Bell rings for COVID-SAFE return to school
STUDENTS across the region are set to return to school on February 1, with a number of “Covid-smart settings” in place to minimise risk.
NSW Premier, Dominic Perrottet, said supporting students to return safely to the classroom was vital after two years of disruption.
“Students learn best at school, some students have spent a quarter of their schooling at home,” he said during a press conference earlier this week.
“We’re committed to bringing students back safely and new Covid-smart measures will help make this happen.
“What is most important about this approach is that it allows students to enjoy all aspects of their schooling in a safe and sensible way.”
Every student and teacher in NSW government and non-government schools will receive a rapid antigen test (RAT) kit before the start of Term 1.
The state government plan includes:
z Twice-a-week rapid testing for primary and high school students, school staff and early childhood staff. Rapid testing will be undertaken for the first four weeks of term, with two weeks of supply distributed before term starts.
z Mandatory mask wearing for all staff and high school students, with masks encouraged for children in primary schools.
z Limiting interaction between year groups.
z Limiting visitors to those providing essential curriculum and wellbeing support.
z COVID-SAFE settings in place for music, sport and excursions.
z Maximising natural and mechanical ventilation, with air purifiers dispatched to where they are needed.
z Contingency plans in place to manage any disruptions to the workforce.
Families will be notified by their schools on how and when to collect the RAT kits for their children.
NSW education and early learning minister, Sarah Mitchell, said testing complemented other Covid-smart measures in schools.
“We have worked closely with the Victorian Government to create plans that achieve the same important goals of seeing our students learning in their classrooms safely and with minimal disruption,” Ms Mitchell said.
“Activities students love, such as music, school sport and assemblies, will continue with settings in place similar to late last year.”
Association of Independent Schools of NSW chief executive, Dr Geoff Newcombe, said all three school sectors had worked closely together to develop the back-to-school arrangements.
“School communities should feel confident about returning for Term 1 under these arrangements, which allow a wide range of activities to proceed with appropriate risk assessment and planning,” Dr Newcombe said.
Catholic Schools NSW chief executive officer, Dallas Mcinerney, said it was imperative schools were safe and remained open.
“We need to keep our students, teachers and families safe and also provide stability,” he said.
“We know that our kids learn best when they’re in the classroom with their teacher and peers.’’
Ms Mitchell also revealed schools would no longer close once a positive case was identified and contact-tracing would not be completed.
“If you are testing negative that’s great, come to school, but if you happen to get a positive test you need to let your principal know that you have tested positive to Covid,” Ms Mitchell said.
“You also need to let NSW Health know through the Services NSW app but we will no longer be closing schools when there is a positive Covid case in that community and we will not be conducting contact tracing anymore.
“We are really moving schools in line with what we see in community settings, but parents and carers and family members will be notified if there is Covid in your school community.”
Schools will be required to carry out an improved cleaning regimen.
NSW Chief Health Officer, Dr Kerry Chant, said parents could expect some infections in schools.
“We are calling upon all parents to ensure that any children with symptoms are not sent to school,” Dr Chant said.
“We are likely to see some transmission in schools, but the strategies that have been put in place by Education, in conjunction with Health, are strong.”
Dr Chant urged parents to minimise their children’s activities in the first four weeks of school, such as sleepovers and “other activities that might drive infection” to preserve face-to-face time at schools.
NSW Teacher’s Federation president, Angelo Gavrielatos, was guarded in his support of the government’s return to school strategies.
“There should also be the availability of rapid antigen tests for what we call a ‘test-and-stay regime’ in between the periods or the days on which the surveillance testing is occurring, as reported, on Monday and Wednesday,” he said.
He also said they would have liked to have seen more robust settings around ventilation, air purifiers and mask-wearing.
“This is not the start to the school year anyone wished for,” he said.
“There will be, regrettably, disruption associated with the commencement of the school year.
“We will clearly be monitoring the implementation of those measures and, importantly, the effectiveness of those measures with a view to seeking urgent adjustments and improvements, should they be required, in order to offer the greatest amount of protection available to our students, our staff and their families.”