Health
Absence
It is requested that parents or guardians communicate with the School on the first morning of an absence. Apart from much appreciated communication of your child’s health, it would alleviate concern on the School’s behalf as to the whereabouts of your child. Please note that it is a legal requirement that a written communication be given to the School explaining any absence.
Requests for leave of absence
All requests for leave of absence should be directed in advance to the Class Teacher/Guardian. These include medical and dental appointments. Requests for longer absences such as interstate and overseas trips, holiday extensions etc. must be approved by the Class Teacher/Guardian and in the case of a senior student the High School College.
Illness at School
Any child reporting ill at School will be cared for in the “Get Well Room”. If the student is very sick and uncomfortable, the parents will be informed and asked to pick up their child.
Medical Care
Minor injuries and illnesses will be cared for by the staff who hold current First Aid Certificates. With parental consent basic first aid assistance will be administered. (Medical Care permission forms are available at the end of the General Handbook, from the Office or can be downloaded from our website.) Should the condition require further attention, parents will be contacted and requested to pick the child up from School. If the condition is considered urgent an appropriate medical practitioner will be consulted. Staff attending any injury will record the details in the Accident/Injury Report book kept in the Office.
Treatment of Cuts
1) Students report to their Teacher or come directly to the First Aid Officer in the Office.
2) All open wounds are cleaned, treated and covered. Disposable rubber gloves are used so as to not come into direct contact with any blood.
3) Contaminated waste is put into a special contaminated waste bin in the Office.
4) For more serious wounds parents are contacted; if they are not available students are taken to the doctor or hospital.
Infectious Diseases
Children in any school environment will inevitably be exposed to certain illnesses. These conditions include headlice, impetigo, ringworm, conjunctivitis, influenza and threadworms. It is most important for parents to be fully aware of the signs and symptoms of these conditions in order to avoid communicating the diseases to other children. Children with contagious conditions must remain at home until appropriate treatment has been given and the manifestations of the condition have receded.
If a student has evidence of headlice, the whole class will be checked. A note will be sent home with all the children in that Class. If a student comes to School with headlice, the parents will be contacted and the child will be sent home for treatment and removal of eggs.
Infectious childhood diseases such as measles, mumps, rubella, whooping cough and chicken pox have a particular relationship to balanced growth and the child’s developmental process. These diseases require special care and attention in order to prevent complications, restore health and wellbeing. In order to protect the rest of the community, children must remain home from school during the infectious period of the disease and should be given adequate time to recuperate and convalesce before returning to School.
Procedure for the Administration of Prescription Medication
1. Clear written instruction is required from: a) the parent or guardian, b) a medical practitioner
2. The Doctor’s prescription must be shown to the First Aid Officer.
3. All medication is to be administered in the Well-Being room by the First Aid Officer.
4. Each administration to be entered in a diary: noting time, date and description of dosage etc. and then signed by the First Aid Officer.