3 March Headmaster Parent Update 8
Dear Scotch community,
The following is an update regarding the current COVID situation.
Contract Tracing and Reporting
Over the last week, WA Independent Schools received updated guidelines and processes for the management of COVID. Schools have been informed that they are now to assume the role from the Health Department in identifying the infectious period for a positive case prior to undertaking close contact determination and the notification of families as to when the student may return to school. The school will make direct contact with families when and if required. Our communication is based on ensuring that the safety and wellbeing of the students, staff and the community are prioritised.
Reporting COVID Positive Results
Families are required to email Headmaster@scotch.wa.edu.au if their child is a confirmed positive COVID case. A student will be considered a positive case if they have returned a positive PCR test or if they are a confirmed close contact and have returned a positive RAT.
Determining Close Contacts at school
• A person who spends more than two hours in a classroom where masks are not worn by both the person who tests positive and the other people in the classroom.
• A person who spends more than 15 minutes face to face with someone COVID positive where masks were not worn by both the exposed person and the person with COVID. Therefore, if one person is wearing a mask during the 15 minutes spent together, they are not considered a close contact. This applies inside and outside.
Please reinforce with your son that at recess and lunch, they only remove their masks for eating and drinking to reduce the likelihood that they may be identified as a close contact if a COVID positive student is in their immediate group of friends.
Reporting as a close contact in isolation
If your child is isolating as a close contact, please email your relevant sub-school at the following addresses:
Junior School: juniorschool@scotch.wa.edu.au
Middle School: middleschool@scotch.wa.edu.au
Senior School: seniorschool@scotch.wa.edu.au
Thank you for your ongoing support and understanding as we navigate COVID together.
Kind regards
Dr A J O’Connell
Headmaster