A COVID SAFE RETURN TO SCHOOL

We all know how vigilant we must continue to be due to the easily transmissible Delta COVID 19 strain.

This will no doubt cause parents some concern when considering their child’s return to school.

I would like to assure you that our school has numerous strategies in place to keep our school community as safe as possible. All staff are trained in Coronavirus safety.

VACCINATION

The Victorian Chief Health Officer has advised that vaccination will be required for everyone working in schools to protect children, employees and our communities from the spread of COVID-19.

Mandatory vaccination requirements apply under the COVID-19 Mandatory Vaccination directions issued by the Victorian Chief Health Officer.

Here at Murrumbeena Primary School, I am pleased to report that we are well on the way with this requirement and all of our teachers are vaccinated.

FACE MASKS

I would like to acknowledge the wide range of parent opinion on the topic of mandated mask wearing for the year 3-6 students.

Here at Murrumbeena Primary School, our priority will always be on ensuring student safety and placing strategies in place to support positive wellbeing. This includes managing the wearing of masks in an encouraging way. Our school will continue to follow the implementation strategies outlined in the DET Operations Guide in response to the changing restrictions.

The current mandates are as follows:

The Chief Health Officer announced the mandatory requirement for all students in Grades 3- 6 to wear a mask from Friday 8 October and has highly recommended that younger students in Prep to Grade 2 wear a mask when at school or attending TheirCare.

Our staff and students will be reminded to wear face masks indoors and wherever practicable. The mask can be removed as necessary for effective communication.

What Our Teachers Will Do?

Model correct and positive mask wearing.
Provide a lesson on ‘school safety strategies’ which includes a revision of: how and when to wash and sanitise hands; when, where and how to wear a mask, including where to put it if needs to come off- this will be supported by reminder posters.
Incidentally praise students who wear face masks correctly and ask students why they don’t want to wear a mask. For some students, refusal to wear a mask could be due to a health condition, or sensory/ discomfort issues, so we will follow up by telephoning the parent to share information together.
We will support students, staff and families with lawful exceptions for mask wearing.
The school will have a supply of face masks available for staff, students, visitors/contractors if they do not have their own OR for when their mask becomes damaged/soiled or requires replacement.

What we ask of Parents

Communication:

When parents are stressed, worried and anxious, these feelings rub off on the children. Please minimise conversations around your concerns, as children do not have the experience or knowledge to understand the snippets of conversation they hear. Information then becomes misinterpreted and anxiety sets in.

It is vital that parents convey positive messages and the benefits of returning to school even with the restrictions in place.

Education:

Supply masks for your child and teach them how to fit and wear their mask. Show your child where to put the mask when they take it off (eg. around their wrist when they take it off to eat and NOT on surfaces such as tables). If you wish your child to change their mask during the day, please show your child where their additional mask is located in their school bag eg. in a ziplock bag next to their lunch box or a side pocket of their school bag.

Medical Conditions:

There may be students who have a medical condition and are unable to wear a face mask. If this is the case, then please contact your child’s teacher and Amanda, who will discuss with you other strategies to limit transmission.

FURTHER COVID SAFE PRACTICES WILL INCLUDE:

Hand Hygiene – washing hands prior to classroom entry and regular use of sanitiser. Posters will be displayed around classrooms and reminder announcements will be made over the PA (public address system).

Sanitiser will also be used as necessary, including when students attend specialist classes.

· Natural Ventilation – classroom windows, doors and vents will be open for as much of the day as possible to allow air flow. This means it will be very important that students always have their jackets ready to put on if they get cold.

· Physical distancing and adherence to density limits in common areas for the adults, such as SAKG, the hall, library, staffroom etc. Density limits do not apply in classrooms and other learning spaces used by students.

· Surface Cleaning – each classroom has a supply of sanitizing wipes, sprays, cloths, gloves etc. to wipe down devices, resources etc. and to ensure that tables are cleaned prior to students eating, although weather permitting students will be eating outside.

· Outdoor and Open Learning Spaces- all classes (except the portables) have access to open learning spaces. Students will be encouraged to spread out and use those spaces when working. Teachers will also hold lessons (when they can) outdoors.

· Staggering drop off and pick up times to prevent concentration of people around the gates. Parents will not be allowed onsite (unless attending the office).

STAGGERED DROP OFF AND PICK UP ARRANGEMENTS

We will reinstate the staggered drop off and pick up times to minimise congestion at the gates and this will commence from Monday 18 October when the preps return.

STAGGERED TIMES

Blue House - Hobart Road

Drop off at 8:35am and pick up at 3:30pm

Gold House – Hobart Road

Drop off at 8:45am and pick up at 3:40pm

Red House – Weeroona Road

Drop off at 8:35am and pick up at 3:30pm

Green House – Weeroona Road

Drop off at 8:45am and pick up at 3:40pm

When Prep students return on Monday, it’s a good time for parents to organise with their child which gate to enter and exit the school and practice this to avoid confusion when the rest of the school are back.

CORONAVIRUS SAFETY MESSAGES

Schools do not receive advanced notice of government announcements in relation to coronavirus and therefore there is a delay between announcements made on the news and the school’s response.

Following the Premier’s announcements, schools receive an ‘Operations Guide’ which directs how schools are to implement practices to comply with the restrictions.

We then inform our school community through Compass.

It is important to stay in touch with school communication by downloading the Compass App and turning on the notifications.

WHAT PARENTS CAN DO

What Parents / Guardians can do to help keep MPS Covid Safe:

-Please do not send your child to school if your child presents with any symptoms like headache, sore throat, fever or sneezing.

-If your child has required Panadol before coming to school, then they are not well enough to come to school.

-If your child suffers from hayfever, please get in touch with our first aid officer Amanda so that she is aware of this.

Chellee Plumb

Out of School Hours Care-TheirCare

THEIRCARE -

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