St. Simon The Apostle

From the Principal 

 

Dear Parents and Carers,

 

As the days go by, we are edging closer to the critical milestones for the journey out of the lockdown.  If we stay on the current pathway, this week should be the final period of remote learning for the whole school at the same time.

Starting from 18th October, we enter a ‘hybrid’ arrangement of learning programs with remote learning, onsite learning and onsite supervision.  

 

The table below shows the next three weeks of staggered onsite learning for different year levels.

As students return to onsite learning in a staggered manner, we will be maximising the amount of time that students spend with the classroom teachers on these days.  This means that the normal delivery of specialists classes will resume from Week 6.

COVID Safe Plan for St Simon’s School

Based on State government health advice and direction, St Simon the Apostle Primary School continues to implement a COVID Safe Plan that uses the following strategies to make the school environment as safe as possible.

  • Maintaining physical distancing between adults and, where possible, between adults and students.
  • Discourage the congregation of people at school drop off and pick up time by having staggered times at the beginning and end of the school day.
  • Density limits to common indoor areas (1 person per 4m2)
  • Only Essential visitors and personnel to be on the school premises (excludes pick up and drop off students by parents\carers)
  • Continuing to keep doors and windows open in classrooms and learning spaces maintain natural ventilation.
  • All school staff, essential visitors, and onsite personnel must comply with the State government’s COVID19 Vaccination mandate.
  • Continue to practice good hygiene, including hand washing or sanitising hands
  • Keeping contact surfaces clean
  • Ensuring all unwell staff and students remain at home and get tested if showing any symptoms of COVID19.

As of last Friday, the Chief Health Officer has issued directions to schools regarding face masks.

 

For all school settings, the Victorian Chief Health Officer:

  • Directs school staff and secondary school students aged 12 or older must always wear a face mask indoors and outdoors at school, including when attending an Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) program, unless a lawful exception applies.
  • Directs school staff and secondary school students aged 12 or older must always wear a face mask when travelling to and from school on public transport, taxis or ride share vehicles.
  • Directs school staff must wear face masks while teaching wherever practicable, except where removal of a face mask is necessary for effective communication.
  • Directs students in Year 3 to Year 6 to wear face masks when indoors on school premises, unless an exception applies.
  • Recommends that all other children wear face masks when at school, attending an OSHC program, or when travelling to and from school on public transport, taxis or ride share vehicles. 
  • There are a number of lawful reasons for not wearing a face mask, including for staff and students who are unable to wear a face mask due to the nature of their disability, medical or a mental health condition. 
  • A face mask must cover the nose and mouth. Face shields, scarves or bandanas do not meet these requirements.

Catholic Schools Operations Term 4 from Monday 11th October 2021

 

I request that all families specifically adhere to the recommendation for Yr 3 to Yr 6 and families take on board the recommendation for Prep to Yr 2 children.

 

Parents of children with 'lawful exceptions for mask-wearing, including those with a disability, medical or a mental health condition' are advised to email me principal@ssrowville.catholic.edu.au

 

Where possible, outdoor shaded and covered working areas will be utilised by classroom staff to take advantage of increased ventilation.

 

All COVID safe practices and strategies will be continually monitored and adjusted as required.

Staggered Return of Students Instructions and Map

A map and further instructions regarding the staggered return will be shared with Prep, Year 1 and Year 2 families by the end of the week.

Classroom teachers will start to prepare students for the staggered return by getting the children to start thinking about the classroom school routines they will be returning to.

 

 

 

God bless

 

 

 

Tom Wursthorn

Principal