Dear Parents and Carers

The state government has announced that public health and social measures will be eased from 12.01am Friday, 29 April (details at wa.gov.au).

For schools, these changes include:

• masks are no longer mandatory at school except in specific settings and circumstances. Masks are encouraged for staff and students (Year 7 and above) where physical distancing is not possible
• Masks are still required for staff and students Year 7 and above when travelling on the school bus or ride-share
• density and capacity limits no longer apply to school activities
• asymptomatic close contacts are no longer required to isolate (see requirements below)

CLOSE CONTACTS AND POSITIVE CASES
If your child becomes an asymptomatic close contact, they will no longer have to isolate for 7 days, but they must:

• undertake a daily Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) and receive a negative result each day to attend school
• wear a mask at school (for students in Year 7 and above) and when travelling on the school bus or ride-share
• inform the school of your child’s close contact status
• daily notification of close contact negative RAT results is not required

An additional supply of RATs for students and staff are being issued to schools. If your child becomes symptomatic or a close contact, please contact the Principal’s Office to organise a supply of RATs for your child.

If your child becomes symptomatic they should stay home and be tested for COVID-19. Refer to healthywa.wa.gov.au for information on close contact definition, testing and isolation requirements. You should notify the school if your child tests positive for COVID-19.

There is no change to the existing isolation requirements for positive COVID-19 cases.

SCHOOL EVENTS
All school activities can resume, and we will continue to follow COVID-19 safe measures:

• all staff and regular workers (including regular volunteers) at school are double dose vaccinated (third dose vaccinated within one month of being eligible)
• adequate ventilation in each classroom, in line with health advice
• enhanced cleaning remains in place

GMAS is currently planning for school camps to be held later this year. Once details have been confirmed students and parents will be notified.

Thank you for your continued efforts in keeping our school COVID-19 safe.

Kind regards

Ted Kosicki, Principal