We are living in unprecedented times with the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) impacting our lives. The well-being of the children and staff in our three schools is paramount and we are receiving information and updates on a daily basis for The Departments of Health and Education as well as the Catholic Education Commission of Victoria (CECV). I would like to acknowledged the wonderful leadership that Michael Hanney, Catherine Tammeslid and Lynda O’Donnell are providing in their school communities.

The Federated Leadership Team had an extraordinary meeting Friday to discuss and plan for:

• Possible Closure of Schools – If this eventuates we are preparing ways in which we will provide some continuous learning for our students should we be instructed by the Chief Health Officer or the Department of Education or the Catholic Education Commission of Victoria that we have to close. I had discussions with OSHClub on Friday and was advised that if schools close they will also close and they will not be able to offer a program.
• Considering the advice from CECV, St Paul’s camp to Phillip Island went ahead today with thorough contingency plans in place. However, camps planned from Tuesday 17 March will need to be either postponed or cancelled.
• Our advice, before the Prime Minister announced it Friday afternoon, was that large public gatherings, that can be postponed,should be postponed. A letter went out Friday informing Year 3 parents that the Reconciliation Family Night scheduled for Wednesday night has been postponed.
• Parent Teacher Interviews are planned for St Catherine's this term and St Peter’s early next - we will continue to monitor and make a decision closer to the date whether these will go ahead and in what format.
• Teachers are continuing to reinforce with their students safe hygiene practises.

On Friday afternoon we received advice from the Catholic Education Commission of Victoria (CECV) as to the protocols and actions that are required if a student or staff member has

- A confirmed case of COVID-19

- Or is a close contact of a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the past 14 days.

'Close contact' is defined by the Department Health and Human Services (DI-IHS) as someone who has had at least 15 minutes of face-to-face contact with a confirmed case, or shared a closed space with someone for more than two hours with a confirmed case.

We are ready to enact these if the circumstance eventuates.

This information changes day by day (if not hour to hour) so will continue to keep you informed of any developments.

It is important to talk to your children to provide them with information that is not alarmist or hysterical. This obviously depends on their age and level of understanding  – here is a link to a Kid-friendly comic about COVID-19. It is an Amercian comic but it may be useful.

There are 10 very practical ways to reduce the risk of COVID19 that DHHS has helpfully outlined in a simple poster. Click here to download poster.

Of these 10 steps, three stand out as being very practical (and easy) to implement.

1) The importance of - and using the correct hand washing technique.

2) No shaking hands is an easy - and effective - way to slow transmission. 

3) The importance of good cough/sneeze hygiene.  Coughing/sneezing into your elbow or a tissue (not covering your cough with your hands), getting rid of the tissue into a bin, and washing/sanitizing hands immediately after each cough/sneeze. 

Michael Juliff