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Dear Parent/Guardian,
I write today to further update you on the return of students to face to face teaching. We are sure you have many questions and we have done our best to answer these below.
Returning to School – Face to Face Lessons
As you will be aware a plan has been put in place for all students in Victoria to return to school.
- How is this going to happen?
- Will school be different than before the COVID-19 Pandemic?
- How is this going to affect me?
These are probably the first three questions you may be asking. The information below will hopefully answer these and all of your questions related to the return of face to face teaching at WMYC. The advice is relevant at the time of writing and is subject to change based on the directives of the Victorian Chief Medical Officer, the Victorian Government and the Department of Education.
INFOMRATION RELEVANT UP UNTIL JUNE 9TH
When do students return to the school site?
All students will be returning to school on Tuesday the 9th of June. (Monday 8th is the Queen’s Birthday Public Holiday)
What is in place for students until then?
Until then all students will continue with remote learning using the same timetable structure that has been in place for Term 2.
Can I come to school and attend my remote learning classes from there?
No. As is the case currently, those students who can learn from home, must learn from home until the 9th June.
Vulnerable students and children of essential workers who must attend school are still required to fill out the application form each week and if permission to attend is granted, will be supervised under the same conditions that exist now.
INFORMATION FOR AFTER JUNE 9TH
What is the timetable going to look like?
We will be running the normal school timetable for all students.
What about excursions?
There will be no excursions running until further notice. Only activities that occur at the alternate campus will be allowed to continue. This includes our “Activity Afternoon” program.
What is in place at school to ensure our safety
Parents and Visitors:
- Parents/guardians are not currently permitted on the school site.
- The front office will only be available via telephone. It is not open to any visitors.
- Pick up and drop off – please do not congregate around entry/exit points. If you need to collect your child at a time other than the end of the day, call the office staff for further information.
- If students are displaying cold/flu symptoms they will be quarantined at school, parents called and asked to collect their child. Their child can return to school when they are well.
Students:
- Students will be provided with hand sanitiser and equipment at the beginning of every class in order to clean their hands and workstations. They will be expected to do this.
- Wherever possible, students will be expected to do whatever they can to maintain social distancing. This will not always be possible in classes, but the college is wishing to do everything we can to ensure the safety of everybody, so we will be asking students to help with this.
- Microsoft Teams will continue to be utilised in classes. Therefore, it is encouraged for students to bring devices and headphones with them.
- House/Whole school Assemblies will be held via Microsoft Teams until further notice.
- The mobile phone policy remains in place. We encourage students to put their phone in their locker.
- The canteen will be open and operating as normal.
- Students must bring their own drink bottle as no bubblers will be operational.
- The canteen will run as usual.
- Students should wear warm clothes. Where possible, windows and doors will be left open to increase ventilation.
Teachers:
- Staff will be provided with sanitising equipment for their classes and additional equipment for personal use. It is the staff members responsibility to utilise this. This includes: tissues, wipes, sanitiser (large and small bottle), disinfectant spray and paper towel.
- Personalised hi-visibility vests will be provided for yard duties.
- Where necessary, negotiated movement of staff desks will occur to comply with social distance requirements.
- Staff meetings will continue to be held online until further notice.
- If staff are displaying cold/flu symptoms they will be sent home and will return to school when they are well.
Interventions around the school:
The following protocols will be put in place to ensure student and staff safety.
- Cleaners will be on site during the day to sanitise high touch areas.
- Extra cleaning at night will occur.
- Where possible doors and windows should be left open to encourage ventilation.
What happens if a student or staff member tests positive for coronavirus?
In the event a student or staff member tests positive for coronavirus all members of the school community will be sent home. A team of cleaners from the DET will clean the school site to ensure that it is virus free once staff. and students are able to return to work – this is likely to take three days.
Still have concerns?
Parents are asked to please notify your child’s CARE teacher if you still have unanswered questions or if you do not intend to send your child to school from Tuesday 9th June. Those students who are being kept at home by parents as a precaution will not have work sent home. This is a Department of Education directive to allow teaching staff to focus on students at school. If your child is staying home for medical reasons, please contact your child’s CARE teacher and we will provide work for your child.
We really look forward to our students returning to school and have missed the face to face contact with them. We understand that there will be some apprehension about returning to school from some students and parents. We want to work with families to make the transition back to face to face teaching as smooth as possible. We are sure it won’t be perfect straight away but we ask for your patience and feedback at this time so that we can get this right.
Maree Cribbes
Campus Principal
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