Leadership Report

I write this Principal Report at a time where many of us remain anxious about emerging news of the spread and possible breakout of Covid-19, otherwise known as the Coronavirus. I wish to assure the school community that the Leadership Team of the College remain in daily contact with Department of Education and Training (DET) support services and are acting at all times under either DET advice or the advice of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). DET issues advice that is in accordance with national public health guidelines and current information from the Commonwealth Chief Medical Officer and the Victorian Chief Health Officer.

At this stage, all sources of advice stress that we should remain calm, but cautious, and go on with our day to day activities as usual. I have spoken to students late last week about the importance of good personal hygiene habits, such as covering mouths and noses when coughing or sneezing (with a disposable tissue) and coughing into the elbow where possible. We have also advised that students wash their hands regularly with soap and water.

In terms of illness, the advice I have received remains that unless you have travelled to an affected country in the past 14 days, or been in close contact with an infected person, there is currently no special need for concern in regards to any cold or flu-like symptoms. In other words, we should assume that such symptoms are those of a common cold or flu, not anything else. However, in accordance with the Department’s regular Infectious Diseases Policy, we are required to send unwell students or staff home, where they should remain until symptoms resolve and seek medical assistance as required.

Some parents have enquired about the continuation of currently planned excursions and camps (in particular the Year 11-12 Adelaide Camp in Week 9). We have been assured by both DET and DHHS that there is no current need to change any such plans. The Chief Health Officer has stated that there is no reason why those who have not travelled (either to or from any affected countries) should not be attending their education setting as normal (including planned events such as camps and excursions). The expectation is, where children/students have not travelled to mainland China on or after February 1, Iran on or after 1 March, or the Republic of Korea on or after 5 March 2020, that they will attend education activities as usual.

At the present time, because there is no evidence of transmission in the community in Victoria, people should continue to go about their business and do not need to take actions like limiting their movement in the community or staying at home.

Nevertheless, teachers at the College are prepared should a local breakout occur. If such a case results in a need to temporarily close the school, parents will be alerted immediately, and students (especially in the secondary area) will be expected to take their books and other materials home with them. The main focus for staff at the College in such a case will be to ensure Continuity of Learning. This means that staff, even if working from home, will still be expected to provide work for their classes through either Xuno or student emails. Parents and students are reminded to check on Xuno regularly, and in particular make sure that they are accessing the email address recorded on the Xuno system. Students have a school email that they should become familiar with, and will be expected to check that email for messages or learning materials as provided by their teachers. Teachers will also use Xuno to provided digitised versions of learning tasks as the situation may require.

Should you wish to remain up to date with the same information that I receive, I suggest you use the following DET and DHHS information pages: https://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/department/Pages/coronavirus.aspx

https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/victorian-public-coronavirus-disease-covid-19

Jon Neall

Principal