As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the health and safety of our school communities and the continued learning of our students remain our highest priority. In accordance with NSW Health, below is a summary of some of the new rules for your information.

From Monday 1 August 2022

RHAT testing

If a child has cold and flu symptoms, they do not need to provide evidence of a negative RHAT result before they can return to school. However, parents are encouraged to use their discretion if their child has symptoms.

Changes to Isolation

Staff and students who have previously had COVID-19 are asked to test for COVID-19 after 4 weeks (or 28 days) since their isolation ended if they have symptoms.

COVID-19 Positive Cases

Staff and students who get a positive test result, must register it on service.nsw.gov.au or the Service NSW app and tell the school as soon as possible.

Close Contacts

Staff and students who are close contacts and have no symptoms can continue to attend school if they follow the guidelines agreed with NSW Health.

Close contacts will not be permitted to enter a specialist centre or support unit (included Assisted School Travel Program) and will be supported to continue learning from home where possible.

Vaccinations

All staff working in SCS specialist support schools and classes are to be fully vaccinated. We strongly encourage all staff, students and families to be vaccinated. Children 5-11 years of age can now get vaccinated.

Ventilation

Sydney Catholic Schools as part of the COVID-19 Safe Return to School Strategy have begun placing 4,000 high quality portable air purification units and 160 handheld air quality sensors in all 150 Sydney Catholic Schools.

Sydney Catholic Schools monitors the information about COVID-19 provided by our governments and their departments daily, and we regularly assess our risk mitigation strategies to ensure we have plans in place to protect everyone in our school communities.

Our schools continue to operate with increased vigilance around hygiene. SCS has created quick tips which can be printed and placed around classrooms and homes. The World Health Organisation has produced detailed advice on the prevention of COVID-19.

Flu-like and other COVID-19 symptoms
Any staff member or student who has tested positive for COVID-19 or are unwell or are showing COVID-19 symptoms must continue to isolate at home.

If a student or family member tests positive to COVID-19 they are requested to contact their school principal as a matter of urgency and they must complete a 7 days self-isolation quarantine as advised by NSW Health. A list of News & Updates is available from NSW Health, we ask our communities to follow any advice or guidelines given there.

Face masks

In line with the Department of Education, masks for all staff and students are strongly encouraged to be worn indoors. In line with community settings, workers who support our students with disability in specialty schools, support units and some mainstream classrooms will continue to be required to wear masks while working with students.

Please follow the current information on masks on the NSW Health advice of face masks.

Continuity of learning
Our schools are committed to facilitating continued learning for students despite interruptions to normal school attendance.
While our schools remain open, rest assured we are working on contingencies should circumstances change.

Parents can access frequently asked questions about remote learning for more information.

Online etiquette
During remote learning situations we ask parents to be conscious of the social protocols around various home learning platforms. It’s important parents remind their children that expected behaviours in the ‘virtual classroom’ are the same as those in the real world.

This guide to Zoom for parents aims to help you maintain the wellbeing of your child while learning online.

As COVID-19 continues to impact our daily lives, we believe it is vital to address any concerns for the mental and emotional health of our school communities. Sydney Catholic Schools has highly effective student support structures and resources in place to help build students’ resilience. These may also assist to alleviate any anxiety or concerns related to COVID-19 and its impact. They include:

  • counsellors who provide skilled, student and family centred support in all primary and secondary schools. CatholicCare counsellors offer much of this support. Plans for the provision of remote services are currently being developed.
  • highly-trained student wellbeing personnel who continue to provide support to our schools.

Children and young people, while not considered to be in a high risk category, may be exposed to news reports, social media and general discussions about the unfolding events. Parent resources are available to help guide the conversation around coronavirus.

Talking to your child about COVID-19
School.tv has released a helpful short video that details how to talk to your child about the pandemic. Other resources to guide the conversation:

For advice on maintaining positive mental health, Beyond Blue, Headspace and Reachout are all reliable sources. The Smiling Mind app is a free tool to promote mindfulness and also includes information on how to support children in times of crisis.

Support is also available through the following phone counselling services:

  • Beyond Blue – 1300 224 636
  • Lifeline – 13 11 14
  • Kids Helpline – 1800 551 800
  • CatholicCare’s Parentline  – 1300 1300 52, and Careline on 13 18 19
  • Mental Health Line – 1800 011 511

General inquiries and translation services
A 24-hour Service NSW hotline is available to help people with any difficulties during the COVID-19 period.
For assistance, phone 13 77 88. For free help in your language, call Translating and Interpreting Services on 13 14 50 and ask them to contact the Service NSW hotline on your behalf.

Remote learning resources

Information regarding COVID-19 is changing daily. The latest information from NSW Health can be accessed via the following links.

NSW Department of Health – Coronavirus alerts: general
NSW Department of Health – Coronavirus: FAQs
NSW Department of Health – Coronavirus alerts: schools and early children centres, parents and students
World Health Organisation – global updates
DFAT Smart Traveller
Service NSW

Last updated 04 August 2022