Updated rules and Covid

Dear parents and carers 

As you may be aware, WA Health has updated the rules for close contacts of COVID-19 cases linked to schools, based on public health advice.

Effective immediately, household members are no longer required to quarantine with a child who is identified as a close contact of a COVID-19 case.

We understand that a parent or carer may still need to stay home to care for a child quarantining, but the rest of the household, including siblings who have not been identified as close contacts, are not required to stay home.

 As a household member of a close contact, it is important to take extra precautions, where possible, including: 

  • minimise physical contact with the close contact
  • sleep separately from the close contact
  • use a separate bathroom from the close contact if possible
  • wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser
  • cover coughs and sneezes
  • Regularly clean all surfaces (such as tabletops, doorknobs and bathroom fixtures) by using household disinfectant or diluted bleach solution
  • wear a mask in shared areas or when caring for other members of the household.

It is important that members of the household monitor for COVID-19 symptoms, and if symptoms develop, get tested immediately. If a person living in the house tests positive to COVID-19, all household members are close contacts and must self-isolate.

Kind regards 

Jacob Slavin
Principal

Advice from WA Health

Dear parents/carers and staff,

On advice from WA Health, I am providing the following information. There has been a positive case of COVID-19 at Warriapendi Primary School.

They attended the Year 1 Room 5 class on Friday 25 February while infectious.

All students and staff who were in Year 1 Room 5 class at the same time as the case, for more than two hours, are deemed a close contact by WA Health and should get tested immediately and quarantine for 7 days from exposure.

The following key dates apply for all students and staff who were in this class:

  • Date of final PCR test: Thursday 3 March 2022
  • End of quarantine date and time: Friday 4 March 2022 3pm
  • These students and staff can return to school on Tuesday 8 March 2022 (Monday Public Holiday) provided they have not developed any symptoms and have returned either a negative PCR on day 6 or RAT on or after day 7. If students or staff are unwell, they should stay home until symptoms clear.

COVID-19 PCR tests can be accessed at a COVID Clinic. A list of clinics can be found here:

https://www.healthywa.wa.gov.au/COVIDclinics

A close contact information sheet from WA Health is attached to this communication.

Advice for all families and staff:

  • The school remains open.
  • If your child was not in the Year 1 Room 5 class at the same time as the case, for more
  • than two hours, your child is not required to quarantine and should attend school.
  • If staff were not in the Year 1 Room 5 class for more than two hours during this time, they
  • are not required to quarantine and should attend school.
  • As for everyone in Western Australia, we ask that you monitor your child/yourself for
  • symptoms of COVID-19 and get tested and isolate until you receive a negative result, if
  • symptoms develop.
  • If you or your child develop symptoms, please do not attend school.
  • Please note that the Omicron strain can present with less typical symptoms such as
  • diarrhoea, particularly in children.

If you have queries or concerns, please contact WA Health on 1300 316 555.

Kind regards

Jacob Slavin

Principal

Level 2 Public Health Measures

Dear parent/carer 

The Premier has announced Level 2 public health measures which will come into effect on Thursday 3 March, details at wa.gov.au. They include the requirement for adults and children in Years 3 and above to wear masks at all indoor public settings.

This means our students in Year 3 and above will now need to wear a mask indoors at school. The usual exemptions apply, such as removing the mask to eat, drink, take medicine or do vigorous exercise.

You may wish to speak to your child about wearing a mask, and that their friends will also be wearing them. Wearing masks in the classroom will help to reduce the spread of the virus. If your child is in Kindergarten to Year 2, you may wish to let them know that they will see other children around the school wearing a mask, just like their teacher does. Our staff will continue to explain to our students the importance of wearing a mask to support each other and help keep our community safe.

I want to assure you that the health and safety of our students and staff is our top priority and we will continue to follow the latest WA Health advice. I encourage you to stay up to date on COVID-19 safe measures at wa.gov.au.

I also take this opportunity to remind you to monitor yourself and your child for symptoms of COVID-19, and keep your child home from school and get them tested if they are unwell.

Thank you for your understanding and support to help keep our school COVID-19 safe.

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact the school on 9345 6100.

Jacob Slavin

Principal

Warriapendi Primary School

Close Contact Identification

Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)
Information for parents/guardians 
Child identified as a close contact of a COVID-19 positive case

If your child has been identified as a close contact of a person who has been diagnosed with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), your child must stay home for at least 7 days from their last time/date of contact with a positive case of COVID-19, or as advised by WA Health.

This letter provides important information about COVID-19 and what you need to do.

What is COVID-19 and what are the symptoms?

COVID-19 is caused by a virus. Symptoms range from mild illness to pneumonia and may include fever, flu-like symptoms (cough, sore throat and fatigue), diarrhoea, nausea/vomiting, shortness of breath and loss of smell and/or taste. Some people will recover easily while others may get sicker. Most of the symptoms of COVID-19 can be treated at home. 

Does my child need to stay at home all the time? 

Your child should not leave your home or accommodation unless you need to seek urgent medical attention or escape an immediate threat to their safety or your safety. Your child should not attend public places. Your child should not attend school. 

If a child needs care throughout their self-quarantine period, the parent/guardian will need to quarantine with them. Families should choose one parent or guardian to quarantine with the child for the entire quarantine period. Switching parents or guardians is discouraged. If a sibling or other child cannot adequately separate from the close contact, that sibling or child should also quarantine with the parent or guardian and close contact. 

Some older children may be able to quarantine independently in a separate area of the house if they do not require hands-on care. 

If the child tests positive for COVID-19, a parent, guardian or sibling quarantining with the child will be at risk of developing COVID-19 and you will be required to complete an additional quarantine period as directed by WA Health. 

Your child’s legal quarantine requirements are set out in the COVID Transition (Testing and Isolation) Directions, which can be found online at: www.wa.gov.au/government/publications/covid-transition-testing-and-isolation-directions.

What about people who live with me and my child?

Please see the fact sheet for information on how to manage at home and protect the people who live with you, which can be found at www.healthywa.wa.gov.au/Articles/A_E/Coronavirus.

What do I do if my child develops symptoms of COVID-19?

If you or your child develop symptoms at any time, you/your child should attend your nearest COVID-19 clinic for a test. PCR testing can be accessed at a COVID Clinic: https://www.healthywa.wa.gov.au/articles/a_e/coronavirus/covid-clinics. Where possible a PCR test is preferred. If you are symptomatic and choose to use a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) instead and, if the initial test is negative, you will need to repeat it 24 hours later. 

If you need assistance contact Public Health Operations Team on 1300 316 555, available 7 days a week between 8:00am and 7:45pm.  

When can my child leave isolation?

Your child can leave isolation after: 

  • Your child returned a negative PCR or RAT on or after day 6 (PCR preferred); and
  • Your child has not developed any symptoms; and
  • 7 days have passed since their last contact with a positive case of COVID-19.

If your child develops symptoms during their period of quarantine, they must have a PCR test.

Your child should not enter any high-risk settings (unless specifically authorised to do so or for emergency medical treatment) for the first 7 days after you come out of isolation. High risk settings include aged care facilities, residential care facilities, health care settings and correctional facilities.  

What if I think my child requires medical attention?

Some options for medical care should it be needed:

  • Most GPs have access to Telehealth consultations, please contact your GP to book a consultation.  
  • If your child needs urgent medical treatment at a hospital, call ahead to tell them that your child is a close contact of a confirmed case of COVID-19. Use a private car for transport, go by the most direct route and wear a mask.
  • On arrival at the hospital, notify staff that your child is a contact of a confirmed case of COVID-19.
  • If you child has severe symptoms, such as shortness of breath, call 000 and request an ambulance. Inform the call centre and ambulance officers that your child is a close contact of a confirmed case of COVID-19.

What if I am experiencing concerns about my child’s mental health?

You may wish to access support through the following agencies:

  • Your GP
  • Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636
  • Lifeline 13 11 14
  • Mental Health Emergency Response Line (MHERL) Metro: 1300 555 788 or Peel: 1800 676 822

What if I am experiencing financial issues? 

You may be eligible to access the Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment, you can apply though Centrelink at 

https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/services/centrelink/pandemic-leave-disaster-payment-western-australia or contact the Department of Communities on https://www.communities.wa.gov.au/contact/.

For further information, visit https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov.

Guidelines for COVID testing

Hello Parents and carers,

COVID 19 is becoming more prevalent in the community. If you or a family member are required to complete a Covid-19 test There are guidelines that you will have to follow, these can be found at WA government website.

Please also note that we are under phase 1 restrictions at the moment. If we go into phase 2 restrictions then children in years 3, 4, 5 & 6 will be required to wear a mask at school. 

Please ensure that you are prepared for this to happen by getting a supply of children’s disposable masks or a fabric reusable mask ready for your year: 3, 4, 5 or 6 child to wear so that they can come to school.

I appreciate your compliance and preparation in relation to this possible requirement.

Jacob Slavin

Principal

New Social Measures

Dear parent/carer 

As you may be aware, on 18 February, the WA Government announced further public health and social measures to come into effect at 6.00am on Monday 21 February, details at wa.gov.au

This includes the requirement for masks to be worn indoors all across WA.  

That means teachers and staff in our school will need to wear masks indoors, unless exempt. Our students are not required to wear a mask however you can choose for your child to wear a mask indoors and that is encouraged.

You might want to let your child know that they will see staff wearing masks, and that teachers may take their mask off when teaching. Our staff will explain to our students the importance of wearing a mask. 

I want to assure you that the health and safety of our students and staff is our top priority and we will continue to follow the latest WA Health advice at ww2.healthywa.gov.au .  

Thank you to all students and parents for your understanding and support during these times. 

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact the school on 93456100 

Jacob Slavin

Principal

Warriapendi Primary School

Welcome to 2022

Dear Parents/Caregivers

The last two weeks have been very exciting welcoming everyone back to the 2022 school year and meeting all the new families. Teachers have been busy setting up their classrooms and designing outstanding learning programs that will motivate your children through explicit instruction to achieve their personal best. We continue to provide specialist programs in Art, Music, Science, Health and Physical Education. Our whole school programs in Reading, Spelling and Maths started this week with students adjusting to new teachers for each of these subjects. It is with great pleasure that I welcome our new staff; Mrs Lee, Miss Jones, and Mrs Campbell who bring great skill and expertise to Warriapendi. We also have a new school Psychologist Mrs McClean who comes into school on a Monday. Mrs Rao has also returned from Long Service Leave.

COVID-19 and School

The Education Department continue to balance coming to school and keeping people safe. At the moment there are frequent updates/requirements that we need to adhere to. Unfortunately, parent information sessions have been cancelled (teachers will be supplying some class information in a letter); Breakfast club, school assemblies and choir have been postponed; Children are eating in year level groups; Parents are allowed onto school ground as long as they are wearing a mask, unfortunately parents are no longer allowed in classrooms. If you require a meeting with a teacher please make an arrangement with the teacher – this will most likely take place outdoors.

Any changes/restrictions can be viewed in the “what’s happening” section – “COVID Updates” Tab, please keep an eye on this information so that you are well informed.

If your child is sick they cannot be at school and you should follow WA health advice before returning to school. Please think about the safety of the school community.

Timetable

Our school has strict arrival and departure times for the safety of all students. Students should not arrive at school before 8.25am Students are required to change reading books from 8.30am and the school day starts promptly at 8.40am and finishes at 2.50pm sharp. Please ensure that your child arrives on time so that they do not miss important learning at the start of the day. Break times are still 1st Lunch (10.50am – 11.20am), 2nd Lunch (1.20pm – 1.50pm).

Welcome to our Kindy 1 children

Parking

Please be patient when dropping off and picking up your child to ensure that you are following the rules of the road. Parking continues to be an issue. The car park next to the Child and Parent Centre (CPC) is only for parents visiting the CPC and parents who have children in the Kindergarten. The yellow parking bays north of the Early Years playground do not belong to Warriapendi Primary do not use these bays. If your child is in years PP-6, you need to use the parking along Redcliffe Avenue. If you live close to the school, walking is a healthy option and you can enjoy the wonderful summer weather.

Do not park in the yellow parking bays and only parents going to the CPC and Kindy Parents to access parking inside the gates thank you.

Jacob Slavin
Principal