Community Update #1 Term 3 2020

Dear Parents & Carers

We hope you are all keeping safe and well during this second phase of COVID -19 lockdown restrictions.

As you know, the Victorian Government has made significant announcements about the introduction of new measures for schools across metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire to reduce the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).

As our school is in an affected area, the government’s new measures will apply to us.

There will be five student-free days from Monday 13 to Friday 17 July for all of our students to allow our teachers and school staff to prepare for a possible return to remote learning. During this time, Team Kids (1300 035 000 ) are providing a supervised holiday programme for children of essential workers and vulnerable students. A decision about whether our children can safely return to face-to-face learning will be made by the Victorian Government on the advice of our health experts.

Following the advice of Victoria’s Chief Health Officer, students at schools will receive a temperature check every morning, with thermometers provided by the state government. As some of you will be aware, we carried out temperature checks for staff and students onsite during the Term 2 Home Learning period and were then advised to discontinue. How ever now, if a student has a temperature of 37.5 degrees Celsius or above, schools will be required to contact parents or carers to arrange for students to return home. Families must then be encouraged to seek testing for coronavirus or the advice of their healthcare professional who can recommend next steps.

We will continue with the enhanced cleaning of our school and the provision of personal hygiene supplies including hand sanitiser. We have been advised to continue to provide multiple entry points, and staggered drop-offs and pick-ups where necessary, to reduce the number of adults gathering around school grounds at any one time.

Thank you for your ongoing support of all of our students and staff.

I know that this may mean uncertainty and another period of dislocation for you and your family. The school is doing everything it can to mitigate the impact of these changes on our community, and to minimise the impact of this disruption on your child’s learning journey.

As soon as we have an update on plans for Term 3 from the Catholic Education Office, we will advise you further. Please email me directly principal@spmurrumbeena.catholic.edu.au if you have any questions.

Message from Archbishop Peter A Comensoli
Archbishop Peter has written a letter to parents that is available on the Catholic Education Melbourne website.

Thank you for your ongoing support, take care and stay safe.

Yours sincerely

Jenny Hawkins
Principal