December 6 Newsletter

06 Dec 2024

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November 22 Newsletter

22 Nov 2024

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November 8 Newsletter

08 Nov 2024

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October 18 Newsletter

18 Oct 2024

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IMPORTANT WHOOPING COUGH UPDATE

17 Oct 2024

I am writing to all parents today to inform them of the current outbreak of Whooping Cough at St Itas.

It is vitally important that we monitor all students because if cases continue to rise there is the possibility of a school closure. The last thing we need is a school closure, so I am asking all parents to please be vigilent in relation to getting your child tested via a GP if they are displaying any cold or flu like symptoms.

If your child is tested for whooping cough please dont return them to school until you are informed by the health department or your GP that your child has not tested positive.

Any child who tests positive, please inform the school immediatly and follow the procedures set out via your GP.

WHAT IS WHOOPING COUGH? Whooping cough is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis. It is characterised by severe coughing fits that produce a "whooping" sound.

HOW IS IT SPREAD? Whooping cough spreads through droplets from coughing or sneezing from an infected person. It can also spread by coming into contact with surfaces contaminated with these droplets.

WHY SHOULD I BE WORRIED? Pertussis can affect people of all ages. However, young infants (especially those less than 6 months of age) are at increased risk of severe complications, including pneumonia, seizures, and even death. Being highly contagious, schools or groups of young children, who often cough & sneeze, can facilitate mass outbreaks – impacting children, and their direct and indirect contacts.

WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT IT? Vaccination is the most effective prevention method.
Free pertussis-containing vaccination is available for eligible people through the National Immunisation Program schedule, which include:
• infants at 2 (can be given from 6 weeks of age), 4 and 6 months of age
• children at 18 months and 4 years of age
• adolescents in Year 7 (or age equivalent)
• pregnant women in every pregnancy between 20 to 32 weeks gestation
• people under 20 years who did not receive pertussis-containing vaccination in childhood, where the vaccine was not given during childhood as catch-up vaccination
• refugees and humanitarian entrants aged 20 and over.
An adult pertussis-containing vaccine is also recommended for the following people if their last dose was more than 10 years ago:
• adults working with or caring for children, especially healthcare and childcare workers in contact with infants.
• women who recently gave birth and did not receive a pertussis-containing vaccine during pregnancy
• parents, guardians, or carers of infants aged less than 6 months
• adults 65 years of age and older as a single booster
• travellers.
Practising good hygiene and appropriate isolation measures from infected individuals also helps reduce the risk.
For information regarding childhood vaccination, please refer to the state-wide Maternal & Child Health Helpline - 13 22 29 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week).
Gippsland Region Public Health Unit | e: GRPHU@lrh.com.au | w: lrh.com.au 2
To book a vaccination appointment, please refer to the CIRV Vaccine Portal. For Latrobe City, please contact the Latrobe City Council’s Immunisation Team on 1300 367 700.

WHAT IF A CHILD IS UNWELL?
Pertussis begins with symptoms similar to those of a cold (e.g., cough, tiredness, blocked or runny nose, low-grade fevers which may last for one to two weeks), with the cough usually worsening to include:
• Severe bouts of coughing
• Characteristic ‘whooping’ sound on breathing
• Vomiting at the end of a bout of coughing
If your child becomes symptomatic, please visit your GP for testing and advice on antibiotic treatment.
For a listing of Priority Primary Care Clinics and telehealth services specifically for the Gippsland region, refer to the Gippsland Primary Health Network - After-hours Services.
CAN A CHILD GO TO SCHOOL/CHILDCARE? For symptomatic children:
- Any symptomatic children must isolate and seek medical attention.
- Children diagnosed with whooping cough must not attend school for:
a. 21 days after the onset of cough, or
b. Until they have completed 5 days of a course of appropriate antibiotic treatment.
This exclusion is required by law under the Public Health and Wellbeing legislation.
School exclusion requirements for close contacts not showing infectious symptoms:

RECEIVED THREE DOSES OF PERTUSSIS VACCINE
NOT RECEIVED THREE DOSES OF PERTUSSIS VACCINE
AGE: Less than 7 years
Can continue to go to school/childcare
If in the same room with a child diagnosed with whooping cough, will need to be excluded from school/childcare for:
a. 14 days after the last exposure to the infectious case
b. Or until they have taken the first 5 days of a course of effective antibiotic treatment
This exclusion is required by law under the Public Health and Wellbeing legislation.
AGE: 7 years and older
Can continue to go to school
Can continue to go to school
Reference: School exclusion table for primary schools and children's services
For more detailed information on pertussis, refer to the following resources:
• Better Health Channel - Pertussis (Whooping cough)
• Department of Health – Pertussis
• Australian Immunisation Handbook – Whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine
For a pertussis factsheet available in other languages, refer to:
• Pertussis (whooping cough) Factsheet – Health Translations

Whopping Cough - Handout

16 Oct 2024

Please find attached to this notification the handout for Pertussis_Whooping_Cough_Frequently_Asked_Questions_Primary_Schools_and_Childrens_Services_.2024.pdf

Regards
St Ita's Administration

Whopping Cough Update

16 Oct 2024

WHOOPING COUGH ALERT FOR PARENTS
I have been contacted by the Gippsland Regional Public Health Clinic today to confirm new cases of Whooping cough within the St Ita’s student community. I have been advised to inform parents that if your child is displaying any symptoms of Whooping Cough please make an appointment with your GP immediately to have your child tested. Once tested your child will need to isolate at home until they contact you with either a negative or positive result.
If a child presents at school with symptoms of Whooping Cough, parents will be contacted to come and collect their child immediately and take them to their GP for testing. If the outbreak continues to multiply, there is a strong possibility that the school could be shut down.
Below is the outline we sent to all parents after the first outbreak at the start of the last school holidays. We ask all parents to read the information below and help us to limit the spread of infection.

WHAT IS WHOOPING COUGH?
Whooping cough is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis. It is characterised by severe coughing fits that produce a "whooping" sound.

HOW IS IT SPREAD?
Whooping cough spreads through droplets from coughing or sneezing from an infected person. It can also spread by coming into contact with surfaces contaminated with these droplets.

WHY SHOULD I BE WORRIED?
Pertussis can affect people of all ages. However, young infants (especially those less than 6 months of age) are at increased risk of severe complications, including pneumonia, seizures, and even death. Being highly contagious, schools or groups of young children, who often cough & sneeze, can facilitate mass outbreaks – impacting children, and their direct and indirect contacts.

WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT IT?
Vaccination is the most effective prevention method.
Free pertussis-containing vaccination is available for eligible people through the National Immunisation
Program schedule, which include:
• infants at 2 (can be given from 6 weeks of age), 4 and 6 months of age
• children at 18 months and 4 years of age
• adolescents in Year 7 (or age equivalent)
• pregnant women in every pregnancy between 20 to 32 weeks gestation
• people under 20 years who did not receive pertussis-containing vaccination in childhood, where the vaccine was not given during childhood as catch-up vaccination
• refugees and humanitarian entrants aged 20 and over.

An adult pertussis-containing vaccine is also recommended for the following people if their last dose was more than
10 years ago:
• adults working with or caring for children, especially healthcare and childcare workers in contact with infants.
• women who recently gave birth and did not receive a pertussis-containing vaccine during pregnancy
• parents, guardians, or carers of infants aged less than 6 months
• adults 65 years of age and older as a single booster
• travellers.
Practising good hygiene and appropriate isolation measures from infected individuals also helps reduce the risk.
For information regarding childhood vaccination, please refer to the state-wide Maternal & Child Health Helpline – 13 22 29 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week).
Gippsland Region Public Health Unit | e: GRPHU@lrh.com.au | w: lrh.com.au 2
To book a vaccination appointment, please refer to the CIRV Vaccine Portal. For Latrobe City, please contact the Latrobe City Council’s Immunisation Team on 1300 367 700.

WHAT IF A CHILD IS UNWELL?
Pertussis begins with symptoms similar to those of a cold (e.g., cough, tiredness, blocked or runny nose, low-grade fevers which may last for one to two weeks), with the cough usually worsening to include:
• Severe bouts of coughing
• Characteristic ‘whooping’ sound on breathing
• Vomiting at the end of a bout of coughing
If your child becomes symptomatic, please visit your GP for testing and advice on antibiotic treatment.
For a listing of Priority Primary Care Clinics and telehealth services specifically for the Gippsland region, refer to the Gippsland Primary Health Network - After-hours Services.

CAN A CHILD GO TO SCHOOL/CHILDCARE?
For symptomatic children:
- Any symptomatic children must isolate and seek medical attention.
- Children diagnosed with whooping cough must not attend school for:
a. 21 days after the onset of cough, or
b. Until they have completed 5 days of a course of appropriate antibiotic treatment.
This exclusion is required by law under the Public Health and Wellbeing legislation.
School exclusion requirements for close contacts not showing infectious symptoms:

RECEIVED THREE DOSES OF PERTUSSIS VACCINE
NOT RECEIVED THREE DOSES OF PERTUSSIS VACCINE
AGE: Less than 7 years
Can continue to go to school/childcare
If in the same room with a child diagnosed with whooping cough, will need to be excluded from school/childcare for:
a. 14 days after the last exposure to the infectious case
b. Or until they have taken the first 5 days of a course of effective antibiotic treatment

This exclusion is required by law under the Public Health and Wellbeing legislation.
AGE: 7 years and older
Can continue to go to school Can continue to go to school
Reference: School exclusion table for primary schools and children's services
For more detailed information on pertussis, refer to the following resources:
• Better Health Channel - Pertussis (Whooping cough)
• Department of Health – Pertussis
• Australian Immunisation Handbook – Whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine
For a pertussis factsheet available in other languages, refer to:
• Pertussis (whooping cough) Factsheet – Health Translations

October 11 Newsletter

11 Oct 2024

Click here to view the October 11 Schoolzine eNewsletter!

Changing Pick Up Procedures at St Ita's

06 Oct 2024

St Ita’s Student Collection and Drop off Procedures

School starts tomorrow for all students. Over the holidays we received our certificate of occupancy to move into the new build. This will happen strategically tomorrow.

A reminder to all parents the Drouin Rec Reserve is closed totally for drive-in and drop-off. No cars will be able to access this entry point. It will also be closed to student walkers.

Children who want to walk to and from school will be able to enter and exit the school via the bottom school gate which links to Civic Park walk. (Between 8.30 – 8.50am & 3.20 – 3.30pm) Walkers / Riders can also exit left or right at school admin

All school gates will be open from 8.30am and closed at 8.50am. (Teachers start class at 8.50am) School gates will be reopened at 3.20 – 3.35pm. We will still run our School Admin drop off and pick up as normal for all families, but this will mean an excess of traffic before and after school. Please be patient and follow the pickup and drop off procedures below. Please do not do a right-hand turn into the school traveling West - East along Victoria Street, cutting in front of cars waiting to do a left-hand turn into school. Parents, please have students ready to exit your cars. Parents please don’t exit cars whilst in pick-up or drop-off line. Staff will supervise kids getting out of cars.

Parents may wish to collect & drop their children from the civic park carpark and allow children to walk but there will be limited supervision until the students enter the school yard. Parents are encouraged to walk their students up to the gate until they become familiar with the new arrangements.

All parents wishing to use either of these two options are asked to send a signed permission note tomorrow with your child so we can manage the safe exit and entry into school.  Thanks for your patience with these changes. We are uncertain of how long the timeframe will be until the Drouin Rec opens again, but in the meantime, let’s work together to keep all kids safe in our community.

Pick_up_Map

Regards Andrew Osler

I give permission for my child/ren ……………………………………………………………………………………. to walk to and/or from St Ita’s Primary using the bottom Civic Park gate and I understand that there will only be supervision of students once inside the school boundaries. I acknowledge that these gates will be open each school day, between 8.30-8.50am and 3.20-3.35pm.

------------------------------                       -----------------------------                             ---------------------------

   Parents Name                                             Parents Signature                                                  Date

September 13 Newsletter

13 Sep 2024

Click here to view the September 13 Schoolzine eNewsletter!