To help ensure the safety of our community, we are implementing some new hygiene procedures. We ask that our entire school community familiarise themselves and their children with the following key points about returning to on-site learning.

Message from the Principal

Our Staughton Family has really come together to successfully navigate the move to online learning. I would like to sincerely thank you all for your understanding, care and perseverance during this time. I would also like to congratulate our teachers and support staff on their hard work and care. I would like to thank parents and carers for their flexibility cooperation and effort.

We are all looking forward to seeing our year 7-10 students when they return on Tuesday 9th June. We have missed them! It is vital that as students return we work together to maintain everyone’s health and wellbeing.

Once a year level has returned, all students will be expected to attend school as normal. This means if you choose to keep your child/children home after their year level has returned to on-site schooling, we can no longer support their learning from home. This does not apply to children who need to be absent for health or medical reasons. We have been asking over the last few weeks for you to notify us immediately if your child falls into this category on the Staughton College email staughton.co@edumail.vic.gov.au so that we can work with you. This same approach is being taken by all government schools in Victoria.

The Chief Health Officer has advised that students are not required to maintain physical distancing at school. Despite this we will still be implementing distancing for students wherever practical. Physical distancing between adults and children, is very important. There are a number of changes to our school operations, consistent with health advice.• If you child is ill or is feeling unwell, they must not attend school. They must remain home and seek medical advice. Please ensure you contact us to let us know they are sick and at home.

• If a child becomes unwell whilst at school they will be sent home to seek medical advice. Children must be picked up from school, not just sent home.

• Students will be inducted into safe health practices as they return to school.

• We have an enhanced cleaning regime including more cleaning of high touch surfaces during the day. Every classroom will have sanitiser available for students as will high touch areas such as the library.

• Lockers are now available and your child will be issued with a locker. The Victorian Education Minister has banned students using mobile phones in school. Student mobile phones must be placed in lockers all day. This also helps limit infection as mobile phones are high touch surfaces.

• Students should enter and exit via the closest gate possible to minimise movement through the school.

• The canteen will be open. We are strongly suggesting that students place lunch orders, as only small numbers of students will be allowed in the canteen at any one time. Canteen staff will be careful to meet food handling standards and have been COVID – 19 trained.

• All students must bring their device to school. Students who have been loaned a device through the school can keep it at this stage. This is a vital strategy to reduce contact between students and adults.

• All students should bring their own drink bottle already filled up. These can be refilled from taps around the school.• We encourage students to bring their own sports equipment for use at lunchtime as we will not be able to loan sport equipment to students.

We ask parents to support student and school staff health and wellbeing:

• Encourage your child to follow safe hygiene and distancing practices including on the way to and from school. Ensure they have looked through the list of changes above.• Please stay in your cars when picking up your children.

• Adults who are not staff members will not be able to come on site. Our General Office will be physically closed. Please contact the school on 97434622 or via the school email staughton.co@edumail.vic.gov.au.

• The onsite Uniform shop will remain closed for the rest of Term 2. The following options are available to families:

Go to the Werribee Store
Online – www.noone.com.au
Phone Head Office on 9379 5037

Regards,

David Lord

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