Communications to Parents

2022

Click the below links for ‘Back to School’ information for Monday 7 February

In 2022 the following updates have been sent to the Whitsunday Anglican School community:

2 February 2022 Communication # 5 COVID update – Letter to WAS Families (latest recommendations from Queensland Health in relation to students returning to school from Monday 7 February – Friday 4 March)
26 January 2022 Communication # 4 Positive COVID-19 Cases at Whitsunday Anglican School
14 January 2022 Communication # 3 Management of Positive COVID-19 cases and close contacts
13 January 2022 Communication #2 Start of the School Year (update) and Remote Learning
9 January 2022 Communication #1 Letter to parents re: changes to the start of the school year

2021

In 2021 the following updates have been sent to the Whitsunday Anglican School community:

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

As part of our commitment to the health and safety of our community we are monitoring the COVID-19 situation closely and following advice from government agencies and global organisations.

As we navigate the impact of the COVID-19 virus, it is important that we pay close attention to expert advice from reliable sources, and that we respond calmly and thoughtfully as a community to ensure that we minimise health impacts and maximise the capacity of our health, education, and social services to support those most in need.

Throughout this time at Whitsunday Anglican School, our aims are to:

Protect the health and safety of students, staff, families, and visitors;
Educate our School community as to the impacts of the spread of COVID-19; and
Maintain, where possible, educational continuity.

Preventative Measures

A number of measures to prevent the spread of infection have been in place since the start of term, but with the increasing distribution of the virus in Australia, we are now reaffirming or increasing the following measures:

Additional hand sanitiser dispensers have been distributed around the School along with posters highlighting hand washing technique and hand rub technique;
All visitors to the School most register via the Check in QLD (Queensland Government) app;
Explicit instructions on personal hygiene has been given in special School assemblies and appropriate classes;
With sincere apologies, we ask all members of the School community to refrain from handshaking, hugging and other forms of social contact at School while the virus remains a concern; and
We have increased campus cleaning routines, but we also ask students and staff to be mindful of keeping School facilities clean.

As we enter the cold and flu season, we also ask everyone to:

Be mindful of covering coughs and sneezes with their elbows rather than their hands;
Practise minimising hand contact with their eyes, nose, mouth and face;
Do not share food and drink;
Keep hydrated, well-nourished and to seek good sleep; and
Stay away from School if experiencing cold and flu symptoms and to seek medical advice if symptoms persist, become severe or are indicative of COVID-19.

We also strongly advise all members of the School community to obtain influenza vaccinations as early as possible, as soon as they become available, in the interest of minimising illness and impact on health services in the coming months.

In addition, we ask all students and staff with specific medical conditions that may be affected by COVID-19 to seek medical advice and to liaise with the School Wellbeing Centre at [email protected] if any special measures are advised.

Mandatory Exclusions and Requirements (COVID-19)

Whitsunday Anglican School has implemented measures that ensure the safety of staff and students.

Mandatory exclusions from School require medical clearance and apply if:

You or your child/ren have been diagnosed with COVID-19.
You or your child/ren have come in close contact with someone who has positively tested for COVID-19.
Any person displaying severe COVID-19 symptoms (fever, coughing, flu-like, sore throat, fatigue, shortness of breath). Please seek medical advice.

Quarantine or self-isolation (14 days) and medical clearance is required if:

You or your child/ren have been diagnosed with COVID-19.
You or your child/ren have come in close contact with someone who has positively tested for COVID-19.
You or your child/ren have returned from overseas.
You fall under restrictions currently being imposed by the Queensland Government (www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19/current-status/public-health-directions)

It is mandatory to communicate any of the points above to [email protected] and your relevant Head of Subschool.

Prior to return from mandatory exclusion, all students and staff are to submit a medical certificate by email to [email protected] and on return, must present to the Wellbeing Centre for assessment.

For any clarification, please contact Mrs Annette Webb (School Nurse) on 49 692 005.

Parents and Students Unwell

We politely request that parents, friends and students do not come onto the School campus if they are feeling unwell or have any cold and flu like symptoms.

Travel Advice for Families and Staff

Interstate travel advice can evolve and change quickly. If you have travelled outside the Mackay region please carefully read all travel restrictions and review exposure sites published by the Queensland Government before returning to school. These can be found here.

A School Nurse’s assessment is required if:

You or your child/ren have travelled to an identified hotspot, restricted area, lockdown area or been at an exposure site within the past 14 days and are looking to return to school.

Covid-19 Questions on Entering our School Site

We ask visitors of the School a standard list of questions as a precaution.

Have you displayed any COVID19 symptoms (fever, coughing, flu-like, sore throat, fatigue, shortness of breath)?
Returned from overseas within the past 14 days?
Travelled outside Mackay or to any hotspots (check hotspot link below) within the past 14 days (refer to Queensland Government hotspot information and follow Queensland Government advice – https://www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19/current-status/hotspots-covid-19
Been in contact with someone who has travelled from overseas or interstate, or outside Mackay in the past 14 days?
Been in contact with someone confirmed COVID19 within 14 days?
Been in ‘close contact’ (with person in close proximity for 15min or longer) with someone who has been tested for COVID19 within the past 14 days?

ADDITIONAL SEQ LOCKDOWN PRECAUTIONARY COVID QUESTIONS (added 31 July 2021)

Have you, or anyone in your household, been in one of the following LGAs at or after 1am on Saturday 31 July 2021?
If so, you are required to wear a mask on campus.
- City of Brisbane
- City of Gold Coast
- City of Ipswich
- Lockyer Valley Regional Council
- Logan City
- Moreton Bay Region
- Noosa Shire Council
- Redland City
- Scenic Rim Regional Council
- Somerset Regional Council
- Sunshine Coast Regional Council.
Have you completed the Queensland Government Check In App?

Websites with regular updates about COVID-19

Australian Government Departm ent of Health

Social distancing guidance

This page is updated by the Department of Health on a daily basis and provides a daily summary of the number of cases in Australia along with other relevant information.

DFAT

You can find the list of countries on the advice list here. This page is updated regularly.

Smartraveller

Travel information re coronavirus

Travel advice explained

Destinations and advice levels

This website is regularly updated with information. It is recommended you check your destination and advice levels before travelling.

Queensland Health

Similar information to the Australian Government page and updates when information in particular to Queensland changes.

Queensland Government Department of Education

Similar information to the Queensland Health and Australian Government pages with specific links to school related articles.