Morisset Public School

Learn and Live

Telephone02 4973 1435

Emailmorisset-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Principal's message - COVID update - Masks, Visitors, Cohorting and Rapid Antigen Tests

School office

Dear parents and carers,

The Premier and Minister for Education have announced changes to school settings for the remainder of Term 1. These updated settings were developed in close consultation with NSW Health and key stakeholders to ensure we continue to keep our schools open for learning, while keeping up with changing community settings.

The updated settings include:

Rapid Antigen Tests - We will continue the use of rapid antigen tests (RATs) for twice-weekly testing of students and staff until Friday February 25.

• From Monday February 28, we will move to symptomatic testing. Tests are to be used at your discretion such as if your child is symptomatic or there are cases in their class. Our school will provide each student and staff member with 8-10 tests per student and staff member.

• Beyond that, students and staff can access PCR tests or buy their own rapid antigen tests as these are now freely available and accessible in the community.

Masks - Masks will continue to be required indoors for all school staff, volunteers and visitors including parents and carers in primary schools until Friday March 4. This means that from Monday March 7, masks will no longer be mandatory for all staff. However, those who wish to continue to use them will be supported to do so.

Visitors on site - From Monday February 28, visitors can be allowed back on school sites regardless of their vaccination status. Our school will consider activities such as assemblies, parent-teacher meetings and other gatherings in the coming weeks. We will let you know if these can proceed with our school in a COVID-smart way. All visitors are asked to follow our usual sign-in and sign-out process.

Our school will continue to ensure our layered COVID-smart measures are in place, including vaccinations, maximising natural ventilation in learning spaces, continued good hand hygiene practices and enhanced cleaning.

Cohorting - is no longer required. As of Monday February 28, students will no longer be required to be kept in the blue and orange cohorts. We will continue to use the core layered COVID-smart measures for minimising risk when planning activities and events. However, we will continue to use our current procedures for entering and exiting the school via Gate 3 (Crossing), Gate 2 (Kiss and Ride) and Gate 5 (Bus) minimising mingling outside gates and continuing to exercise social distancing where possible.

We strongly encourage our students and their families to consider vaccination including boosters when eligible. Find a vaccination clinic to book an appointment near you.

Thank you again for your continued support during this school term.

The School Stream App continues to be our primary method of communication and updates. Please do not hesitate to phone or email the school if you have further questions.

Mrs Warham Principal