NAPLAN Online – 10 May – 20 May 2022 

Well done to all of our students who completed their NAPLAN over the last two weeks.  A huge thanks to the staff who have worked with our students to ensure they were confident with the test platforms and ready for the online tests.  Another huge thanks to all of the staff who ran the tests and supported our students.  It can be a stressful time relying on computer systems and IT to all work for 224 students to all be online and synchronized in testing but they did it superbly, and for their dedication I am grateful.  

 
We now await the results, not so we can rank our students or our College against others but so we can use the data.  The valuable data we gain from these tests helps us to progress our students, to identify areas of both strength and weaknesses that we can focus on.  It enables us to refine our classroom practice so that we target our work to the areas where it’s needed.  The writing data helps us align our work we’ve been doing with Write That Essay.  So much information is gained from all four of the areas tested to support our teachers and our students to grow and develop their own practice.  Results are due back in late August.    

COVID UPDATE - Close Contact Guidelines 

I included the information below last fortnight in our newsletter but as we see a slight rise in the number of local COVID cases I will include it again for your information.  A few weeks ago the Queensland Government announced and commenced the new close contact rules to ease pressure on our society.  These rules allow close contacts some freedoms to continue to leave their homes.  This change has no impact on isolation requirements for people diagnosed with COVID-19 (ie positive cases).  

You are classified as a close contact if   

• you have been with a person that has COVID-19 for more than four hours in a house or other accommodation, a care facility or similar, or  
• you live with a person that has COVID-19 and have had more than four hours contact with them in the household setting.  

You are a close contact from the date the person diagnosed with COVID-19 took the test that returned a positive result.  

Close contacts who have COVID-19 symptoms must stay at home until the symptoms resolve. They must not attend work or school. Close contacts (staff or students) who are symptomatic, must undertake testing immediately and quarantine until the earlier of Day 7 or until they are no longer experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID-19.  

For the most accurate information in regards to quarantine for close contacts we recommend families visit the Queensland Government Guidelines for close contact in Queensland page.  The new guidelines were introduced from 6pm Thursday 28 April 2022.  To assist families we have summarised the requirements that impact on the College, these apply to close contacts who do not have symptoms:   

• Close contacts (staff or students) must inform their employer or school that they are a close contact before returning to work or school. The school does not need to record or store this information to meet Queensland Health requirements, nor do they need to provide this information to Queensland Health. The purpose of requiring close contacts to provide this notification is to support schools and workplaces in risk managing their sites.  
• Close contacts (staff or students) are recommended to take a RAT test every two days until Day 7, ensuring they have a negative result before leaving home (eg to attend school). RAT tests will need to start from the day the person becomes a close contact (and then additional tests performed on days 2, 4 and 6).   

• Close contacts must wear a mask while outside their home if they are 12 years or older (or where they are a secondary student) until Day 7. Masks are recommended where safe for students under 12 years. This will apply across the community, including schools. The normal exemptions about mask wearing will remain (e.g. not required for a teacher where visibility of mouth is required or where there is a valid medical exemption).  

RAT TESTS for close contacts  

The provision of RAT tests to meet the close contact requirements is the responsibility of individual close contacts.  We encourage families to ensure they have tests for the purpose of testing close contacts.  We will continue to provide tests to any students or staff where they develop symptoms whilst at school.  

CAMPS and EXCURSIONS  

As we recommence more camps and excursions this term, we are working to ensure that all who attend maintain good health.  If you child is unwell or displaying symptoms of COVID-19 they must not attend an excursion or camp.  Each individual event will have a plan in place to manage any staff or students who develop COVID-19 symptoms whilst away from the College.   

We thank families for their vigilance in following these guidelines set by the government.  As we head into the cooler season it is important that we continue to maintain high levels of hygiene to reduce the amount of illness in our community, both COVID and the flu.  With the reduction of illness we have been able to open our College back up with more events and parental involvement which is fabulous.  We look forward to being about to continue this. 

Cate Brennan

Deputy Principal Religious Education