There are a number of children enrolled in the College who have particular allergies. Most of these can be managed without reference to other students. However, several children have a life-threatening allergy to nuts including peanut butter and Nutella and any snack products containing nuts. As a result, we ask that parents refrain from packing nut products or products that may contain nuts for recess, lunch or on special occasions where food is sent to classrooms for parties, etc. Please check product labels carefully to ensure that you do not inadvertently endanger the health of one of our students. If a student arrives at College with a food that contains nut products, the food will be confiscated and an alternative lunch provided, if necessary. Families are also reminded that this practice is followed when the College holds special treat days or events. We strive to minimise the risk of exposure to nuts and this can only be achieved with the co-operation and involvement of the community. It is important that we remember that we are all responsible for student health and safety.
We also have a number of students in the College who suffer from severe allergic reactions to certain perfumes and deodorants. Students are not to bring any aerosol perfumes or deodorants to College.
Parents who require their child to take prescription medication during College hours must complete
the Permission to Administer Medication Form (from College Office) and provide the medication in the original packaging to the College Nurse.
The following information must appear on the packaging:
- the student’s name and class
- name and phone number of the doctor who prescribed the medication
- possible adverse effects
- details about administering times
- precise dispensing instructions including dose and route (oral, eye drops – Left eye, etc)
Medication will not be dispensed by the College Nurse unless this information is provided.
Parents who wish to provide the College Nurse with permission to administer non-prescription
medication, such as paracetamol, must complete the authorisation via the Parent Portal. The College Nurse will not administer non- prescription medication without this authorisation. The College maintains a stock of the non- prescription medication listed on the portal and therefore it is not necessary for parents to provide.
It is the parents’ responsibility to maintain the currency of medical information for each student and this includes an annual update of any Medical Action Plans.
Teaching staff are not permitted to administer medications to students. It is the student’s responsibility to report to the College Nurse at the appropriate time to be given the medication. All student medication is kept in a secure place in the College Clinic. Each time it is administered it is recorded on the College database.
Students are not permitted to administer medication themselves nor are they permitted to carry
prescribed medication on their person or in their bag. The only exception to this is for Ventolin and
Epipens for which students should also carry an Action Plan in addition to the Action Plan provided to the College by the parents.
It should be noted that if a student requires an Epipen it must be given to the Class Teacher for the Red Bag (Junior School) and must be carried with the students at all times (Senior School). Ventolin must be carried with the student at all times (Junior or Senior).
If your child has a known medical condition, please provide the College with a copy of the latest
medical reports.
All staff have been trained in managing medical emergencies including CPR. Some have more
advanced skills and qualifications in applying first aid. All staff receive regular updates relating to
asthma, diabetes and allergic reaction including anaphylaxis. The College is well equipped with first aid kits and equipment and is a registered ‘Asthma Friendly School’ with the Asthma Foundation.
Parents will generally be contacted and asked to come and collect their child if the condition warrants such action.
Students should not be sent to College on days when it is obvious they are ill. The College does not
have space to accommodate nor staff to supervise sick students for more than a brief period of time.
There will be occasions when a student suffers an accident or becomes ill at College. If, in the opinion of the responsible staff member attending to the student, the College is not able to treat the injury or illness in an adequate manner, an ambulance will be called. Parents are expected to attend the College or related venue and accompany their child in the ambulance.
At some time most children contract one of the common diseases of childhood. There are some
standard practices recommended by the Health Department for the treatment of such diseases as
Chicken Pox, German measles, Impetigo, Measles, Mumps and Whooping Cough. Details can be
obtained from your local doctor or the website on www.health.nsw.gov.au
Because we have some students whose wellbeing can be seriously affected by contact with students
who contract any one of the diseases listed above, we ask that parents notify the College immediately their child shows the symptoms so that we can advise the appropriate families to keep their children at home.
From time to time children become carriers of head lice. Anyone can catch head lice in places where
many people work and play together because lice jump. Finding eggs and lice in your child’s hair is
often a very distressing experience for all concerned. Lice like clean hair and that is why they like to
keep moving on! It pays to check your child’s hair every day, especially if it is long. If you find head
lice in your child’s hair, please keep the child at home and commence treatment using an appropriate shampoo, or an appropriate treatment recommended by a chemist. Notify the College of this. When no more lice can be found, you may send your child back to College. If a teacher notices that a child has head lice (or a child reports such to the teacher), the parent will be contacted. We do not have staff or space in which to supervise such students therefore we ask parents to take the child home where appropriate treatment can be given immediately. Because having children in a class who have lice can become embarrassing for that child, we ask parents to keep the child at home until it is clear the problem has been resolved. Our concern in all this is twofold: for the child who is carrying the lice and the other children who are at risk of receiving them.
At the enrolment interview parents are required to certify that their child has been appropriately
immunized or has been granted an exemption. Children in the latter category may have to be kept at home if there is an outbreak of particular illnesses in the College.
As a College, we conduct two Evacuation and Lock Down drills per semester. Students and staff
are trained to conduct themselves in a calm and orderly fashion in case of an emergency. They
know where the evacuation assembly points are and the backup areas. Evacuation and Lock Down
procedures are displayed in each classroom around the College and in all staff areas to ensure
everyone follows the correct procedure.