Dear parents/carers,
I am writing to you during the school holidays to further update you about the arrangements for our school for Term 2 and what it will mean for you and your children.
These are unprecedented times and therefore, we will need to do some things differently in our school over the coming weeks, to maintain learning and to keep your children and our staff safe.
I understand this may be an uncertain and difficult period for you and your family. That is why the State Government has given parents a choice about whether their children return to school for face-to-face teaching or learn from home. I understand that this is a personal decision influenced by each family’s circumstances. I want you to know that we completely respect your decision and assure you that whether your child/ren is learning at home or at school we will be providing a rich curriculum delivery and continue to be there for all families.
It will greatly support us in planning for week 1 of Term 2 to know the expected number of students that will be attending school. This will enable us to look at creating smaller numbers of children in classrooms and supporting social distancing if possible. As such, you will be sent an SMS message today with a link to a short survey around your child/ren’s attendance. You will be asked to indicate Yes or No. If you answer YES, please indicate their year levels. A prompt response by no later than 9.00am Friday 24 April 2020 will be greatly appreciated. This information will be vital for us to best support your children upon return and those who are Learning from Home. A prompt response will be greatly appreciated.
Please note the following:
• Monday 27 April is a public holiday;
• Tuesday 28 April will be a pupil free day. There will be no students at school as staff will be using this day for preparation;
• From Wednesday 29 April, school is open for all students whose parents/carers choose to send them;
• Students who attend school will be taught a face-to-face program and timetable;
• For those children learning from home, this will be through online or hard copy packages provided to you from school. Details of how to undertake and return the work will accompany the packages;
• For those students who are learning from home, contact by school will be made each week by phone and/or online;
• Students Learning from Home will be marked as “E” – educational – not as absent from school.
• Parents are asked to drop their child/children at the school gate, please do not enter the school grounds. We will have entrance and exit points set up with staff providing duty of care as soon as your child/ren enter the school grounds.
• The State Government is providing $43 million in additional funding to expand school cleaning, in line with the health advice. Cleaners will work throughout the day to ensure all high-use areas, such as benchtops, desks, doorknobs, taps and hand rails, are regularly cleaned and surfaces disinfected. Some playgrounds will be open and play equipment will be cleaned before school and after each break.
We will provide further information on how our school will manage this situation, including drop off and pick-ups, ahead of school beginning, on Wednesday 29 April. Please look out for this email.
These above arrangements will be in place and reviewed ahead of Week 4 commencing 18 May. As always, State Government decisions will be based on the best health advice.
We want all families and children to feel supported and informed during this time. I thank you for your partnership as we navigate this together.
Kind regards,
Lynne Bates
Principal
22 April 2020