4 February 2022

Principal’s Report

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Return to school 2022

We are excited about starting another new year with your children, but are of course planning for some disruption as a result of the highly transmissible Omicron variant, that is moving through Tasmania.

The Department of Education is regularly updating the information it provides us, and we will continue to forward you any updates. Please review the links provided in this week’s newsletter which has been sent home to provide important information with regards to start of school this year.

Covid Care Packs

In order to start the school year as safety as possible, the Department of Education is providing each child at Snug Primary School with a Covid Care pack. THESE NEED TO BE COLLECTED FROM THE SCHOOL ON MONDAY 7 FEBRUARY AND TUESDAY 8 FEBRUARY.

In the pack are a Preparing for Covid-19 flyer, with information about how we can stay Covid safe, as well as more detailed information on managing Covid-19 in your family should you be impacted; two rapid antigen tests (RATs) – for you to use with your child if they are experiencing symptoms as outlined in the flyer; surgical face masks; a flyer for student wellbeing which lists supports you may wish to utilise; and a flyer on how to speak to your child about Covid-19.

In order to reduce the risk of covid coming in our school, the department is asking all families to collect these kits before the start of school on Wednesday.

Snug Primary School will be distributing these kits from 10.00am to 4.00pm on Monday 7 February and 8.00am to 4.00pm on Tuesday 8 February, from desks outside the admin building at the front of the school. You will receive one kit per child at our school.

If you are unable to collect kits on these days, please contact the office to make alternate arrangements.

When you come on site, please wear a mask and socially distance, and leave once you have collected your kits.

Covid in our School

With the current situation, it is expected that we will experience Covid cases at Snug this term. Our school, and the department, and working hard to establish clear protocols when expected cases arise. It is worth reminding ourselves that most children will only experience a mild illness if they contract Covid.

As a first defence, all school staff are required to be double vaccinated to be on site. This mandate will also include volunteers who work at the school. Families are also being encouraged to ensure their children are also vaccinated.

Students, staff, and families who have Covid symptoms care not to attend the school. The RAT tests provided will enable you to complete a test and see if you do have Covid. If students, or you do not test positive (and do not have symptoms) you/students will be able to attend Snug. Even if the RAT is negative, but have symptoms and are unwell, please do not come.

Those who do test positive will be required to quarantine for a seven day period, as per public health directives.

It is parents/caregivers responsibility to inform public health, and the school, if a student has tested positive to Covid.

If there are Covid cases in a classroom, it is important to note that children are not considered close contacts of their classmates. If your child is in a class with another student who has contracted Covid, you will be asked to test and monitor the health of your own child, and keep them home too if they test positive or show symptoms. The class will continue to operate.

Being on site at Snug

We ask families and caregivers, that where possible, to employ stop, drop and go procedures when bringing and collecting your children each day. We want to minimise the amount of time that adults are on site, especially during this first term, when we are at greatest exposure with everyone coming together. We know that for our new kinder and prep parents, there may be more need to be with your children as you bring them to Snug on their first day(s). Please follow the protocols as established by the classroom teachers to minimise risk when you are here.

We will avoid large gatherings at Snug, at least for the first five weeks of school, with this being reviewed. This will include things like assemblies, and broader whole school events.

For those that are on site, all adults must wear masks, check in using the app, and maintain a 1.5m social distance from others. Please help us to keep everyone safe by following these guidelines as we work through these first few weeks.

Please see below for some additional links and documents provided by the Department of Education for families.

FAQs for Parents and Carers

DoE COVID Support Hotline

COVID19support@education.tas.gov.au or 1800 816 057.

DoE COVID-19 website

Kind Regards,

Blair Curtis
Principal

2022 TERM DATES