take a RAT or get a PCR test and isolate until they receive a negative test result.
- Students must not come to school until they are symptom free, even if they get a negative RAT result.
What happens when a student or staff tests positive to 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.
We look forward to a safe return to school for all members of our St Mary’s community and welcoming everyone next week.
JAN 24: A MESSAGE FROM PRINCIPAL PAUL MCGUIRE
Dear SMM Parents and Carers,
Welcome to 2022! We hope you are all well.
Please find below links to the latest information regarding Return to School arrangements. Please note two important points-
1. All planned assessments have been postponed for Kindergarten Best Start and Mathematics (MAI). These will now be conducted once students begin the term.
2. Rapid Antigen Tests will be available to be picked up soon. Once these have been received, we will communicate collection arrangements, hopefully before the end of this week (Jan 28).
Thank you for your patience and understanding.