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Newsletter 18th May.mp4

The staff of St Peter’s were delighted with the announcement that a time line was in place for our students to return to school. The sound of children enjoying themselves has been greatly missed and we are excited by what the next fortnight will bring.

As we organise for the return of students to face to face schooling on site there are many considerations and plans that need to be in place. In working through these plans we are following the advice of the Department of Health (DoH), The Department of Education (DET) and the Catholic Education Commission of Victoria (CECV). The plans in place are included in this newsletter. The plans we are still working on are detailed at the bottom of this newsletter and the finalized plans will be shared with you in my next update on Thursday, 21st May.

At this point I can provide information on the following.

IF UNWELL STUDENTS MUST STAY AT HOME

The Department of Health has made it very clear that perhaps the most important action school communities can take to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 is to ensure that any unwell staff, children and young people remain at home. For this reason ALL unwell students must stay home.

TEMPERATURE CHECKING

CECV has advised that schools should not conduct wide scale temperature checking of students as there is limited evidence to demonstrate the value of such checks. Based on this recommendation and in light of no students who have attended school over the last 5 weeks testing with a high temperature we will cease wide scale testing. We will however take the temperatures of any student displaying any indication of being unwell.  

UNIFORM

When students return to school on either the 26th of May or the 9th of June they are expected to wear their Winter Uniform. Our uniform supplier PSW reopens on the 20th of May. I am aware that there may be challenges for some of our Year Prep, One and Two families with the short timeline. If you are not able to get everything you need I ask that your child wears whatever school uniform that you have whether that be a Sports Uniform or Summer Uniform until you are able to access the appropriate Winter Uniform.

CHILDREN NOT RETURNING TO SCHOOL

In line with DET and CECV advice all students in the year levels returning to onsite learning are expected to attend school. We will not be providing a home-based learning program for students where parents elect to keep these students at home, except where this is based on medical advice and supported by a letter from a Doctor.

PUPIL FREE DAY

There will be no online learning or at school learning on Monday, 25th May. Staff will be finalising preparation for the return of students. OSHClub will be offering a full day program on this day. Booking can be made via their website.

SCHOOL CLEANING

We are currently finalising our cleaning regime with our school cleaners. We will be following all Department of Health guidelines and aiming for the highest standards. Details will be detailed in my next communication.

HAND SANITISER / HANDWASHING

We have unlimited access to hand sanitiser. There are sufficient bottles in each room for student use. Students are also asked to bring their own hand sanitiser to school. A schedule for when hand sanitizer is to be applied along with when hand washing is to take place will be in place when students return.

CANTEEN

Our school canteen will reopen when all students are back at school. The first day will be Thursday, 11th June. 

SOCIAL DISTANCING FOR STUDENTS

The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) has advised that a ‘venue density rule’ of no more than one person per four square metres is not appropriate or practical in classrooms or corridors, nor is maintaining 1.5 metres between students during classroom activities. Therefore, the previously established ratio of 10 students per class is no longer required in schools. In line with this advice students will be returning to their normal classrooms and their normal desk arrangements when they return to school.

SCHOOL FEES

In line with CECV advice we are not providing blanket school fee relief. Our families are not uniformly impacted financially but we are able to provide fee relief for families in need. If you require assistance please email fees@spbentleigheast.catholic.edu.au so that I can assist you in responding to your needs. This email address is only viewed by me and Loretta Ballas, our school Finance officer. All correspondence is confidential.

PACK PICK UP

There will be no pack pick up organised for this week as Prep to Two students will be attending school and Year Three to Six students will have their learning plan delivered online from the 26th of May. 

PLANNING

Plans are currently being made for the following and details will be in my next communication on the 21st of May:

We have been asked to consider the following when planning for students returning

• Possible Staggered start for students 
• Possible Staggered finish time
• Variety of school entrance points  
• Limitations to parent access to school site 
• Possible Staggered recesses / lunches
• Implications for specialist lesson timetables

We will have further information on the

• School cleaning program
• Hand sanitiser and hand washing timetable
• Specialist teacher timetable for Preps, Ones and Twos.

CLASSROOM REFURBISHMENT UPDATE

The builders have been continuing their work on the refurbishment of the Year Six classrooms and the great news is that when the Year Six students return to school on the 9th of June they will return to new updated classroom spaces. This will be a great start back for our senior students.