Dear Staff, Parents and Friends of the College,
We reach the end of a very eventful term which will finish on a high with the celebration of the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Whether one sees it as coincidence or an act of God’s mercy, the vaccination mandates on schools will be lifted this same day at 11:59pm. Our Secondary students will be attending Mass this day and thanking the Sacred Heart of Jesus for His merciful protection over our school during the last trying 9 months of the mandates. I ask families to please consider attending the parish Mass on this day for the same reason, or if this is not possible, to at least recite the Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
As mentioned above, following advice from the Acting Chief Health Officer, the Victorian Government recently announced changes to the pandemic orders. This means that there will no longer be a mandated vaccination requirement for staff working in mainstream or independent schools. This change will come in from 11.59pm Friday 24 June, so in effect from the start of Term 3 2022, it will help alleviate an immense teaching staff shortage across the state and will allow many fine teachers and education support staff to return to the profession.
Please be attentive to the fact that, although the Mandate has dropped and the infection rate of Covid is dropping, Covid is still circulating. For this reason, as part of the changes, from 11.59pm Friday 24 June 2022, parents and carers who have COVID -19 can transport their non-COVID-19 children via private vehicle to their primary or secondary school when an alternative person is not available to assist but need to remain in their car at all times unless a very serious reason requires them to exit their vehicle. This means that parents and carers will be able to leave COVID self-isolation to take their non-COVID-19 child to school or school holiday programs via a private vehicle.
The Depart of Health is requesting all schools to inform their communities that family members are asked to continue reporting positive COVID-19 cases to both the Department of Health and to our the College.
Parents must also let the school know if their child is a close contact. Students who are close contacts and want to attend should still take 5 RATs over 7 days and wear a face mask whilst indoors if they are aged 8 years or over. Students should continue to stay home if they are unwell, even if they test negative on a RAT.
I wish one and all the healthy and enjoying midyear break along with all the blessings of the most Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Sincerely yours in the Two Hearts,
Father Andrew Cranshaw – Principal