Bushfire Season
School Procedures for the Bushfire Season
Fire danger ratings and warnings are used in Victoria to provide clear direction on the safest options for preserving life.
Schools and children’s services listed on the DET Bushfire At-Risk Register (BARR) will be closed when a Code Red fire danger rating day is determined in their Bureau of Meteorology district or by the Emergency Management Commissioner.
Our Scotsburn Campus has been identified as being one of those at high bushfire risk and is listed on the BARR.
Where possible, Buninyong Primary School will provide parents of our Scotsburn Campus with up to four to seven days’ notice of a potential Code Red day closure by letter and this will be backed up by messages sent via SMS and Compass. Parents should, however, expect that in some instances fewer than four days’ notice may be provided.
A Code Red day will be determined by the Emergency Management Commissioner no later than 1.00pm the day before the potential closure. Once we are advised of the confirmation of the Code Red day, we will provide parents with advice before the end of the school day.
Once confirmed, the decision to close will not change, regardless of improvements in the weather forecast. This is to avoid confusion and help families plan alternative care arrangements for students.
On Code Red days, students from our Scotsburn campus (along with their teachers) will operate out of our Buninyong campus. Students will need to be collected by parents from the courtyard at the completion of the school day (3:30pm).
It is also important to note that:
- No staff will be on our Scotsburn site on Code Red days.
- School camps/excursions will be cancelled if a Code Red fire danger rating day is determined for the Bureau of Meteorology district in which the camp/excursion is located.
- Bus routes will not operate on Code Red days, meaning alternate arrangements will need to be organised by parents of our Scotsburn students to make their way to and from our Buninyong Campus.
- Scotsburn families are advised to drop off and collect their children from the main courtyard on Code Red days. Staff will be there to welcome students and advise them about the routine for the day.
On Code Red days, families are encouraged to enact their Bushfire Survival Plan – on such days children should never be left at home or in the care of older children.
For those living in a bushfire prone area, the CFA advise that when Code Red days are forecast, the safest option is to leave the night before or early on the morning of the Code Red day.
Managing Risk on Days Rated as ‘Severe’ or ‘Extreme’
In addition to the above, the Principal team and the leader of our Scotsburn campus will monitor conditions closely when the fire rating is severe or extreme. If decided that the risk of fire is too great on a particular day, arrangements will be made to host students from our Scotsburn campus at our Buninyong campus. This is in addition to arrangements for Code Red days. Parents will be notified in advance if a decision to relocate has been made.
What can parents/carers do?
- Make sure that your family’s Bushfire Survival Plan is up-to-date and includes alternative care arrangements for your children in the event that our Scotsburn campus is closed.
- Ensure that our school has your current contact details, including the mobile phone numbers for both parents/carers.
- Keep in touch with us by reading newsletters and Compass alerts and messages.
- Checking our website and asking our staff about emergency plans.
- Check warnings during the October – March fire period fromhttps://www.emergency.vic.gov.au/respond/ before travelling and holidaying away.
- Remain vigilant during the bushfire season.
- If your child is old enough, talk to them about bushfires and your family’s Bushfire Survival Plan.
For up-to-date information during the bushfire season and how to create a Bushfire Survival Plan, please visithttps://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/plan-prepare or call the VicEmergency Hotline on 1800 226 226.