Dear Parents,

This morning our Year 6 students left in a flurry of excitement for camp at Phillip Island. Since leaving, the CECV have informed Principals that no camps or excursions are to proceed from Tuesday 17 March. The students are due to return on Wednesday.  I feel confident that our students are in a low risk environment where they are the only students attending camp and all of the three days are spent outdoors. They will not be visiting any public sites or exposed to anyone beyond the camp staff. We have thorough contingency plans in place should schools close down before they return. 

As we begin the school week with such uncertainty, I ask for your support, patience and level headedness as we work together to promote calm among our children and make decisions that will promote a safe environment for families and staff.

There are 10 very practical ways to reduce the risk of COVID19 that DHHS has helpfully outlined in a simple poster. I've attached this poster for reference. I have also attached a poster on how to wash hands thoroughly. This poster has also been put up in the bathrooms around the school. 

Of these 10 steps, three stand out as being very practical (and easy) to implement.

1) The importance of  using the correct hand washing technique.

2) Not shaking hands is an easy and effective way to slow transmission. 

3) The importance of good cough/sneeze hygiene.  Coughing/sneezing into your elbow or a tissue (not covering your cough with your hands), getting rid of the tissue into a bin, and washing/sanitizing hands immediately after each cough/sneeze. 

I ask all parents to keep their children at home if they are unwell over the next two weeks. Please contact the school immediately if your child develops flu like symptoms that includes a temperature, as we have vulnerable students and staff members in the school community. If any family members have recently returned from overseas, please follow the Victorian Government directives on self- isolation. 

A reminder that next week is our last week of Term 1 and the children will have a 2.30pm finish on Wednesday 25 March, due to an extended Emergency Management Staff Meeting. Two weeks is a long time in the current situation, and I will keep you updated during this time.

Thank you for your ongoing support.

Kind regards,

Catherine