Executive Director’s Update to Principals #93: COVID Update - 8 Oct 2021
God who comforts,
God who disturbs:
disrupting our anxiety
with the gift of needed peace.
For others, though,
this season grows harsh;
words of comfort become harder to hear. May we who can now absorb
these rays of warming light
store them up for darker days to come. And for those whose current climate
keeps comfort out of reach
may they find your presence in their midst, and with it the returning promise
of a new and brighter day.
Amen.
~ The Corrymeela Community
Today’s Press Conference
Masks madated for grade 3 and above
In today’s Victorian press conference Chief Health Officer Professor Brett Sutton announced that masks for students in grade 3 and above will be mandated in indoor settings, in an effort to reduce the spread of COVID as on-site learning recommences over the coming weeks.
Masks are strongly recommended for students in Foundation – grade 2 in indoor settings, but will not be mandatory.
The commencement date will be announced for this soon.
Professor Jane Munro, paediatrician at the Royal Childrens Hospital, spoke in detail about the benefits of this mandate.
In the next month, over 1 million Victorian children will return to 2,276 schools in over 30,000 classrooms, so measures such as masks and increased ventilation will help minimise the spread of COVID amongst students and staff
Border bubble changes
It was also announced in the press conference that the LGAs of Buloke and Yarriambiack have been reintroduced into the border bubble communities. Residents who have been within the bubble for the past 14 days will be able to enter and leave without a permit.
Watch today’s Victorian press conference.
Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination Update
To limit the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) within the population of school settings, Victoria’s Acting Chief Health Officer has released COVID-19 Mandatory Vaccination Directions (No. 6). We have developed this Circular to provide an outline of the main points of the Directions, critical dates, and the obligations of staff and principals.
DOBCEL principals must:
- ensure all school staff receive a copy of this Circular
- communicate the COVID-19 vaccination key dates to all education workers
- collect, record, and hold evidence of vaccination status in accordance with the Directions using the provided template unless otherwise advised
- exercise flexibility in enabling staff to make and attend vaccination appointments
Further guidance and supporting materials, including an FAQ, will be provided to principals early next week to assist in implementing the Directions.
DOBCEL schools should use this spreadsheet (Excel document) to record and hold the vaccination information outlined in the Directions. The spreadsheet includes:
- School details including E Number, school name and location (at the top of the spreadsheet); and
- For each employee:
- C Number of employee
- Employment type
- Employee name
- Details of vaccination status at 18 October, 25 October, and 25 November
- Evidence type collected (note this should be saved to a secure, confidential folder)
The following resources are also available:
COVID-19 information session for principals
There will be another Leadership COVID Briefing on Monday 11 October from 11am for an hour via this Zoom link to assist principals in providing further information and an opportunity to address any questions or concerns.
Principals are welcome to pass on the invitation to their SAC chair or another SAC member to attend.
For those who cannot attend, the meeting will be recorded and circulated.
Next COVID Update
We will continue to monitor the situation and advise principals of any updates. Please liaise with the COVID Support team (see left hand column) or your Education Consultant with any questions or concerns.
Stay safe and continue to look after each other…
Every blessing.