Message From The Principal

In recent weeks, I have been asked on several occasions why mask use at RPS is only "strongly encouraged" and not mandated as it was in Term 1.

The short answer is simple.  As a public school we are obliged to comply with the COVID Protection Framework - Orange setting, which states that mask use indoors at school is "strongly encouraged".  

Now for a more detailed and perhaps balanced response. 

Research tells us the Omicron variant is highly transmissible, so we need to use a range of measures and tools to protect us from infection. Wearing masks is an important tool that can minimise the direct spread of the virus through particles in the air.

Masks help to prevent transmission of the virus that causes COVID-19 in two ways:

• decreasing the amount of virus spread by an infectious person by catching the particles containing virus in the mask (source control).
• helping to prevent a person from inhaling particles containing virus (wearer protection).

The best protection from infection occurs when everyone is wearing a mask, which we witnessed at the "red" setting in Term 1. The combination of source control AND wearer protection is much more effective than just one or the other.

As the icy chill of winter continues to descend on us, we are likely to see an increase in colds and flu-like symptoms presenting within the classroom.  With the knowledge that wearing a mask - whilst indoors, provides an additional layer of protection, I am now urging parents to have a discussion with their children about the importance of wearing a mask whilst indoor at RPS. No, we are not in a position to mandate mask use, but I would be delighted to see greater mask wearing at school. 

Enough learning has been interrupted by the COVID chaos.  Let's pull together as a community and look out for each other by masking up indoors.