I provide the latest CET Guidelines that impact upon the College’s operations.
At present with zero active cases in Tasmania the risk of community transmission of COVID-19 is extremely low and is likely to remain so until the relaxation of border controls and travel restrictions.
Nevertheless, CET remains subject to government COVID-19 management requirements particularly those that make up Stage Three of the Tasmanian Government’s Roadmap to Recovery.
Operational Limitations
Permissible activities
- most normal school activities and associated interactions are now permitted to be undertaken including:
• Assemblies #1.
• The use of volunteers #1.
• Choirs and performing arts.
• Day excursions #2.
• Off-site course-work related activities #3.
• Off-site course-work related activities requiring an overnight stay(s)for Year 9 – Year 12 only #4.
• School board meetings and parents & friends meetings #1.
• University students undertaking teaching practicums (by arrangement).
• Use of external providers #1 engaged to support the delivery of curriculum.
• Parent / staff interactions such as parent teacher evenings and enrolment tours #1.
• VET off-site training, work placements and work experience subject to an adequate risk assessment
• Inter-school events and competitions – sport, debating, public speaking, performing arts etc.
• Sports carnivals and inter school competition as guided by SATIS requirements (for further details see Section 9 CET COVID-19 Safety Plan Version 5 – Attachment B).
• Community use of school facilities outside school hours subject to the user meeting physical distancing, cleaning, hygiene and venue density requirements and associated costs.
Non-permissible activities
- there are a number of school activities and associated interactions that are still not permissible, including:
• School camps (to be reviewed during Term 3).
• In-door gatherings involving large numbers of parents/visitors (to be reviewed during Term 3).
• All school interstate and overseas travel for 2020.
• All staff interstate and overseas business travel for 2020.
• Any other non-CET personnel incursion / community involvement / parent and carer activity not listed above which could significantly increase the risk of COVID-19 infection occurring in a school.
Notes
#1.★ Adults, where practicable, to maintain 1.5m physical distancing;
★ Visitors to sign in / sign out, with contact details (and venue (eg Genesis Centre) to be recorded, with this information stored securely for a period of 21 days.
★ The provision of hand sanitiser at venue entry points.
★ Appropriate COVID safe signage at venue entry points.
★ Key message to visitors - “If feeling unwell, it is important not to be in attendance.”
#2. The excursion management plan for a day excursion must be informed by a COVID-19 risk assessment which addresses physical distancing, infection prevention / control, hygiene requirements and the applicable requirements of the excursion venue’s COVID-19 Safety Plan if one exists. If the venue does not have a Covid Action Plan, the excursion planning requires Covid protection measures to be included in its risk management.
#3. The excursion management plan for an off-site course work related activity must be informed by COVID-19 risk assessment which addresses physical distancing, infection prevention / control and hygiene requirements and the applicable requirements of the excursion venue’s COVID-19 Safety Plan if one exists. If the venue does not have a Covid Action Plan, the excursion planning requires Covid protection measures to be included in its risk management.
#4. In addition to Note 3, if the off-site course work related activity involves an overnight stay(s) then the COVID- 19 risk assessment must also address the pertinent considerations and associated management strategies for sleeping arrangements, contained in the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) Statement on boarding schools and school-based residential Colleges.
COVID-19 Management
The primary means for COVID-19 transmission is close person to person interaction for extended periods in an indoor setting.
Hence the key preventative measures are:
- physical distancing,
- good ventilation,
- personal hygiene and
- the barring of entry into CET workplaces by people who have tested positive for COVID-19 or who are close contacts of a person who has tested positive for COVID-19.
Further to the above, required CET COVID-19 management activities include, but are not limited to:
- adults, where practicable, maintaining 1.5m distance between each other;
- regular venting of stale air and allowing fresh air into rooms;
- the regular cleaning of frequently touched internal surfaces;
- observing personal hygiene requirements;
- maintaining adequate supplies of hygiene and cleaning products;
- providing adequate information and instruction to all persons in the workplace;
- controlling, in a manner that is reasonable in the circumstances, workplace entry by people not involved in normal school / workplace activity;
- non entry into a CET workplace of infected persons and close contacts; and
- completing the weekly COVID-19 workplace checklist.
All permitted school activities and associated interactions must be undertaken in accordance with the requirements set out above. We also have an SBSC/CET COVID-19 Safety Plan that includes weekly auditing that we adhere to.
SBSC staff remain vigilant to the possibility of an infected person within a school community and the attendant ramifications.
As we look to Term 3, I share that the following uniform expectations will be required:
- The PE Uniform will NOT be able to be worn in place of the Academic Uniform either travelling to or from school.
- Apart from the lower ear lobe, piercings are required to be unobtrusive studs (not rings).
- Facial Hair for seniors must be well groomed.
These last two terms have seen an enormous collaborative effort by all in our Community. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you all.
I will keep you in my prayers,
Frank Pisano
