Please send a note to your child’s teacher when she or he returns to school. The note should indicate the dates the child was absent and the cause of the absence. In the event of a communicable disease, it would help if you could telephone the school office so other parents can be made aware that there is an outbreak of that disease. Proforma absentee notes will be given out when children start school.

4.2 What ailments require exclusion from school?

The National Health and Research Council has recommended minimum exclusion periods for infectious diseases. These include:
• Chicken Pox- At least 5 days and until all blisters have dried.
• Impetigo- Until treatment has commenced. Exposed sores to be covered.
• Conjunctivitis- Until medication commenced and discharge has ceased.• Diarrhoea- Until diarrhoea has stopped.
• German Measles- Until fully recovered or at least 4 days after onset of rash.
• Head Lice- Until treatment has commenced.
• Hepatitis A- At least 7 days after onset.
• Mumps- 9 days or until swelling goes down.
• Whooping Cough- 5 days after starting antibiotics.

Please Note: The government strongly recommends that all children are immunised for the traditional childhood diseases and the Department has asked that schools sight the Immunisation Certificate on enrolment. If you have chosen not to immunise your child and there is an outbreak of any of these diseases, your child will be excluded from school for one month.

4.3 What procedures will be followed if my child becomes unwell while at school?

When a teacher is concerned that a child is unwell at school the child is sent over to the school office and spends some time in Sick Bay. Both Mrs Brightwell and Mrs Nicholls have their First Aid Certificates, and if they believe the child will be able to continue with his or her schooling after a short rest, the child is sent back to the classroom.
If the condition is more serious, parents are contacted to organise for the child to be collected from school. If the parents are unavailable, the school will make contact with the person listed as the emergency contact on the student’s information sheet.

Please Note: It is important to ensure this information is kept up-to-date as changes occur. Please send a note to Mrs Brightwell to ensure the correct information is recorded at school.

Parents are requested to consider the needs of their own child and those who will be sharing the classroom with them if they are sick. It is important not to send children to school if they are sick.

4.4 What procedure will be followed if my child has an accident at school?

If any child has an serious accident at school the parents are contacted immediately. In the event that the parents are not contactable and it is deemed that medical attention is necessary, the Emergency Contact (from the student’s Information Sheet) will be phoned. If none of these people are available, the child’s Doctor will be contacted, an ambulance called and the child transferred to Bulli Hospital Casualty Department.

Parents are asked to ensure the school has an up-to-date list of contact telephone numbers.