Return to school 2022

We are excited about starting another new year with your children. We are of course planning for and anticipating that there may be some disruption as a result of COVID-19, as it moves through Tasmania.

The Department of Education is regularly updating the information it provides us, and we will continue to forward you any updates as information is being updated quite often.

Covid Care Packs

All families will receive Covid Care Packs at the start of school. These are available NOW from the school office and the Department of Education preference is that these be collected before the start of school. If you have not had an opportunity to collect them prior to the start of school, they will be sent home with your child on the first day of school, Wednesday February 9. (These packs will include important information, as well as Rapid Antigen (RAT) tests for you to use should your child have any COVID symptoms.

The school will have additional RATs which can be sent home upon request and on a needs basis.

Please note that if you or your child are displaying symptoms, RAT tests are to be arranged through Public Health on 1800 671 738, NOT from the school.

Covid in our School

With the current situation, it is anticipated that we will most likely experience Covid cases at Glen Huon Primary School this term. Our school, and the Department, and working hard to establish clear protocols when expected cases arise. It is worth reminding ourselves that the information we have received indicates that most children will only experience a mild illness if they contract COVID.

As a first defence, all school staff are required to be double vaccinated to be on site. This mandate will also include volunteers who work at the school; this includes parents coming in for parent help and also extends to contractors. Families are also being encouraged to ensure their children are also vaccinated.

Students, staff, and families who have COVID symptoms are NOT to attend the school. The RAT tests provided will enable you to complete a test and see if you do have COVID. Even if the RAT is negative, if you have symptoms and are unwell, please do NOT come to school until symptoms have stopped. So long as RAT tests continue to be negative, once students are symptom free, they will be able to attend school.

If a RAT test returns a positive result you will be required to quarantine for a seven day period, as per public health directives.

It is parents/caregivers responsibility to inform Public Health, AND THE SCHOOL, if a student has tested positive to COVID.

If there are COVID cases in a classroom, it is important to note that children are not considered close contacts of their classmates. If your child is in a class with another student who has contracted Covid, you will be asked to test and monitor the health of your own child and keep them home too if they test positive or show symptoms. The class will continue to operate and Learning Services supports will advise on any further actions which may be required.

Being on site at Glen Huon Primary School

We ask families and caregivers, that where possible, to employ stop, drop and go procedures when bringing and collecting your children each day. We want to minimise the amount of time that adults are on site, especially during this first term, when we are at greatest exposure with everyone coming together.

• Please ensure that you maintain Physical Distancing of 1.5m with other adults.
• All visitors to the school (whether indoors or outdoors) are required to wear a face mask.
• Engage in hand hygiene.
• Stay at home if you are unwell.
• Check in using Check In Tas app.

Additional COVID Safety Measures at Glen Huon Primary School

• All classrooms have been provided with an Air Purifier, as well as other rooms in the school.
• All windows in the school have been checked to see that they open and any necessary repairs have been made. This will allow us to maximise ventilation in rooms around the school.
• Each room is supplied with hand sanitiser, hand soap, disinfectant spray and face masks.
• We have been provided with a supply of Junior Face masks as well as adult face masks. Please note that face masks are NOT compulsory for Primary School aged children, however they are available for use if children choose to wear them. Fabric face masks are also permitted.
• We will avoid large gatherings such as assemblies, at least for the first five weeks of school. This also includes our Swimming Carnival which was originally scheduled for Week 2.

Please know that everything possible is being done to keep everyone in our schools as safe as possible, whilst also ensuring that learning for students continues to occur.

If you’re wanting to know more information, please refer to the frequently asked questions for parents and carers and Department of Education COVID-19 website.

If you still have a question, please talk to the school office or contact the Department of Education COVID Support Hotline at COVID19support@education.tas.gov.au or on 1800 816 057.

Kind regards

Erika Lees

Principal

Families who drop children off at school by car will notice that yellow circles have been painted along our bus parking area. These are to remind drivers that this is a Stop, Drop and Go area, NOT a parking area. We had a number of times when it was very difficult for the bus to enter the carpark due to cars parked in this area.

We are continuing to try to work with the Department of Education, the Huon Valley Council and the Department of State Growth around our parking limitations.

I would like to extend a HUGE thank you to the Parent & Friends volunteers who came and helped in our grounds for a working bee last Friday. Our school is looking great and your help is very much appreciated.