Accident and Illness at the College
In the event of an accident or illness during the day at the College, it is most important that you can be contacted. An emergency contact form has been provided for you to provide contact information. The College should be notified immediately of any changes to telephone numbers, contact people or addresses via the Edumate Parent Portal.
Allergy Awareness
Our desire as a College is to be allergy aware – to reduce the risk of inadvertent exposure to known allergens as far as practicable and to enable the students who have significant allergies to participate equally in all aspects of College life. The number of children with significant food allergies in Australia is increasing. Food allergies are serious and can be fatal.
Food allergy reactions almost always occur from eating the food or from touching the mouth with contaminated hands, utensils, or other objects. The greatest risk for students with severe food allergies is accidental exposure to the allergen. The key to the prevention of potentially serious reactions is avoiding exposure to the relevant allergen.
There are students attending the College who are highly allergic to peanuts and other nuts. Students are not to bring sandwich spreads and other food items which contain nut or nut products. This includes nuts in muesli bars, biscuits with nuts, Nutella and peanut butter.
Illness and Sick Children
The College is unable to provide care for children who are unwell. Children should stay at home if they are not able to fully participate in the school day. In the event that a child develops a temperature or illness whilst at school, parents will be contacted and asked to promptly collect their child. In the case of vomiting and/or diarrhoea, parents are asked to keep their children away from school until 24hrs after the last episode of vomiting or diarrhoea.
The College has a registered nurse onsite who will contact parents in the event of an accident or illness.
It is a legal requirement that absences are covered by a written note. In addition, students in Years Ten to Twelve are required to submit a doctor’s certificate.
Students returning from an absence due to injury are required to submit a medical certificate outlining the nature of the injury and any ongoing treatment or support required.
Immunisation
Children who are not fully immunised may be required to remain at home should there be an outbreak of a disease for which they are not immunised. Immunisation records must be provided at enrolment and should be updated by parents/carers in the Parent Portal.
Infectious Diseases
The following table provides regulations from the NSW Health Commission regarding infectious diseases.
| DISEASE | MINIMUM PERIOD OF EXCLUSION FROM SCHOOL |
| Chicken Pox | May return to the College once all spots have formed scabs and are dry. |
| Conjunctivitis | Exclude until discharge from the eyes has cleared. |
| Coronavirus (COVID-19) | Isolate for 5 days from positive result and only return when all symptoms are resolved. |
| Fifths Disease (Slap Cheek) | As this disease is normally only contagious in the period before the rash appears, it is not normally necessary to exclude the child from school, however, it is important that the College is advised of any outbreaks. |
| German Measles (Rubella) | Exclude until fully recovered – for at least six (6) days after the rash appears. |
| Hand Foot and Mouth Disease | Exclude until blisters have dried up and any rash has gone and fever settled. |
| Hepatitis (Viral Hepatitis Type A) | Exclude until all symptoms have disappeared or until a doctor issues a certificate of recovery – for at least seven (7) days from the first signs of jaundice. |
| Measles | Exclude for at least five (5) days from the appearance of a rash. |
| Mumps | Exclude until fully recovered – for at least seven (7) days after the swelling occurs. |
| Scarlet Fever | If not treated, exclude for at least seven (7) days after symptoms have subsided or until a medical certificate of recovery is produced. If treated with antibiotics, may return to school 24 hours after the first antibiotic dose. |
| Impetigo (Scabby Sores) | Doctor should be consulted. If sores are being treated and are properly covered with a clean dressing, children are allowed to attend school. If they are not covered and are on exposed parts of the body, exclusion is necessary until all sores are healed. |
| Pediculosis (Head Lice) | Exclude until hair is free of nits. Hair should be treated with anti-lice lotion or shampoo. (It is important to follow all instructions on the container). |
| Ringworm | Exclude until appropriate treatment has begun. The College may ask for a medical certificate to say this has happened. |
| Whooping Cough | Exclude for three weeks from onset of whoop; except that the period of exclusion may be less than three weeks if there is no whoop and a medical certificate is produced indicating that the student has completed five full days of antibiotic treatment. |
Medication
No medication will be given to any child without a permission note signed and dated by a parent/guardian. The note must clearly state the dosage and the time to be given. All medication, prescription and non-prescription, must be taken to Student Reception at the beginning of the day and must be in its original packaging as dispensed by the pharmacy.
Nits
Children’s hair should be checked each week for head lice. All eggs should be removed before the child is returned to school.
Absences
To notify of a student absence please email Junior Absent or Senior Absent.
Term Time Leave
The College does not condone holidays taken during term time. Where term time leave is unavoidable an Application for Extended Leave-Travel/Exemption from Attendance at School must be completed and submitted to the Principal for approval at least two weeks in advance. With the exception of leave required for attendance at funerals, misadventure or unforeseen events, or serious illness of an immediate family member, Applications for Extended Leave-Travel that are not submitted before the date which is two (2) weeks prior to the commencement of the proposed leave will not be considered, and the absence will be regarded as unapproved leave. A written explanation of such absences, however, is still required to be provided to the College. Certificates of Extended Leave/Travel are provided when it has been clearly demonstrated by the applicant that the leave is necessary or desirable and that alternatives to providing leave such as distance education have been considered. The period of extended leave must be in the student’s best interests in the short and long term.
Coursework/Homework
Senior School students must also consult with the Director of Curriculum before the period of leave with regard to any assessment tasks, examinations or in-class tests that may fall due during the absence. Parents and students should note that alternative arrangements will not be made for assessment tasks that are missed because of student holidays. Similarly, students can approach individual teachers and request work, however, this is not always possible to provide. Approval for extended leave does not provide an extension for assessment tasks, or exemption from in-class tests or exams.
Homework is not set for Junior School students in the school holidays. If a student is travelling during the College term, they may be asked to keep a travel journal
Students from Year Three with excused absences (i.e. long-term illness) will be encouraged to make up work across Literacy and Numeracy and various subject areas Teachers will assist students in making up work in collaboration with the student and parent/s and caregivers.
The Application for Extended Leave-Travel or Exemption from Attendance at School is also available from the College Wiki accessed via the Edumate Parent Portal.
RHAC Parent Handbook 