21st May 2020

 

Dear Families,

 

As you are aware students will be returning to school this term.  I am very pleased that staff and students will be returning to onsite teaching and learning.  I am looking forward to welcoming all of the school staff back on site and reengaging with all of our students beginning on the 26th May for Foundation to Grade 2 and on the 9th June for Grade 3 to Grade 6 students.  Some school routines and expectations will be adjusted following advice from the Victorian Chief Health Officer and the Department of Education, however, on the whole we will be restabilising “normal” school for all of our students.  The school site will be open for students from 8.30am to 3.30pm each day with some alterations for class start and end times beginning on 9th June 2020.  School buses will operate as normal.

 

The return to school will be staged as follows;

• Monday 25th May:Pupil Free Day – no students at school.

• Tuesday 26th May:Foundation, Grade 1 and Grade 2 students return to school

(8.45am – 3.15pm).

 

• Tuesday 26th &Grade 3 – Grade 6 students pick up their final Home Learning Pack

Wednesday 27th May:   (Bookings on SENTRAL open from Thursday 21st May @ 9.00am).

 

• Monday 8th June:Queen’s Birthday – Public Holiday.

• Tuesday 9th June:Grade 3 – Grade 6 students return to school.All students at school.

 

One of the biggest changes will be access by families to the school site.  Families will not have general access to the school grounds or buildings as they have done previously.  To avoid congestion at our school gates I will open designated drop off and pick up areas for families on the school site to support families and students where necessary.  Families are encouraged to make off site arrangements.  The areas will be the basketball court, netball court and winter garden.  All adults are expected to follow social distancing protocols, including non-contact greetings in these spaces.  Families will not be able to drop off or pick up students from classroom doors or breezeways.  The school will continue to be open for students from 8.30am to 3.30pm.  Staff will be on duty in the yard and classrooms will be open from 8.30am.  On arrival at school students will be directed to their classrooms from these areas or following normal family arrangements if students are already independently arriving at school. 

 

In the afternoon Grade 3-6 students will be dismissed from their classrooms and students in Foundation, Grade 1 and Grade 2 will be dismissed from the following areas;

• Foundation:Basketball court

• Grade 1:Netball Court

• Grade 2:Winter Garden

 

 

Families will also be asked to enter the school office foyer only as needed.  If families need to make contact with a staff member I request that you phone or email the school, or the staff member via SENTRAL.  Staff will then make contact with families.

 

Beginning on the 9th June 2020 for the remainder of term 2 and all of term 3 we will be staggering beginning times and end times of the school day and recess and lunch breaks during the day.  As already stated the school will be open for students from 8.30am – 3.30pm each day, the yard will be supervised from 8.30am to 9.00am and 3.00pm to 3.30pm. Where families arrive at school together with siblings in F-2 and 3-6 all classrooms will be open from 8.30am.

 

Staggered start and end times;

Foundation to Grade 2:

• 9.00am start time

• Morning recess – 11.15am

• Lunch eating – 12.45pm

• Lunch recess – 1.00pm

• 3.00pm dismiss time.Teachers will walk classes to pick up areas.

Grades 3 to 6:

• 8.45am start time

• Morning recess – 10.45am

• Lunch eating – 1.15pm

• Lunch recess – 1.30pm

• 3.15 dismiss time.Students will be dismissed from classrooms.

 

During the school day, staff and students will practise effective hand hygiene.  On arrival at school and during the day, before and after yard breaks and specialist classes, students will wash their hands with soap and water and then apply hand sanitiser.  Teachers will establish and direct classroom hygiene routines and manage the use of sanitiser.  Students must bring their own drink bottles to school.  Drinking fountains can be used to refill bottles but not to drink from.  Additional environmental cleaning will occur at the end of the day and during the school day.  Extra cleaning during the school day will include high touch areas, drinking troughs, bathrooms and entrances.  Classroom bins will be emptied by the cleaners, students will not be taking bins to the skip.

 

Our Before and After School program will operate as normal for year levels that are returning to school from 26th May 2020.  There will be social distancing measures in place for adults dropping off and picking up students.  Families will be able to enter the foyer of the gymnasium only and will be required to sanitise their hands upon entry.

 

Importantly any student or staff member who is unwell is expected to stay home.  Any students or staff members who becomes unwell during the school day will be sent home.  Families will be expected to pick up unwell students from school.  The school policy, Covid-19 Return to School Policy has been added to the school website for your information.

 

Yours sincerely,

Ann Stevens

Principal