16 Mar 2020
Dear Parent/Guardian,
I write to you to provide an update on the latest information related to the Corona Virus 19 outbreak. Please take the time to read all of the information below.
This information was correct at 9am 16th March. Information and advice is changing quickly. I will update you as the situation evolves. Please check the date and time on any communication so that you know you have the latest information.
Our actions are guided by the advice from NSW Health and the NSW Department of Education (as well as Federal Health authorities).
As a school community it is important that we respond calmly to that advice. Please be supportive of staff and other families as we navigate this situation.
Currently we have no reported confirmed cases within our school community.
At this point, on the advice of NSW Health and NSW DoE, our school will continue to be open and operational. As a school many of our events can involve more than 500 people so there will be an impact on our operations.
- What We Are Doing
We are taking the following steps to continue to promote good hygiene and social distancing:
- Soap is available in toilets and in classrooms. Students will wash hands for 20 seconds before and after each break and at other times.
- Students are being reminded of good hygiene routines.
- Students will be encouraged to cough or sneeze into their elbows or a tissue.
- Students will be asked to avoid contact with other students. No handshakes.
- Assemblies and Term 1 excursions will not occur.
- All combined activities that can be postponed or cancelled will be reconsidered.
- We have taken the decision to cancel the Easter Hat Parade and will continue to update on future events.
- We are considering changes to the way we organise play times. I will update you about this once we make decisions.
- We have taken the following decisions for this week. We will update events each week in the newsletter.
- Monday – Sydney North PSSA trials cancelled.
P & C AGM will not go ahead. It will be postponed to early next term.
- Communicating with you
If the school needs to become non-operational our main communication source will be our school app.
We will then follow this up with information on our official Facebook page.
3. How You Can Help
· Download the school app and turn on notifications. This will allow you to receive urgent information from the school, if necessary. The school app is available in Apple and Android versions and can be downloaded for free by searching “The Entrance Public School”
· If your child has a cough, sore throat, respiratory illness, fever or heavy cold or flu-like symptoms please keep them home. If your child presents with these symptoms at school we will contact you to pick your child up.
· Reinforce good hygiene habits with your child. Wash your hands (knuckles, between fingers) for 20 seconds, don’t share food, avoid touching your face, avoid contact with other students.
· Send a refillable water bottle with your child.
· Please speak to your child about not wasting the soap in the toilets at school. One of our issues is that a small number of students enjoy pumping all of the soap out of the dispensers so then there is none for other students.
· If your child has travelled from overseas please keep them home for 14 days after your arrival back in Australia.
· If your child has been in close contact with a person with a confirmed case of COVID 19 please keep them home for 14 days. Close contact means 15mins face to face contact from within 24 hours of symptoms appearing or more than 2 hours in a confined space with a confirmed case.
· If your child or someone at home is at a higher risk from COVID 19 you can contact the school and explain your situation.
As you are aware, schools across New South Wales are implementing a range of measures to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 among the community. At The Entrance Public School, we have implemented the following adjustments reduce the number of students gathered in various parts of the school at different times of the day:
Morning drop off
8:45 – 9:15am
Students will go straight to their classroom. The canteen is open from 8:45am for orders.
Afternoon collection
3:00 – 3:15pm
Kindergarten – Year 2 students will be dismissed at 3:00pm from under the COLA.
Year 3 – Year 6 students will be dismissed at 3:15pm from under the COLA.
We ask for your cooperation to leave the school grounds once you have collected your children.
Access to the school
Gates will be locked at 9:20am and unlocked (except the View St gate) at 2:55pm.
Our front office remains open however please telephone or email where possible. If you need to contact your child’s classroom teacher, please telephone or use Seesaw.
In school events
All scheduled excursions, sporting events, assemblies and end of term events including the disco are postponed.
The school has reviewed other day-to-day in school practices and has made adjustments where suitable.
Hygiene
The bubblers will not be used from Tuesday 17 March. Students are encouraged to bring their own water bottle to school each day.
Soap is available in all toilets and classrooms. Students are encouraged to wash their hands regularly during the day.
In line with department advice, there is no reason why those who have not travelled, or are subject to a medically or government advised self-isolation period, should not be at school.
Your assistance and support during this challenging time is appreciated.
Yours sincerely
Dave Stitt
Principal