Rapid Antigen Test collection

Dear Parents/Caregivers

We have received a large supply of Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) for our students and staff and these need to be collected prior to the students returning to school so that they can test, with your assistance, to see if they are positive to COVID.

The testing is meant to happen twice a week and the suggested days are Monday and Wednesday. If your child tests positive it is requested that you let the school know and of course NSW Health via the Service NSW app. Instructions are provided in each kit.

On Friday 28 January (tomorrow) we will be issuing the RAT packs for students.

We plan to distribute the kits at the front of the school. Please come to the school at the allocated time, enter through the front centre pedestrian gate and go to the desk that is alphabetically labelled based on surname and collect a pack of four RATs. We ask that you wear a mask and maintain appropriate distancing while waiting and exit via the northern pedestrian gate.

To reduce the contact between years, the collection times for each Year group are:

Year 7        -        9.00 to 9.50 am
Year 8        -        10.00 to 10.50 am
Year 9        -        11.00 to 11.50 am
Year 10      -        12.00 to 12.50 pm
Year 11      -        1.00 to 1.50 pm
Year 12      -        2.00 to 2.50 pm

If you have children in more than one Year then you can collect for all children at the same time. We will record the distribution of each RAT pack.

You will receive 4 RAT kits, which provides enough tests for two weeks and we have been told that more tests will arrive for subsequent weeks. We will provide details regarding the collection of these kits as soon as we are able to.

I have provided additional information regarding the Rapid Antigen Tests below.

Thank you for your on-going support during this very difficult time in our community

Regards

Kevin Elgood

Additional information

• School staff will not be administering the rapid antigen tests to students.
• RAT kits should be collected from school by a parent or carer and the tests completed at home in the morning before attending school.
• Each student will receive an initial supply of 4 RATs to be used twice a week in the morning before attending school.
• If a student or staff member receives a positive RAT result, they need to:
  • record the positive RAT result through the Service NSW website or Service NSW app
  • notify the school of the positive RAT or PCR result as soon as possible
  • follow NSW Health advice to isolate for 7 days.
• It is recommended that staff and students that return to school after recovering from COVID-19 do not participate in rapid antigen test surveillance for 28 days (four weeks after recovery) following release from self-isolation. This is due to NSW Health advice that people who have recovered from COVID-19 have a low risk of contracting it again in the following 28 days. After 28 days (from week five after recovery) staff and students may resume participation in RAT surveillance.

Negative results do not need to be reported to Service NSW or to the school.

Unwell at school

Any student or staff member who is unwell and/or displays symptoms of COVID-19 will be asked to go home and stay until they can complete a RAT or PCR test.

• If symptoms continue, they should stay at home and take another RAT in 24 hours or have a PCR test.
• If the second RAT or initial PCR test result is negative and they are displaying no symptoms OR they are diagnosed as another condition such as hayfever, the student or staff member can return to school.
• In NSW, positive COVID-19 cases are provided a Medical Clearance Notice after 7 days and allowed to leave self-isolation as long as they do not have COVID-19 symptoms.