15-July-2021
Good evening
I have just completed a statewide webex information session with the Department’s Deputy Secretary which spelt out the expectations for school’s over the next 5 days of the lockdown. It left more questions than answers but I am comforted by the knowledge that our students, parents and staff, as they always do, will rise to the challenge we all face over the next few days.
Firstly, there is no expectation that schools and teachers flick a switch and jump straight into the Remote and Flexible Learning (RFL) that was provided in late May-early June this year. Unlike our Regional counter parts who might not have had to undertake RFL as often as we have, I believe we are in a really good position to bounce back into this way of learning and again deliver it successfully.
With schools closed for all students other than those few who qualify under the criteria listed below, Friday, although not an official Student free day will be a day for staff across the State to prepare for the start of next week and the 2 days of RFL.
Although no DET documentation, advice or updated operations guide has arrived just yet, I am reliably informed that many of the settings that were in place for the previous lockdown will again be mandated this time. As soon as any updates do arrive (most likely tomorrow) we will get this to you.
We will need to provide very limited on-site support and learning for a small number of students tomorrow and again on Monday and Tuesday. The French avenue gate will be opened at 8:45am for those who qualify. this includes:
Children where both parents and or carers are considered authorised workers who cannot work from home, work for an essential provider and where no other supervision arrangements can be made:
- Where there are two parents/carers, both must be essential workers, working outside the home in order for their children to be eligible for on-site provision.
- For single parents/ carers, the essential worker must be working outside the home in order for their children to be eligible for on-site provision.
- Vulnerable children, including:
- children in out-of-home care
- children deemed vulnerable by a government agency, funded family or family violence service, and assessed as requiring education and care outside the family home
- children identified as vulnerable, (including via referral from a government agency, or funded family or family violence service, homeless or youth justice service or mental health or other health service)
There will be further communications tomorrow from our staff out to families detailing what the next few days of learning might look like. We are committed to providing learning opportunities for our students and each Year level will have learning tasks posted on SEESAW for completion tomorrow. In this way we hope to keep students in a good learning routine and help prepare them for next week. there will be no Webex meetings tomorrow- but there will be next week.
TeamKids will be running their Before and After School Care programs as usual and at the same times, for those who need to access them.
Our office will be open tomorrow from 8:15am to try and help with any queries you may have too. We’re here to help and support everyone in our community so please reach out if you need.
Good luck, take care and remember…. Greatness is a lot of small things done well everyday 🙂
James Whitla
