From the Principal's desk
Hi DPS Families, Friends and Community,
I trust you are all well and looking forward to the lock down ending. We are all hoping this is the new beginning we have been hoping for and we will continue to move forward with confidence. It has been great to have the Preps back onsite this week and we look forward to more grades/levels returning in the next week or so.
I must say a big thankyou to everyone at DPS. Our teachers have been amazing. Thankyou to our parents for your ongoing support and dedication to managing your children in remote learning. I have received a number of emails and calls from parents saying they have a renewed respect for teachers. I think many have seen how difficult it is to plan, deliver and assess the work children do from day to day.
As you would have heard, the restrictions are changing again as of midnight on Thursday Oct 21st. Travel restrictions within metropolitan Melbourne will be eased and the curfew dropped.
The table below shows which levels/grades are onsite each day. This is great news and we look forward to having all students back at school together getting back to teaching and learning.
All employees of the Department of Education are required to be vaccinated. The process of this has been operationalised by the Department of Education and our school is compliant. This link will provide you with DET’s Vaccination Policy; https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/covid-19- vaccinations-visitors-volunteers/policy
Regarding community members who might be onsite, our school must collect, record, and hold vaccination information for all workers and volunteers onsite who will be in close proximity to children, students or staff.
Moving forward, as the need arises for families to be onsite, you will be asked to sign-in at the office, you’ll also be asked to provide your immunisation status. DET’s policy outlines that those individuals who are not vaccinated are not to be on the school grounds. Non-compliant visitors or contractors will be asked to leave.
MASK WEARING: To support the staged return of schools to onsite learning under the Roadmap, the Victorian Chief Health Officer has announced new directions in relation to mask wearing for primary school students. These new changes came into effect on 18 October 2021.
• Face masks will now be mandatory for all school students in Grade 3 and above when indoors including at Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) programs unless a lawful exception applies. Face masks can be removed while outdoors at primary schools.
• Face masks are strongly recommended for Foundation to Grade 2 students.
• For students with a disability, parents and carers should speak to the child’s doctor or regular health professional and with their school about the best methods to encourage mask wearing. Students and parents can also contact the Disability Liaison Officer program for more information.
• Students with a medical condition that prevents mask use will not be required to wear a mask.
• Face masks are required for students in Grade 3 to Grade 6 unless an exception applies. Exceptions include students with a physical or mental disability where their disability means it would not be suitable. Parents/Carers of a students who meet the criteria for an exception must provide their approval in writing for their child/ren to not wear a mask to the school. Please send this information directly to your child's classroom teacher who will inform the front office where this will be recorded on file.
Please send your child to school with a mask if possible. We do have some supplies for students who forget or lose theirs.
As we are now in Term 4, the weather will start to warm up. We therefore ask that students bring their broad brimmed hat to school to ensure they remain sunsmart and don't get burnt under the hot sun at recess and lunchtime. Please remember to name your child's hat so it can be returned if lost.
Please take the time to read through our newsletter, the Doncaster Download as you will find a lot of information and photos many of which celebrate our students and their achievements. They are to be congratulated on their achievements and resilience throughout the last twelve to twenty four months.
Stay safe, take care and stay connected to YOUR school.
Regards
Jim Hill
Principal
