12 May 2020
Dear Parents and Carers,
Thank you so much for all your support during these past few weeks of remote and flexible learning. Your response to the challenging situation has been amazing and has ensured that our community has stayed safe and that the whole state has managed to flatten the curve.
Following advice from the Chief Health Officer, the Victorian Government has advised that schools can begin a phased return to on-site schooling.
In the first stage, students in Prep, Grade 1 and Grade 2, senior secondary (Year 11 and 12 VCAL and VCE) students and all students in specialist schools will return to school from Tuesday 26 May.
To support all school staff to prepare for this transition, Monday 25 May will be a pupil-free day for the school sector.
In the second stage of our return to on-site schooling, Years 3-10 will return to school from Tuesday 9 June.
All other students in these grades and year levels will continue remote learning from home until Tuesday 9 June.
Once a year level has returned, all students will be expected to attend College as normal. This means if you choose to keep your child/children home after their year level has returned to on-site schooling, we can no longer support their learning from home.
This does not apply to children who need to be absent for health or medical reasons. For those families, please contact us so we can make an appropriate plan.
This same approach is being taken by all government schools in Victoria.
The Early Learning Centre is open and has begun planning for supported return for children to their previous routine. The staff in the ELC will be contacting families to discuss the best way to support your child’s return.
If your child is ill or is feeling unwell, they must not attend the College. They must remain home and seek medical advice.
While the Chief Health Officer has advised that students will not be required to maintain physical distancing at school, there will be a number of important changes to our College operations and expected behaviours, consistent with health advice. I will provide details of these arrangements for Doveton College as soon as possible, but it is important to note that changes may include:
- adjusted arrangements for drop off and pick up, including staggered school start and finish times
- restrictions on access to the site for anyone other than immediate College staff and students
- the way we conduct parent-teacher meetings and interviews
More information about the return to school and coronavirus (COVID-19) can be found on the Department’s website, which will continue to be updated:
https://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/department/Pages/coronavirus.aspx
As we begin to relax restrictions and children return to the College, it is important to continue to follow the advice provided from the Victorian Government. There are now five reasons to leave home:
- shopping for food and supplies that you need
- care and caregiving
- exercise and outdoor recreation
- work and education – if you can’t do it from home
- visiting friends and family – if you really need to
As we return to face to face learning I can assure you that this decision has been taken on the basis of the best health advice available to our state. We are implementing additional cleaning on site during the day and will ensure that hand sanitiser and handwashing is frequent. Staff have undertaken additional Occupational Health and Safety training with respect to COVID19 and we have implemented a range of appropriate social distancing practices.
Thank you for your continued support and patience during this time. I am looking forward to welcoming children back to face to face learning. Please continue to take care of yourselves and your families.
Yours faithfully,
Debra Gibson