Bushfire Season Information

Bushfire Assessments and School Closures

Terms 1 and 4 are Bushfire Risk Terms for our school community.  Please read the information below about school closures for St Joseph's.

St Joseph’s is a BARR 2-rated school.

Fire danger ratings and warnings are used in Victoria to provide clear direction on the safest options in a bushfire.

School procedures for days of Catastrophic fire danger

Schools listed on the Bushfire At-Risk Register (BARR) will be closed when a Catastrophic fire danger day is declared in their weather district. Our school has been identified as being one of those at high bushfire risk and is listed on the BARR, so will close on any declared Catastrophic fire danger days.

We will provide as much notice of a Catastrophic fire danger day as we can. A Catastrophic day will be declared the day before. Once we are advised of the declaration, we will provide you with advice before the end of the school day.

Once a Catastrophic day has been declared, the rating will not change, regardless of improvements in the weather forecast. This is to avoid confusion and help your family plan alternative care arrangements for your child.

It is also important to note that:

• No staff will be on site on days when the school is closed due to Catastrophic fire danger.
• Outside School Hours Care will also be cancelled on these days.
• School camps will be cancelled if a Catastrophic fire danger day is determined for the weather district in which the camp is located. (Camps in some bushland areas may also be cancelled in the event of an Extreme fire danger day, but this will be determined on a case-by-case basis.)
• All bus routes to and from the school will be cancelled.

On Catastrophic days, families are encouraged to enact their bushfire plan – on such days, children should never be left at home alone or in the care of older children. For those in bushfire-prone areas, fire services advise that the safest option is to leave the night before or early on the morning of Catastrophic days.

As part of preparing our school for potential hazards such as fire, the school has a robust Emergency Management Plan, and ensures that school grounds and facilities are well prepared for bushfire.

What can you do?

• Download the VicEmergency app to stay informed about emergencies and warnings in your area.
• Make sure your family’s bushfire survival plan is up to date and includes alternative care arrangements if our school is closed.
• Ensure we have your current contact details, including your mobile phone numbers.
• Keep in touch with us by reading our newsletters, by checking our website, and by talking to your child’s teacher or any other member of the teaching staff about our Emergency Management Plan.
• During the warmer months of the year, if you’re planning a holiday or short stay in the bush or in a coastal area, check warnings in advance of travel and remain vigilant during your stay.
• If your child is old enough, talk to them about bushfires and other emergencies, and your family’s bushfire survival plan.

Please see below some important information from Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools, along with a fact sheet of questions and answers regarding Bushfire Assessments and School Closures.

Please also find attached the information provided by the CFA on protecting your property and preparing for the upcoming bushfire season.