Dear Parents,

The Victorian State Government has eased restrictions in regional Victoria from 11.59 pm on Wednesday, 16^th September 2020. With these restrictions eased, regional Victoria have progressed to the Third Step of the roadmap for reopening.

Term 4 Arrangements

From Monday, 5^th October, all students at St Mary’s will return to face to face classroom learning and will be expected to attend school as normal.

Where parents, guardians or carers choose to keep children home instead of returning them to classroom learning, St Mary’s will no longer be required to provide a Remote Schooling Program. In this instance, we will endeavour to provide an extended absence work program, however your child will be marked as absent from school.

Health and Safety Requirements

If your child is experiencing signs or symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19), they must not attend school until their symptoms resolve and appropriate medical advice is obtained. This includes those showing even mild symptoms of COVID-19.

The symptoms to watch out for are:

• fever
• chills or sweats
• cough
• sore throat
• shortness of breath
• runny nose
• loss of sense of smell.

In certain circumstances headache, muscle soreness, stuffy nose, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea may also be considered. 

Upon arrival to school or during the school day, if your child becomes or is unwell, you will be contacted and required to come and collect your child.

If students who are being tested for COVID-19 have siblings who attend a school managed and operated by the Diocese of Sale Catholic Education Limited (DOSCEL), then the siblings should also remain at home until a negative test result is provided for the student awaiting a test result.

If students are unwell for an extended period of time, they will be supported in their learning by the school.

Where a student is unwell and absent from school, parents and carers will not need to provide a medical certificate for their child to return to school.

In addition, all students will continue to receive a temperature check every morning before attending school, with a non-contact infrared forehead thermometer.

Primary school students are not required to wear a face covering irrespective of the students age. However, individual families can make their own decisions regarding their children wearing a face covering whilst attending primary school.

Parents, guardians and carers are encouraged to inform their child(ren) that school staff will be using face coverings and reinforce with their child(ren) the need to keep 1.5 metres apart from other people, to wash and dry hands thoroughly and regularly, and cough and sneeze into a tissue or their elbow.

School Arrangements 

St Mary’s will continue to implement the following control measures:

• all students will enter through the front gate
• promoting age-appropriate hygiene practices for all students
• reminding all students and staff to wash their hands with soap and water or when this is not possible, use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser on arrival at school and regularly throughout the day
• reinforcing with students the following hygiene practices:
  • cough and/or sneeze into their elbows or a tissue
  • place used tissues straight into the bin
  • avoid touching eyes, noses or mouths
  • not to share food or drink
  • not to drink from water fountains or bubblers directly
• extending school cleaning programs during the school day, including cleaning school playground equipment after use
• limiting the number of visitors attending the school, including parents.

The main risk of transmission of COVID-19 in the school environment is between adults. The following measures continue until further notice for parents, guardians and carers:

• practise physical distancing and avoid long periods of time in close contact with other adults
• use the telephone or email to contact staff rather than visiting the school
• do not enter the school grounds except when essential and the time on-site should be minimised
• adhere to the school’s pick and drop off requirements for students.

I appreciate that the transition to classroom learning will be a challenging time for all and I thank all our parents, guardians, carers and the wider school community for their continued hard work and support.

If you require clarification in relation to the updated Term 4 arrangements return to classroom learning or additional support, please contact myself or Heather on 51825659.

Yours sincerely

Joel Brayshaw

Principal