Executive Director’s Update to Principals #104: COVID Update - 21 Oct 2021

God at the bedside, God at the graveside: in nursing homes  and hospices,
In hospital wards, your spirit remains present when family cannot be near.
With a comforting word or silent prayer, in the final minutes of breath,
you have spoken a message of peace through nurses and doctors,
chaplains and priests: a Samaritan response at this roadside. We give thanks that even if a disease would rob us, through separation, of a healing moment at death,
you appear at our side, time and again with embodied, miraculous life. 
Amen.

~ The Corrymeela Community

COVID Update

Lockdown to ease in Mildura

Confirmation has been received that lockdown will ease for Mildura Rural City Council LGA tonight at 11.59pm, with restrictions to align with the remainder of regional Victoria..
(*Note – updated as per Executive Director’s COVID Update #105 – 21 October 2021) 

Mask wearing communications support

We are aware that the recent change to mask wearing requirements for children in Years 3 to 6 has caused concern for some parents and carers.

CECV has developed a communications pack (Word document) to support primary school principals with addressing and responding to these concerns. The pack contains a letter to send to your school community or to adapt to respond to any correspondence you receive, along with talking points to guide conversations with concerned parents and carers.

Mask deliveries to primary schools

The Department of Education has advised that they will now be delivering the masks especially designed for young people, as mentioned in Executive Director’s COVID Update #97 (14 October), directly to primary schools. These deliveries have already begun and are expected to continue into next week.

Air purifiers

As directed by the Department of Health, the rollout of air purifiers continues, with the Department of Education and Training now making regular deliveries, primarily to those schools effected by tier one activities. The rollout is expected to take several months to reach all schools.

We have received enquiries about purchasing additional units from third party suppliers. Schools may consider purchasing a small quantity to augment the supply from DET, as the quantity and timing of these supplies is unknown. 

CECV has negotiated special pricing for Catholic schools with Ballarat company Westlab on portable, plug-in units in two sizes – a large unit for a typical classroom space and a small unit for a typical office space. Further information on purchasing at the special price will be circulated next week. 

Air purifiers should be used in conjunction with the range of ventilation measures in the School Operations Guide.

Shade sails

A strong response to the Shade Sail program has been received by schools. Applications remain open until Friday 12 November and can be made via the SmartyGrants portal.

Reminder: Principal vaccination forum – tomorrow

A forum will be held tomorrow, Friday 22 October at 9am for principals who have been affected by staff declining to be vaccinated. The forum will be for approximately one hour and principals can join via this Zoom link. A recording will be circulated after the meeting. 

Next COVID Update