I HAVE RECENTLY RETURNED FROM TRAVELLING. WHAT SHOULD I DO?
If you were in Greater Sydney, including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour on or after Monday 21 June 2021, follow the stay at home rules for 14 days from the date you left the area and closely monitor symptoms. Students can only return when they are symptom-free and preferably with a negative COVID-19 test result.
Please be mindful of our whole school community, especially those who are vulnerable, when making your decisions about returning to school from Greater Sydney.
If you have travelled within NSW, visit the NSW Health website (www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/latest-news-and-updates) for a list of venues where person(s) with confirmed cases of COVID-19 visited.
If you have visited a listed venue on the identified dates as noted on the NSW Health website:
WHAT CLEANING, HYGIENE AND DISTANCING MEASURES ARE IN PLACE AT THE SCHOOL?
CLEANING
HYGIENE
Continued promotion of good hygiene practices for staff and students. This includes:
SOCIAL DISTANCING
Shearwater will continue to encourage social distancing for both students (where possible and practical) and staff. This includes:
MASK-WEARING
CAN VISITORS BE ON SITE AT SHEARWATER?
No parents or visitors on site during school hours except in special circumstances with permission from the Head of School. Those visitors and parents permitted on site are required to report to the School Office.
WHAT CHANGES ARE IN PLACE FOR SCHOOL DROP-OFF AND PICK-UP?
For afternoon pick up, students with siblings being picked up from Early Childhood will be escorted by an assistant to the High School undercover ball court to meet their parents/carers. Please advise your child's teacher if you require this arrangement.
If your child is late to school, please call or email attendance@shearwater.nsw.edu.au before your child is dropped at school. Your child will need to arrive at reception before heading to class.
If you need to collect your child early, please call or email attendance@shearwater.nsw.edu.au beforehand and we will ensure your child is waiting at reception when you arrive.
ARE BUS SERVICES RUNNING TO AND FROM SHEARWATER?
Families are encouraged to use bus services where possible for their children so that we can avoid congestion in our drop-off and pick-up areas.
Shearwater has confirmed with the bus companies that provide services to and from the School, that all regular school services are running. Please contact individual bus companies for any service-specific questions.
WHEN SHOULD I KEEP MY CHILD HOME FROM SCHOOL?
WHAT HAPPENS IF MY CHILD BECOMES UNWELL AT SCHOOL OR SHOWS ANY SIGNS OF RESPIRATORY ILLNESS AND/OR COLD OR FLU-LIKE SYMPTOMS?
WHAT HAPPENS IF I RECEIVE A ‘SHEARWATER COVID TEST REQUEST’ FOR MY CHILD BUT I DO NOT PRESENT EVIDENCE OF A NEGATIVE COVID TEST RESULT OR A LETTER FROM A GP?
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF MY CHILD IS WELL BUT I WANT TO KEEP HIM/HER HOME FROM SCHOOL?
WHAT CAN I DO AT HOME TO PROTECT AGAINST COVID-19?
Practise good hygiene to protect against infection and prevent the virus spreading.
If you were in Greater Sydney, including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour on or after Monday 21 June 2021, follow the stay at home rules for 14 days from the date you left the area and closely monitor symptoms. Students can only return when they are symptom-free and preferably with a negative COVID-19 test result.
Please be mindful of our whole school community, especially those who are vulnerable, when making your decisions about returning to school from Greater Sydney.
If you have travelled within NSW, visit the NSW Health website (www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/latest-news-and-updates) for a list of venues where person(s) with confirmed cases of COVID-19 visited.
If you have visited a listed venue on the identified dates as noted on the NSW Health website:
- Adhere to the advice on the NSW website regarding self-isolation and testing.
- Inform the person undertaking the COVID-19 test of the venue and the date of your visit - this will assist in management of the outbreak.
- Provide family members with the relevant information, such as self-isolation, if that has been advised by NSW Health.
WHAT CLEANING, HYGIENE AND DISTANCING MEASURES ARE IN PLACE AT THE SCHOOL?
CLEANING
- Extended and increased formal cleaning of high-touch areas including toilets, door knobs, taps, light switches etc.
- Further installation of extra hand sanitising stations throughout high-traffic areas of the School, including classrooms, music and specialist rooms, library and staff rooms (this is in addition to the extra hand washing measures that were put in place in Term 1 2020).
- Provision of sanitising packs to teaching staff for use in classrooms.
HYGIENE
Continued promotion of good hygiene practices for staff and students. This includes:
- Washing hands with soap and water for 20 seconds, or using hand sanitiser, when entering school, and at regular intervals throughout the day particularly before and after eating, and after going to the toilet. All classrooms have a supply of hand sanitiser.
- Covering coughs and sneezes with one’s elbow or a tissue and placing used tissues straight into the bin.
- Avoiding touching one’s eyes, nose and mouth.
- Encouraging students to not share food or drink.
- Continued adherence to strictest food hygiene preparation standards for the Canteen.
- All students should bring their own water bottles to school with their names clearly marked. Students are able to refill their water bottles from various taps around the School.
SOCIAL DISTANCING
Shearwater will continue to encourage social distancing for both students (where possible and practical) and staff. This includes:
- Where appropriate or possible, conducting lessons outdoors or in environments with enhanced ventilation.
- Where possible, arranging classroom furniture to leave maximum space between students.
- Where appropriate, teachers and staff maintaining 1.5m physical distance from other adults in staff rooms and common areas.
- Encouraging non-contact greetings.
MASK-WEARING
- Recommended at school (but not mandatory) for school staff and students aged 13 and over.
- Mandatory for all students 13 years and over on public transport.
- Required for visitors and parents on school grounds.
CAN VISITORS BE ON SITE AT SHEARWATER?
No parents or visitors on site during school hours except in special circumstances with permission from the Head of School. Those visitors and parents permitted on site are required to report to the School Office.
WHAT CHANGES ARE IN PLACE FOR SCHOOL DROP-OFF AND PICK-UP?
For afternoon pick up, students with siblings being picked up from Early Childhood will be escorted by an assistant to the High School undercover ball court to meet their parents/carers. Please advise your child's teacher if you require this arrangement.
If your child is late to school, please call or email attendance@shearwater.nsw.edu.au before your child is dropped at school. Your child will need to arrive at reception before heading to class.
If you need to collect your child early, please call or email attendance@shearwater.nsw.edu.au beforehand and we will ensure your child is waiting at reception when you arrive.
ARE BUS SERVICES RUNNING TO AND FROM SHEARWATER?
Families are encouraged to use bus services where possible for their children so that we can avoid congestion in our drop-off and pick-up areas.
Shearwater has confirmed with the bus companies that provide services to and from the School, that all regular school services are running. Please contact individual bus companies for any service-specific questions.
WHEN SHOULD I KEEP MY CHILD HOME FROM SCHOOL?
- Any student or staff member who has been in Greater Sydney, including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour on or after Monday 21 June 2021, must follow the stay at home rules for 14 days from the date they left the area and closely monitor symptoms. Students can only return when they are symptom-free and preferably with a negative COVID-19 test result.
- Students or staff who have been identified as close contacts of a person diagnosed with COVID-19 during their infectious period must also self-isolate at home, and should not attend school or childcare settings until 14 days after their last contact with the infected person.
- Parents are requested to keep their child home if they are unwell with ANY cold or flu like symptoms until symptoms have fully resolved.
- Students kept at home that display ANY of the following symptoms (fever, cough, sore/scratchy throat, shortness of breath, loss of smell or taste) must present a negative COVID test before being allowed to return to school.
- Any student with a known allergy must have a medical action plan in place at the School, or a current letter from their doctor, to minimise confusion about assessing symptoms.
WHAT HAPPENS IF MY CHILD BECOMES UNWELL AT SCHOOL OR SHOWS ANY SIGNS OF RESPIRATORY ILLNESS AND/OR COLD OR FLU-LIKE SYMPTOMS?
- If a student becomes unwell with ANY cold or flu-like symptoms they will be directed to visit the Wellness Room. If symptoms warrant the student being collected, a parent/carer will be contacted and prompt collection of the student is required. If a parent/carer can’t be contacted, an emergency contact will be called. Please note that the School will always err on the side of caution when making a decision to send a child home.
- If the student being sent home has ANY of the following symptoms (fever, cough, sore/scratchy throat, shortness of breath, loss of smell or taste), parents will be sent a ‘Shearwater COVID Test Request’ email advising that evidence of a negative COVID test must be presented before the child can return to school. However if you believe your child has other medical reasons for recurrent symptoms (eg an allergy), a letter from your GP is sufficient to negate the requirement for a negative test.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I RECEIVE A ‘SHEARWATER COVID TEST REQUEST’ FOR MY CHILD BUT I DO NOT PRESENT EVIDENCE OF A NEGATIVE COVID TEST RESULT OR A LETTER FROM A GP?
- If you choose to disregard the School's request for your child to present evidence of a negative COVID test (or a letter from a GP), your child will not be permitted to return to school until they are completely symptom-free.
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF MY CHILD IS WELL BUT I WANT TO KEEP HIM/HER HOME FROM SCHOOL?
- If parents are keeping children home as a long-term precautionary measure, please contact the School to let us know.
WHAT CAN I DO AT HOME TO PROTECT AGAINST COVID-19?
Practise good hygiene to protect against infection and prevent the virus spreading.
- Cover your coughs and sneezes with your elbow or a tissue.
- Put used tissues straight into the bin.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, including before and after eating and after going to the toilet
- Use alcohol-based hand sanitisers.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
- Clean and disinfect frequently used surfaces such as bench tops, desks and doorknobs.
- Clean and disinfect frequently used objects such as mobile phones, keys, wallets and work passes.
- Increase the amount of fresh air available by opening windows or adjusting air conditioning.