Important information for Swim School families

The coronavirus COVID-19 is causing understandable concern, and it’s important to ensure you are familiar with the steps Newington is taking to ensure, as far as possible, the safety of our community.

Information about coronavirus changes by the day and we are keeping abreast of advice from the Department of Health, NSW Health, the World Health Organisation and other reliable authorities. Links to these organisations will be readily available to the Newington community via our website, along with all information related to COVID-19 as it relates to Newington.

As a rule, the College will not do less than is recommended by the Australian Department of Health and the NSW Department of Education. We may choose to do more.

What steps are being taken by Newington?

The College leadership group has a working plan that is being refined daily as the situation changes and new information becomes available. We are closely monitoring public health and education advice, knowing full well that in some ways we operate under their umbrella.

Will the swim school operate?

The swim school will operate as usual if the College is operating as usual. If the College’s Stanmore campus has to close, the swim school will also close. We will notify you of any closure via the College website and email.

Can I come onto the Newington Stanmore campus?

If you have travelled to China, Italy, Iran or South Korea please self-quarantine for 14 days before entering the College grounds.

The College is monitoring several other countries, in relation to coronavirus, including Japan, Cambodia and Mongolia. This list could grow – please check the Smart Traveller website for the latest updates.

Hygiene

Boys, staff and visitors are being asked to wash their hands frequently, not to touch their faces and to cough into their elbows or into a tissue (before disposing of it).  We advise them not to wear masks as a preventative measure. Medical advice is that masks are useful only if you are sick to stop the spread of coronavirus.

Shaking hands and other physical contact is being discouraged. Boys, staff and visitors with cold or flu symptoms are being asked to stay at home.

We have increased the frequency of cleaning of doors, handrails, classrooms, locker rooms, bathrooms and indoor sport facilities.

Additional sanitiser has been made available but is in short supply. We ask that visitors, boys and staff wash their hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and water.

Signs explaining good hygiene practices are being installed across the College as a reminder to students, staff and visitors.

How are we monitoring potential cases coming into the school?

If a student or staff member comes to school with a cold, we will send them home. If we suspect a student has coronavirus, based on their symptoms and history, we will isolate them and follow NSW Health guidelines.

If you are travelling to China, Italy, Iran or South Korea please self-quarantine for 14 days before entering the College grounds.

Please also be aware that several other countries are being closely monitored in relation to coronavirus, including Japan, Cambodia and Mongolia. This list could grow – please check the Smart Traveller website for the latest updates.

How will we know if there is a case at the College?

We will be notified by the Department of Health if we have a confirmed case or someone who has been in close contact with someone who is a confirmed case. We will notify you if you are impacted.

What to do if your child is sick

Please do not bring your child onto the campus if they are unwell. If they have a fever, runny nose, sore throat and/or cough they must stay home and follow medical advice.

If there is any history of travel to countries with confirmed cases of coronavirus, or contact with a known case, phone your GP for advice.

When the flu vaccine becomes available, we encourage vaccination.

Would we close the College?

We will take advice from NSW Health and act on that advice. Of course, we would also close if the Government closed a large number of schools, as has happened in China, Hong Kong, Korea, Japan and Italy.

We don’t know how long the closure would be. That would depend on the advice of NSW Health.

We think it is significantly more likely than not that the College will remain open. We are planning for the worst but expecting to operate Newington as usual.