Navigating through the challenges associated with the news of Carey’s confirmed cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) has been complex, with each day presenting new issues. In the face of this unprecedented situation, the Carey community continues to show how supportive and strong we are together.
On Saturday 14 March we received the news of a third confirmed case of COVID-19, this time a student. The student is currently being monitored closely and is recovering well at home. As on-campus learning ceased from Friday 6 March, the student was not considered infectious during their time at school.
The health and safety of the community is our first priority. We continue to co-operate with the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and follow their advice in the best interest of our students, staff and community. In consultation with DHHS, a decision has been made for our students and staff to remain at home until Friday 20 March, with teaching and learning to continue online. This will enable us to observe a whole school 14-day isolation period from the first report of COVID-19.
While this issue continues to challenge us, we are so proud of the proactive measures our educators have taken to ensure our students have felt supported to continue their learning from home. We are so fortunate at Carey to have the resources in place to quickly move our curriculum from the classroom to our online teaching and learning platform. This approach has ensured our students can continue their learning, while at the same time feeling supported and connected to their teachers and peers during this difficult time. Everything we do at Carey is in the best interest of our students, and the feedback we have received about the amazing support our teachers have offered their students has been incredibly positive and affirming.
While we have been working to ensure our community stays safe and that we are minimising the disruption to our students' learning, we are also aware of misinformation in the media and the unfortunate interactions some of our families have had with members of the broader community. We want to assure you that Carey is not in quarantine. Our decision to continue with online teaching and learning in the coming week remains the most effective measure to protect our community. We have taken all the necessary steps to proactively manage and contain the situation in close consultation with DHHS, and as the government advice evolves our approach will too.
Once again, we are grateful to those in our community who have been positive and supportive in their response to this unprecedented situation. We are very much looking forward to welcoming our staff and students back on campus soon.
Jonathan Walter
Principal
For more information about how to self-assess for your personal risk for coronavirus (COVID-19), have a look at this information sheet from the DHHS.
