Weekly Wrap

Dear all,

 

Welcome to week 7. The week has been consumed by planning around an impending outbreak of Covid-19 that may force a school closure. I want to reassure our community that our staff have been planning for this event to allow us to prioritise the safety of our students and to minimise disruption to learning. We have postponed the Basketball Marathon and are scrutinising all events we have planned across the coming weeks on a case by case basis. We will be guided by Federal Government, DET, DHHS and WHO advice in relation to postponing any events.

 

If learning is to take place remotely from home, given our community has a diverse range of learning needs, all care will be taken to guarantee fair access to the curriculum. We are working hard to ensure captioning is available for any video clips staff will be using to maintain learning continuity.

 

As you are aware, with ongoing developments relating to COVID-19, the Department continues to update its advice based on advice from the Department of Health and Human Services, the State and Federal Government, and the World Health Organisation. I will continue to keep you informed about that advice.

For current general information and advice for our students, you and your families about the virus and the department’s response, it can be found at:

https://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/department/Pages/coronavirus.aspx

 

You will be aware of some schools closing for a week in response to confirmed COVID-19 cases. These actions are taken on the recommendation of DHHS to allow time for contact tracing and with the health and safety of staff and students in the school community front of mind.

Based on advice from DHHS, when there is a confirmed case of COVID-19 among a student or staff member, Victoria’s Chief Health Officer will recommend an affected school’s closure for 24 hours. If this occurs, DHHS will work with DET and staff and students will be advised to stay home and self-isolate for 24 hours. This closure will support school and health officials to work through a contact and containment strategy, including decisions about extending the closure period.

Maintaining learning continuity

Our teachers will continue to be paid during any school closure, and are
prepared to carry out duties related to teaching and learning during normal school hours.

We have One Note and Compass ready to support learning continuity for our students.

DET will also provide an online website, Learning from Home, that will be available in the event of any government school closure.

DET is working closely with the Victorian Curriculum And Assessment Authority (VCAA) to minimise disruption to Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) and Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) teaching and learning programs and, as far as possible, ensure no student is disadvantaged.

Further advice regarding any interruption to the year’s VCE schedule will be provided as events unfold.

I want to reassure our Year 11 and 12 students they will receive the care and support they need during this important time in their schooling to ensure they remain healthy and any impact on their learning is minimised.

Please remember that good hygiene practices are the most effective means of minimising the spread of COVID-19, and I urge you all to continue  these practices. Instructions on hand washing, and additional soap are available in our bathrooms.

Thank you for your continued support.

David Rogers
Principal