Welcome to Week 9. A lot has happened in the last two weeks! In the face of all that we are experiencing as we journey the COVID-19 pandemic across the world, our schools remain such positive and calm spaces for our children and that is reflected in the daily life at St Francis at the moment. For those children at school, the learning continues as per normal. For those who are not we are in a new time as we work out ways to provide a comprehensive and practical remote learning program to give all our students on-going learning experiences in their absence.
Our staff are in the process of developing the home learning opportunities for our children. We realise for those of you choosing to keep your children home that keeping them busy is important. Equally, we want to make sure that the ‘busy’ work is also valuable learning and this will take a little time to work through. We are confident though as we move forward that we will be in a position to offer some quality on-line learning for students via the SeeSaw page for R-3 classes and Microsoft Teams for Years 4-6 classes. This process will take a little while to develop and we will have to make some adjustments as we roll out these resources. Please be patient and aware of the fact that this is a new process for our school and there will be some trial and error as we move forward.
Please note that bookings for Parent/Teacher interviews will proceed, but via phone only. There will be no face to face meetings at school this week. Teachers will call you at or near to you appointed time to have a phone conversation. We will need to keep to given times to ensure there is not a long wait for any parent and we ask that you are ready to take the call and have accessed a quiet space to have the conversation.
There are so many questions around COVID-19 and no doubt you have seen and heard so much media discussion around the subject, often with some conflicting or confusing messages for families. So what does it all mean for your child today here at St Francis?
Some FAQ’s
Q. Will remote learning be provided by the school?
A. Yes, we are working through this process and your child will have access soon
Q. Will schools remain open?
A. At this time we are guided by the Government and Catholic Education SA. Schools will remain open until further notice.
Q. Will the school holidays be extended?
A. There is no intent at this time to extend the school holidays.
Q. Should my child be at home if they are unwell in any way?
A. Yes, we all have a responsibility to ensure that only those who are well are at school.
Q. What can I do to keep my child safe while they are at school?
A. Stay calm, keep positive and reinforce hygiene procedures. Our classrooms are happy places and children do love the daily routine of school life and the normality of being at school.
Support and Information Services Available
The National Coronavirus Health Information Line on 1800 020 080
The Australian Government publishes a daily alert with the latest medical advice and fact sheets: https://www.health.gov.au/news/health-alerts/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-health-alert
Beyond Blue has set up a dedicated guide to support those who may be experiencing anxiety or other mental health challenges regarding the Coronavirus: https://www.beyondblue.org.au/the-facts/looking-after-your-mental-health-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak
Catholic Education SA also has an alert webpage with updates: https://www.cesa.catholic.edu.au/news/alerts
Please ensure your contact details are up to date and that you have installed the Skoolbag on your device to be kept well informed of updates.
If you have any questions, or are directly affected by COVID-19, please contact a member of the leadership team.
James Meiksans: jmeiksans@sfoa.catholic.edu.au
Belinda Burford: bburford@sfoa.catholic.edu.au
Josie Cochrane: jcochrane@sfoa.catholic.edu.au
Or contact one of us via the school office (8178 9900)
If there is a confirmed case of COVID-19 at St Francis of Assisi School
If we are advised by authorities of a confirmed case or the necessity of a forced closure, then the school will be required to close as soon as practicable. We advise that you develop your own action plan now to prepare for a school shut down should that eventuate.
Our process of communication will be as follows:
All families will be notified via Skoolbag and email as soon as practicably possible. Instructions will be provided to advise of pick-up procedures and when school closure will come into effect.
As always, St Francis of Assisi School is here to support your children and families. May we continue to work together in this difficult and complex environment, and we pray for God’s blessing on our community and all those challenged and affected in these times.
Thank you for your continued support.
James Meiksans
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