COVID-19 Information

The Friends’ School COVID-19 Protocol
Please carefully review and read over The Friends’ School COVID-19 Protocol

This protocol explains how the School will coordinate a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19.  It covers the key principles and the protocol is regularly updated.  Parents/guardians are asked to speak to their children before they return to school about the possibility of having to put a mask on if they are sick and report to the office.

Preventing the spread of  COVID-19
Please carefully review and read over The Friends’ School COVID-19 Risk Reduction Measures

There has been considerable work undertaken to enable a safe environment for our staff and students and this will be monitored and reviewed regularly over the coming days and weeks.  These measures have been put in place in line with the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) guidelines and we seek your support in adhering to these procedures. First and foremost, it is crucial that your child is to stay away from School if feeling unwell.

Are you feeling unwell?
Please carefully review and read over the ‘Feeling Unwell, Stay at Home Flow Chart’

This flow chart has been developed to assist students and staff with the steps they should take if they are feeling unwell and may have COVID-19 symptoms. If a parent/guardian contacts a school office to notify that their child is unwell, could they please advise if their child has cold or flu-like symptoms.

Do I need to Quarantine?
Please see our Home Quarantine Query Chart 

This flow chart answers the question: Can students or staff come to The Friends’ School when a member of their household is in home quarantine post returning to Tasmania?

From 7 July 2021, the requirement for a person to be at a location for more than 15 minutes was removed, meaning that check-in is required regardless of how long you stay at a premise. As the requirement for the use of the Check-in Tas App  has expanded to include schools the requirement for staff and visitors to The Friends’ School is as follows:

Friends Early Learning (FEL) – Parents/Guardians/Carers

• Parents/Guardians/Carers can drop off and pick up their children in Friends Early Learning, maintaining appropriate social distancing at all times.
• FEL Parents/Guardians/Carers are not required to register and check-in via the Check-in TAS App when promptly dropping off or picking up their child. All FEL Parents/Guardians/Carers are required to continue using the Centre’s registration and pick-up process, which will register their visit.   
• If FEL Parents/Guardians/Carers have an appointment or spend extended time with Friends Early Learning staff, please register and check in via the Check-in TAS App.
• All visitors in attendance at school events are required to follow COVID-19 protocols regarding social distancing and health measures. 

K-12 School Campuses, The Farrall Centre, Friends Health & Fitness, School Shop, Bell Street Grounds and Rowing Sheds – all visitors, parents/guardians/carers, staff, volunteers and contractors

• Parents/Guardians/Carers can drop off and pick up students on both campuses in designated areas, maintaining appropriate social distancing at all times, without the need to sign in to the Check-In Tas App.
• All visitors as outlined above must register and check-in via the Check-in TAS App when entering any of the School’s campuses, The Farrall Centre, Friends Health & Fitness, Rowing Shed and Bell Street Grounds (using the relevant Campus QR Code or manual entry code – see below for the list).  This includes registering or checking in each time you move from one area or campus to another.  This includes activities such as school tours and attending events in different locations, seeing staff in different parts of the school. 
• In addition to using the Check-In Tas App, any visitor (except staff or students) entering the School, for reasons other than for pick-up or drop-off of their child at the School, is also required to sign in using the electronic platform available at their nearest reception point.  These are located at the Main Reception and High School Office (Commercial Rd Campus), along with the Morris Office and Clemes Office (Argyle St Campus). The school electronic sign-in platform is for evacuation and child safety purposes.
• Parents and Guardians are also reminded to contact a teacher or Head of School via email or phone if they wish to arrange an on-campus meeting.
• All visitors in attendance at school events are required to follow COVID-19 protocols regarding social distancing and health measures. 

Students

• The requirements do not apply to school students when they are at school or on a school excursion.

Staff

• All staff now need to check in with the Check-In TAS App when they come to school each day and move between campuses. Staff only need to check in once a day at each campus or School site that they visit.  Information is available on the Staff Work Health and Safety website.

The Friends’ School continues to follow on a daily basis the guidelines of the national and state public health authorities with respect to the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) and is committed to keeping our community regularly informed.  The School has and continues to consider and adopt a number of health and safety measures in the interest of our students, staff and community.  Please refer to weekly notices in What’s On, directly from our Principal Nelson File or a Head of School.

21 July 2021 – Email to staff, parents and students in Year 7 – 12

20 July 2021 – Email to staff, parents and students in Year 7 – 12

19 July 2021 – Email to staff, parents and students in Year 7 – 12

16 July 2021 – Visitor Check-in email to staff, parents and students in Year 7 – 12

With students and staff on campus, it is important to remember to follow the public health advice regarding physical distancing and personal hygiene. It has been shown that some of the simplest public health measures are also some of the most effective including:

• Wash your hands with soap and water regularly and thoroughly; this means for at least 20 seconds.
• Cough or sneeze into your elbow or into a clean tissue, then throw the tissue in the bin
• Stay 1.5 metres away from others.

If you’re feeling sick or showing symptoms of coronavirus, you should call your GP for advice — they will tell you if you need to get tested.

As part of safely conducting school sport, the following guidelines are in place at our school sports venues. Other schools and venues will have similar expectations in place.

The Friends’ School Venues – Bell Street Ovals and WN Oats Centre

Your compliance with the expectations below is essential during Term 3 to support safe student sport participation.

Some important requirements for students and parents/guardians:

• If you or your child have a fever, cough, sore throat, flu symptoms or shortness of breath please stay at home and we strongly recommend you consult the COVID-19 hotline.

• All students and spectators are required to sign in at the venue for COVID -19 tracing purposes. There will be a compulsory check in point at WN Oats Gym and Bell Street entrances. 

• A Friends’ School COVID-19 Safety Officer will be at each game venue and is responsible for collating attendance. These records will be kept in a secure location and destroyed after 21 days.

• Hand sanitiser stations will be located at both venues and are to be used when before and after games

Ground Entry

• Entry to Bell Street – main oval and top oval – via main gate (Queens walk)

• Entry to WN Oats Gym via Commercial rd or Carr st.

• Both locations will be continued to be signposted with COVID-19 related hygiene signage.

The Tasmanian Government has recommended that spectators be kept to a minimum.

• Students should be ready in their playing uniform.

• No non-essential persons permitted in change rooms.

• Players and Officials to wash hands or use sanitiser prior to and after training and games.

• Observe advertised protocols at all venues.

• Spectators are to practice physical distancing at all venues.

• Sporting equipment such as balls and cones will be sanitised after use.

• Each individual student will need their own labelled drink bottle. 

• No sharing of drink bottles and towels.

External venues may have protocols in place regarding meeting points and pick-up/drop off zones. This information will be communicated prior to the game.

The School Psychologists have put together a referral and resource webpage to support students with the current COVID 19 issue and more general health concerns.

A Tasmanian Lifeline

Lifeline Tasmania has set up a new service for Tasmanians, specifically to deal with the need for information, advice and support due to the Coronavirus Pandemic. Lifeline’s 13 11 14 crisis line continues to be available for those with significant and ongoing mental health issues, including those having suicidal thoughts.

Headspace

Headspace has also provided a valuable resource for families with information and tips to support the balance of online schooling and working from home.

The Friends’ School was founded in 1887 by Quakers, centered on their values which underpin our continuing care, concern and support for the community and those less fortunate. The recently established COVID-19 Emergency Fees Relief Fund directly supports those families who are experiencing financial hardship as a result of the pandemic.  This fund is open to applications from any family in the School experiencing financial hardship as a result of the wider effects of COVID-19 to assist with the continuing enrolment of their child during 2020.

If any parent/guardian would like to enquire about the application and assessment process for this fund, please contact our Enrolments Manager, Jen Scharkie via email or on (03) 6210 2224.

Should our community members be in a position to support our School families, you might consider a donation to this Fund. Whilst donations to this Fund are not tax deductible, any contributions will be greatly appreciated by families who have been significantly affected during this crisis and are unable to pay all of their fees at this time.

Donations to this Fund, or to one of the School’s tax-deductible Funds, can be made on our Online Donation Form.