Towards the end of last week, Mr Lo Cascio circulated an update to our College community to inform you of the COVID-19 precautionary measures that we have in place as case numbers remain high within and beyond our College environment. I take the opportunity to remind you of these steps and to stress that as the situation evolves with regards to the broader health climate, so too will our responses. 

• Staff and students are regularly reminded and supported to practise good personal hygiene throughout the school day, particularly in relation to shielding coughs and sneezes, and hand washing.  
• We continue to provide enhanced cleaning throughout the school, with a particular focus on high touch surfaces. 
• We are expecting another delivery of Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) kits, which will again be provided to families. We strongly encourage you to test your child if they have even very mild flu-like symptoms.
• We are taking additional steps to lower the risk of COVID-19 for school events and activities. Many of these measures—like limiting the number of people at a venue and hosting events outside—will be familiar to you now, after more than two years of responding to the pandemic.
• Natural ventilation is maximised in all indoor spaces. 
• All students and staff are supported to wear masks if they choose to do so.
• All students who are eligible for a COVID-19 vaccination are strongly encouraged to stay up to date according to the ATAGI guidelines. 

Finally this week, I remind everyone of our COVID-safe guidelines for Term 3 which carry over from those in place last term. These stipulate that whilst household close contacts who have no symptoms may continue to attend school, they must adhere to the following requirements:

• The school is notified that they are intending to return as a close household contact
• They must wear a mask indoors except when eating or exercising
• Once positive cases have completed their 7-day isolation period, they should wear a mask for an additional 3 days (for days 8 to 10)

Please note that students who test positive for COVID-19, or who are unwell or showing COVID-19 symptoms, must continue to isolate at home.

All the best for the week ahead,