ARARAT COLLEGE

Tuesday April 26th, 2022 

 

 

 

Dear Parents and Carers, 

 

I hope you and your families enjoyed a wonderful break over the school holidays. 

 

The Victorian Government has announced some important changes to COVIDSafe measures for schools that will apply from the start of Term 2. 

 

Face masks 

 

From 11:59 pm Friday 22 April, face masks, while recommended, are not required in any school setting. Any student or staff member who wishes to wear a mask may do so, including those who are medically at-risk. 
 

Screening requirements 

 

Students who have tested positive for COVID-19, and have completed their 7-day isolation period, now do not need to undertake rapid antigen test (RAT) screening for 12 weeks after their release from isolation. This was previously 8 weeks. 

 

Household contacts 

 

Students who are household contacts of a COVID-19 case are not required to quarantine. They may return to school as long as they undertake rapid antigen tests (RAT) 5 times during their 7-day period. They are required to notify the school that they are a household contact. 

 

Students who are household contacts are required to wear face masks when indoors at school unless they have a valid exemption.  

 

If a student household contact returns a positive RAT result, they must isolate for 7 days.  

 

Vaccination requirements for visitors to schools  

 

Parents, carers and other adult visitors (not performing work) are no longer required to show evidence of two doses of COVID-19 vaccine. 

 

RAT screening program reminder 

 

RATs will continue to be supplied for the first 4 weeks of Term 2 to support the early detection of COVID-19 in our school.  

 

The testing recommendations will remain the same this Term for students and staff recommended to test at home twice a week. 

 

As we approach winter and flu season, the vaccination of children aged 5 to 11 and booster shots for students 16+ remains the best way to ensure protection for students and staff.  

 

If you have any concerns about getting your child vaccinated, please get in contact with your GP or another health professional who can answer your questions.  

 

Thank you for your ongoing support in keeping our school safe. 

 

Kind regards

​

 

Ellie McDougall 

Principal