Dear Parents and Carers,
From Friday 9 September, public health measures have eased. The isolation period for COVID-19 positive cases and close contacts has reduced from 7 days to 5 days, provided infected individuals are free of symptoms at the time they leave isolation. Mask requirements for public and passenger transport have also changed.
People who test positive for COVID-19 must isolate for a minimum of 5 days and can leave isolation if they no longer have symptoms. People who are still symptomatic must remain in isolation until symptoms clear.
Close contacts with no symptoms can continue to attend school and do not have to isolate for the 5 days if they:
- undertake a daily Rapid Antigen Test (RAT)
- wear a mask outside the home (Year 7 and above).
Testing for COVID-19 for students who are symptomatic or as a close contact, remains an effective way to limit the spread of COVID-19 in our schools. If you need additional RATs, please contact us.
Please let the school know if your child tests positive for COVID-19 or is a close contact.
Students on work placement and work experience, and staff who visit these students, will be required to follow any public health restrictions and testing and isolation protocols applicable to their work placement site. Mask wearing will still be required for high-risk settings such as hospitals and health care settings.
Masks no longer are required to be worn on public or passenger transport. Masks are an important measure to reduce transmission and are still encouraged to be worn in crowded indoor settings when people are unable to physically distance. Students and staff can choose to wear a mask at school, at any time.
Please contact the School on 9335 6323 if you have any queries about COVID-19 safe measures at Port. Thank you for your continued support and helping to keep Port School COVID-19 safe.
Kind regards,
Barry Finch
Principal
12 September 2022
Dear Parents and Carers,
I am writing to let you know that the State Government has once again supplied free Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) for each student.
These free RATs will support our students to continue to attend school for face-to-face learning and will minimise disruption to their schooling.
If your child is feeling unwell, is a close contact or if there is a COVID-19 positive case in your household, you will need to test them daily. They may continue to attend school, as along as they receive a negative result, remain asymptomatic, and always wear a mask when outside the home.
These RATs will be available from Monday 22 August. Parents and carers may collect these from the main school reception between 8.45am and 3.00pm.
Please call, text or email the School if you are unable to collect your tests and wish to give permission for us to send them home with your student. In this case, please ensure that your student brings a bag to school in which to carry them home.
Please remember, if your child becomes symptomatic, they should stay home and be tested for COVID-19. You should notify the school if your child tests positive for COVID-19. Refer to healthywa.wa.gov.au for information on close contact definition, testing and isolation requirements.
Thank you for your continued efforts in keeping the Port School Community COVID-19 safe.
Kind Regards,
Barry Finch
Principal
15 August 2022
Dear Parents and Carers,
Throughout the pandemic, Port School has been supported and guided by the Association of Independent Schools of WA (AISWA) who have worked closely with the Department of Education and Catholic Education WA. Together, they have provided all schools with support to remain open and to minimise the disruption to student learning.
We kindly ask that you read the attached letter from these bodies, which reiterates the importance of wearing a mask to reduce the risk of transmission in schools and in the community.
In response to the current level of infection in the community and in order to ensure that Port remains a safe environment, all staff, students and visitors are requested as of MONDAY 25 JULY to wear a mask when indoors at school. Staff and students are also reminded to observe social distancing protocols.
Please remember, if your child becomes symptomatic or is a household contact, they should stay home and be tested for COVID-19. Refer to healthywa.wa.gov.au for information on close contact definition, testing and isolation requirements. Please also remember to notify the School if your child tests positive for COVID-19.
The WA Government will once again be providing 20 free Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) for each student. Further information regarding collection of these tests will follow in the next weeks.
Thank you for your continued efforts and support in keeping Port School COVID-19 safe for all students and staff.
Kind Regards,
Barry Finch
Principal
21 July 2022
