I am writing to advise you about the wonderful news that our school will open for the start of Term 1 next week! This is in response to Premier Mark McGowan’s announcement last night that the hard lockdown in the Perth, Peel and South West regions will be lifted at 6.00pm today, Friday, 5th February. However, some restrictions will continue to apply in the Perth and Peel regions until at least 12:01am Sunday, 14th February.
The following arrangements have been put in place to ensure that students, parents and carers can be involved safely and in line with current regulations.
An additional post with further information for Kindy families has also been sent and can be found here on our school website.
Parent and Caregiver Access
Parents and caregivers are able to enter school grounds to drop off and pick up their children and to attend scheduled meetings with staff, however, must:
- enter and exit the school through the main school gate located on Beatrice Street (not the ‘Kiss and Ride’ gate).
- wear a mask at all times,
- practice 1.5 metres physical distancing, where practicable,
- not congregate in groups,
- follow good personal hygiene practices, and
- use the hand sanitiser located at the entrance to the school grounds.
Parents may not enter classrooms next week unless approval is granted by the Principal or if attending a scheduled meeting with a staff member.
All visitors to the school during the day (outside of drop off and pick up times) are required to adhere to the above directives, as well as report to the main office before entering the school.
Masks
The most important aspect of the continuing restrictions will be a requirement to wear masks at all times when outside of the home environment. Next week the following expectations regarding the wearing of masks at St Dominic’s will apply:
- St Dominic’s School staff will be required to wear a mask at all times, unless they are providing teaching or instructions to students.
- There is no requirement for students from Kindergarten to Year 6 to wear a mask.
- Masks must be worn at all times by any adult entering the school grounds.
Some students may find seeing their teacher and trusted adults wearing mask a little strange or even confronting. Over the weekend, I would encourage you to speak with your child/ren about this new norm, you may even wish to model wearing a mask as a way of helping them with this transition. Below is an article with helpful tips about how to speak with young children about this topic as well as a social story called ‘My Teacher Wears a Mask.
Face masks and coronavirus (COVID-19): supporting children 0-12 years
My Teacher Wears a Mask Social Story
Student Attendance
Students who are unwell should stay at home and parents are asked to seek medical advice if their child exhibits symptoms of COVID-19. The normal processes for advising the school of a child’s absence continues to apply.
Drop Off
Families are reminded that students should not be arriving on school grounds before 8:15am.
The drop off procedures put in place last year will continue this week. The following applies to all Kindy – Year 6 students.
- A staff member will be present at the ‘Kiss and Ride’ driveway each morning from 8:15am to 8:45am and will assist students out of their cars and onto the school grounds.
- Staff members will continue to be on hand to escort our Kindy and Pre-Primary students into their classrooms and these parents should drop off after 8:30am.
- We encourage all families to continue using this option.
- Students not being dropped off by car at the ‘Kiss and Ride’ driveway are expected to enter the school grounds through the main school entrance on Beatrice Street and not through the gate located at the ‘Kiss and Ride’ driveway.
- Kindy and Pre-Primary families not utilising the ‘Kiss and Ride’ option, are required to drop their child/ren at the classroom door located on the courtyard side of the classroom.
- Parents and caregivers entering the school at this time will also need to comply with the ‘Parent and Caregiver Access’ guidelines outlined above.
Pick Up
Pre-Primary – Year 6 students will have access to the ‘Kiss and Ride’ option as per normal, however, Kindy students will need to be collected at 2:45pm from the classroom door located on the courtyard side of the classroom.
We again encourage all families to continue using the ‘Kiss and Ride’ option for pick up in the afternoon.
Parents who wish to park in the school or church carpark and collect their children from outside classrooms, will need to follow the below procedure:
- Enter the school through the main school gate located on Beatrice Street (not the ‘Kiss and Ride’ gate).
- Collect children from outside classrooms or from the main gate. Kindy and Pre-Primary students are to be collected by a parent/ caregiver from the door located on the courtyard side of the classroom.
- Exit the school via the main gate located on Beatrice Street (not the ‘Kiss and Ride’ gate).
- Parents and caregivers entering the school at this time will also need to comply with the ‘Parent and Caregiver Access’ guidelines outlined above.
Playground Use Before and After School
The junior and senior playgrounds are closed before and after school. After collecting students from the classroom, families should exit the school in a timely manner via the main gate.
Uniform Shop
Online orders are still our preferred option this week, however, parents may physically attend the shop by making an appointment with our manager, Peta Kelly. To arrange an appointment time, please contact Peta via admin@stdominics.wa.edu.au or by calling the front office.
All students should be wearing the correct summer uniform this week as outlined in our School Uniform Requirements document.
Water Fountains
Our water fountains remain turned off and students are advised to continue bringing in a water bottle for their own personal use. These bottles can be refilled in the classroom as necessary.
CEWA Safe Hands Initiative
St Dominic’s School will be promoting CEWA’s Safe Hands initiative. Children will be encouraged to use the hand sanitiser provided each time they they enter the classroom and will be given time to wash their hands regularly throughout the day.
I appreciate that parents and students may still have many questions about the new arrangements and assure you that I will continue to provide information about the requirements as soon as they become available. If you have any specific questions, or concerns at this time, please do not hesitate to email me at leon.bolding@cewa.edu.au. I will continue to update you with information about any additional requirements or changes to the above as soon as it becomes available
If your child is feeling particularly anxious about starting school, please contact your child’s classroom teacher who will be able to assist with their transition. Your child’s health and well-being remains our first priority.
Information about the Government’s announcement is available on the wa.gov.au site. The latest health information is available through WA Health Department.
We are delighted and excited that St Dominic’s School will be welcoming our students and families back on Monday, 8th February. Please continue to stay safe over the weekend and we look forward to seeing you all next week!
Leon Bolding
Principal