Executive Director’s Update to Principals #22: COVID Update - 8 April 2022
God of pan-demos, God of all-people,
how odd that it takes a global disease to show us that we are all one:
one genomic form,
one people dependent on you.
There are some among us
acutely at risk
to an invisible, indiscriminate foe.
We join in prayer for them and us,
that in our shared vulnerability
you would cure us of this sickness.
And the other one,
the one that divides us,
so that in healing we might become whole.
Amen.
Extension of the School Rapid Antigen Testing Program
The Victorian Government has announced that it is extending the rapid antigen test (RAT) screening program for the first 4 weeks of Term 2.
Schools should have received their RAT allocation for the first 2 weeks of Term 2 by today, Friday 8 April 2022. The Department of Education and Training will make RATs available for any School Vacation Programs that operate at your school and for any families that need a top-up for the school holiday period.
The screening recommendations will remain the same next term for students and staff:
- Mainstream schools – recommended to test at home twice a week
- Specialist schools – recommended to test 5 days a week due to the higher risk of severe illness for medically vulnerable children.
If you have any questions about the distribution of RATs please email schools.procurement@education.vic.gov.au.
Thank You
Thank you for everything you and your staff have done this term to keep schools open and safe for staff and students and to also provide students with opportunities to participate in camps, liturgies and other significant events they have missed over the past two years. In most cases this has involved you and your staff going above and beyond as you have managed staff shortages and anxiety in your communities given COVID-19 case numbers continue to be high.
I hope you and your staff can have a well-deserved holiday break and a blessed and happy Easter period with your family and friends.
Next COVID Update
We would like to acknowledge the outstanding effort you have made as leaders within your schools to ensure that our schools have remained open for face-to-face learning and teaching. Many thanks for all you are doing to keep our schools safe.
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.
Ange Jones
Assistant Director: People and Development