Dear parents/ caregivers,

We are now moving towards the end of the second week of school of term one, and it has truly been a combined effort to maintain the education of all students in our school, whether at school or learning remotely at home. In this post, I will share how we are going to transition back to full time learning at school, beginning on Monday 14th February.

At that point, remote learning will cease for students who are at home. All students will be able to return to school and be in their normal classroom. For any students still at home, there is a comprehensive set of lessons available on the Learning SA site, that parents are able to use. These have been designed by teachers for use by parents during the Covid-19 Pandemic.

What happens when all students return to school from Monday, 14 February 2022

We are still directed to minimise the number of people who are on school grounds, and are asking that for years 1-6 students, you manage with a drop off and/or pick up outside the school. We are going to have all R-6 students back to school on Monday. Edward Beck Drive and the Kiss and Drop area have struggled to cope with the large numbers of people being present at the same time and we ask that if in this area, that you spread yourself out. This is most acute directly after school and hopefully the changes listed below will help.

Please know that Marion Council Traffic Inspectors and SAPolice will be patrolling school zones to ensure student safety, and we ask that you ensure that you observe the parking signs and drive safely at all times.

In order to manage the parent drop off and pick up, the following will be in place for the start of school on Monday 14th February. Please note any changes that may be relevant for you, compared to the last two weeks. A reminder of our Covid Safe Measures are listed at the end of this post.

  • Our direction from SA Health is still to minimise the number of adults coming onto the school grounds. Hence it will be a graduated return to having parents on school grounds based on SA Health advice.
  • The Young Street school entrance will be opened which will assist to some degree. Note that no parent is to enter the school buildings/classrooms. Students may be dropped off on the footpath or lawned area, then they will make their way into the building and proceed to their classroom by themselves.
  • Adults may enter the front office from the main entrance only, as required. Please do not walk through the Atrium building to get to the office.
  • All adults who enter the school grounds are expected to wear a mask in order to keep students, teachers and parents safe. Please wear the mask correctly as otherwise it is not a very effective measure.
  • Maintaining a distance of 1.5 m apart as recommended by SA Health is to be managed as much as possible.
  • Parents and Caregivers of children in Years 1 to 6 are asked to carry out school drop off and pick up outside of the school gates as we have been doing. This will be reviewed at the end of the fourth week of school, based on SA Health and DfE advice and direction.

NEW: Reception Student Drop Off and Pick Up
If you still wish to Drop and Pick Up your reception child from outside of the school gate, then you are very welcome to do so.

  • Parents and caregivers of children in Reception only, may walk their child(ren) to the classroom for drop off in the morning. Please then exit the school grounds promptly. NB: No access from Young Street for walking to classrooms.
  • Parents and caregivers of children in Reception only, who are collecting children at the end of the day, may, from 3pm, enter the school grounds to collect their child. (This timing is because we have teachers and students who move around the school grounds close to the end of the day and we are trying to keep them as safe as possible, minimising the possibility of transmission of the virus.) No waiting in school grounds prior to 3pm is permitted.

School Canteen Procedures

The canteen is using a limited menu at present while providing lunches for students. From 14 February, the following will apply;

  • A limited menu will continue to be available for lunches.
  • The canteen will open at recess and lunch for students to buy items over the counter. This will not be a comprehensive range, but rather a few items that are commonly sought after by students.
  • A limit of two students at a time will be permitted into the canteen area for purchasing items, and this process will be reviewed, to check that it is able to be maintained in a safe manner.

Please note that if for some reason we have a Covid positive or close contact in the canteen, it is possible that it will close for a period of time. We hope that this does not happen, but in the current pandemic, it is a possibility.

Out Of School Hours Care

OSHC will be open for any student who requires it, with protections remaining in place until further notice as listed below;

  • Parents and caregivers must deliver their child to the Hall in the morning and sign their child in to OSHC. This is an operational requirement. Please do not allow your child to make their own way to OSHC without an adult.
  • Similarly, parents and caregivers must sign their child out of OSHC when collecting their child at the end of the day.
  • We ask that parents and caregivers wear masks while in the school grounds and when communicating with OSHC staff. This includes the sign in and sign out times.
  • If you are booked into OSHC and your child contracts Covid or is a close contact, then you will not be charged any cancellation or OSHC fees.
  • Please do not send your child if they are even mildly unwell. If a child presents as being unwell, parents will be contacted to collect them.
  • Note that if your child is a close contact of another child in their class who tests positive for Covid-19, they are not able to access OSHC for 7 days. This is explained more in a letter that parents receive if there is a positive case.

The alternative to our Annual Acquaintance Evening

Because we are unable to have large groups in face-to-face meetings, Acquaintance Evening will be structured differently for this year. Your child’s teacher will give you further details related to how you can be a part of getting acquainted with your child’s program, as well as what the classroom looks like.

This will happen at some stage during the week beginning Monday 14 February. Teachers will share details via their class Seesaw.

The follow COVID safe measures will be in place for our school as from Monday 14 February;

  • All students and staff must stay home if unwell, even mildly.
  • Ventilation will be maximised by leaving doors/windows open, use of air conditioning (set to fresh air intake where available) and fans, including with doors and windows open.
  • Outdoor learning will be encouraged where appropriate.
  • Physical distancing will take place where possible.
  • We will minimise student/child intermingling across class groups inside – and will spread kids out in the spaces as much as possible.
  • We will limit non-essential visitors on-site, (allied health professionals and student support services are an exception).
  • Staff will continue to practice and promote hand and respiratory hygiene. Hand sanitiser/soap will be provided for regular use, and disposable masks are available for students and staff.
  • Extra cleaning (centrally funded by the department) will continue.

Face masks

Face masks are:

  • required for all adults entering the school grounds.
  • required for staff, except when it impedes the ability to teach.
  • strongly recommended for students in years 3 to 6.

There is a lot in the enclosed information. Again I wish to thank all of you for the efforts you are making to assist us in this regard. We will keep you updated with any changes that may take place. What has been lovely to see, is the amazing independence of our young students who are just starting school, finding their way to their classroom and their class teacher with confidence. As one of the leadership team, I have enjoyed bringing a small group of students to the drop off zone, and having the opportunity to chat with a number of you.

If you are in the situation where a child in your class does test positive, then you will receive a letter via email explaining what do you need to do. To summarise several pertinent points when this happens, close contacts within the class are able to stay at school as long as they are not showing any symptoms. However, all close contacts are asked not to use our OSHC Service as a precaution to transmitting the virus further.

The identity of whoever is positive to Covid, is not shared as that is confidential information.

I need to commend all of our teachers and school service officers for their dedication and focus on the learning and well-being of all students in our school. Videoconferencing skills are developing and I notice many teachers in conversations online with the remote learners from their class. They have put a lot of effort into ensuring that each and every student gets the best learning possible.

Thank you again for your efforts as parents and caregivers in working through this very difficult time with us. We appreciate what you are going through, particularly as some of us as parents are doing exactly the same with our children.

Kind regards,

Steve Freeman,
Principal