From the Principal
Term 1 Week 8 Matt Mulree
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
We are certainly living in interesting times. Firstly, I would like to thank the entire school community for their patience and understanding around the vast number of unexpected changes that the school has been forced to make in recent weeks. We are communicating changes as we receive them from The Department for Education and will continue to do so. Please continue to communicate with your child’s classroom teacher if you have any questions around illness or curriculum changes moving forward. I am available and happy to respond to any concerns that you may have, please do not hesitate to touch base with me. We are here to support you are your children to connect to the teaching and learning program, paramount to this is our commitment to keeping everyone safe.
JP Buddies
I’d like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank the amazing work our JP Buddy student leaders. They were scheduled to be introduced in this week’s assembly, which has been postponed to next term. The following student are doing great work already this year and will continue to do so. I’d like to thanks them for their commitment to being a leader at West Beach. Thanks to the following members of the JP Buddy team:
Lily H
Hana B
Georgia S
Emily S
Maggie K
Grace K
Elley B
Lillyana T
Seinna T
Jemma P
Charlie EW
Espen K
Lucas K
Mikayla A
COVID 19 Site Actions
Assemblies and Excursions
Due to ongoing developments regarding the COVID-19 Virus and in consultation with our Governing Council Chairperson, all assemblies, excursions (both internal and external) for the remainder of term have been cancelled.
Christian Option Easter Program has been cancelled.
African Drumming incursion will be postponed until Term 2.
Harmony Day
Our Harmony Day celebrations scheduled for Friday 20/3 will also be postponed. This will be reviewed at the start of Term 2.
Sport
All school related Sport (AFL and Soccer) has been postponed until further notice. School AFL and Soccer teams may play a deferred season once the respective organizations have formed a greater plan based on information as it becomes available.
Hygiene
Staff have reviewed safe hand washing procedure with all students and additional signage has been placed in all wet areas and toilets to emphasize effective hand washing. We are still referring to ongoing information from DfE and any changes will reflect information provided by Health SA and DfE. This will be shared with parents as it’s received. Staff are talking about social distancing and personal hygiene with students daily.
Contingency
There are no expectations for site closures at this point, however we would address any change to this immediately to all community members. Sites would potentially close for a minimum of 24 hours if a direct positive result has occurred onsite and the Health SA would advise what the sites would do next.
Continuation of Learning
Our site is examining how a continuation of learning would look and class teachers will be available to discuss this for individual classes.
Volunteers
We are having no parent volunteers on site at this stage.
Parent Teacher Interviews
I have decided to postpone Parent/Teacher interviews for Term 1, scheduled to begin Monday 23/3. Due to the ever evolving nature of the protocols for COVID- 19 and to come in line with schools across our partnership we will not be holding Parent/Teacher interviews this term.
At this stage we will plan to reschedule interviews in the early stages of Term 2. The online portal will be refreshed and information for how parents can book a new session time will be made available in early Term 2.
Above all, stay safe and look after each other. Follow common sense in regards to sending students to school. If they are exhibiting ANY symptoms such as an extended cough, runny nose, fever, self-isolate and keep them at home, consult a doctor as required. Parents, if you
have been sent home from work as a result of a potential COVID19 exposure, are exhibiting symptoms or are being directly tested for COVID 19, please contact the school and let us know.
All the best,
Matt Mulree
Acting Principal