COVID-19 Term 1 Update 02

Welcome to 2022

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Welcome to the new 2022 school year!

I trust you and your family have had a safe and restful break and are feeling refreshed! The staff and I are eagerly
looking forward to working closely with you and your children this year.

A very warm welcome to new families! I trust you will soon feel at home in our community.

As the new year commences, a number of measures have been put in place to ensure you and your family have a
safe transition to school.

These measures, announced by the Premier, the Hon Steven Marshall and the Chief Public Health Officer, Professor
Nicola Spurrier, are designed to reduce entry of the virus into the school, prevent transmission and manage the
impact of a positive case of the virus at TVCS and we appreciate your support in observing them. Please refer to
the factsheet enclosed ‘Managing the Impact of a Positive Case of the Virus’.

REDUCING ENTRY OF THE VIRUS ON SITE

Health

No-one should attend the site if they are unwell, even if the symptoms are minor. Keep your child/children at
home.

• If you or any member of your family have any symptoms of COVID-19, even mild (fever, chills, sore throat, cough, runny nose, shortness of breath, loss of taste or smell), stay at home, and get tested for COVID-19.
• Keep your child at home if any other member of the household has COVID-19.
• Students identified as a close contact for a person who has COVID-19 are required to quarantine.
• Students presenting with symptoms are advised to self-isolate until given the medical clearance to return to school.
• It is very important that you notify us immediately if your child tests positive to COVID-19

Parents on Site

• SA Health have advised that the number of people coming and going from our site will need to be minimised.
• On Day 1, Reception and Year 1 parents may drop their child at the classroom, meet the teacher and ensure their child is safe and settling in well. Unfortunately, parents are not permitted to enter the classroom and we encourage parents to leave the site immediately, rather than mingle.
• As from Thursday 3 February 2022, parents will not be able to enter the site.
• For the children’s safety, we are asking parents to say goodbye at the gates. Please pick-up and drop your children off at the gates – or in the car pick-up area.
• Access to the property will be via the two gates at the front entrance of the school and the rear gate at the back of the school.
• We recognise that some students may find this challenging. Staff will be available at the front and rear gates and in the drop area to welcome students and support families. We recommend younger children who may require an adult to walk them to the classroom, be brought to the front gate.
• Our partnership with you as parents is important to us, and we thank you for your understanding in these important matters.

Essential Services on Site

• Parents may access the Front Reception as usual and are asked to wear a mask and observe social distancing protocols.
• The Uniform Shop will be open as normal. Parents are asked to enter via the small side gate, keep social distancing and leave via the main gate. Masks are required at all times.
• Services provided by periplectic workers such as Allied Health providers, music tutors, educational service providers and the School of Languages, will not resume on site until further notice.
• First Steps Playgroup will be in recess, although contact with families will be maintained and parents will be sent a range of simple educational activities they can enjoy at home with their children.
• External sporting groups, woodturners and other groups will not be permitted on site until further notice.

LIMITING THE DANGERS OF TRANSMISSION

Masks

• SA Health has advised that, to stem the transmission of the virus, it is important that all personnel on the school site wear masks.
• Staff will be required to wear masks, except when teaching. This includes in all shared spaces, shared office spaces and at all times when in close contact with students, parents and other staff.
• Students from Years 7 to 12 will be required to wear masks inside and during all tuition sessions (including outdoor tuition in Covered Outdoor Learning Areas (COLA). Masks may be removed outside for recreation or when eating. As in the past, a range of exemptions apply.
• Students in Years 3 to 6 are strongly encouraged to wear masks.
• Parents and other adults are asked to wear masks, including at pick up and drop off times.
• Students will be expected to supply their own masks. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that N95 masks offer the highest level of protection against the omicron variant.
• A supply of masks will be kept on site but will be kept for emergency issue only.

Hygiene

• As a school, we remain vigilant in the sanitising process being applied to all classrooms and workspaces and to implementing social distancing guidelines.
• Sanitary wipes and bottles of hand sanitiser have been purchased and will be available in classrooms and shared spaces. Hand hygiene will be carefully observed in all classrooms and workspaces.
• The School have engaged a company to spray the school with the long-lasting sanitising agent prior to the start of school.
• Physical distancing measures will be instituted wherever possible.
• Students are asked to bring their own water bottles, as water fountains are unavailable for shared use.

Ventilation

• Both national and international research has indicated that the maximisation of natural ventilation across education spaces via opening windows and doors or mechanical ventilation is the main and most effective contributor to minimising the risk of COVID-19 infection.
• Maintenance work at the School has been undertaken to ensure that good ventilation will be available in all areas, including administration, staff rooms, classrooms, libraries and shared workspaces.
• Measures have been implemented to ensure fresh air is being increased into indoor spaces through opening windows and doors whenever this is possible and weather permits.
• The use of outdoor learning environments will be maximised. Covered Outdoor Learning Areas have been fitted with temperature controls.
• Timetables are being developed to stagger the use of spaces used by multiple cohorts of different people (both staff and students) with designated time periods in between to allow for the opportunity for replacement of air.

Temporary Postponement of Activities

• SA Health have advised that inter and intraschool activities should be postponed. This includes:
  • camps, excursions and incursions
  • interschool sport trials and competitions
  • large gatherings such as assemblies, events and concerts.
• Due to the changing nature of the pandemic, unfortunately events, camps and excursions may be cancelled with minimal notice.

THE RESUMPTION OF SCHOOL

Face-to-face learning on site

• Students in Reception and Years 1, 7, 8 and 12 will commence face-to-face learning on site.

School at Home

• Students in Years 2 to 6 and Years 9 to 11 students will learn from home through our remote learning program, TVCS School at Home.
• Details for accessing and learning through School at Home will be sent from our Deputy Principal – Teaching & Learning, Emily Brookes

Technical Support

• Devices for Year 10 students will be issued later this week. Families will be contacted personally with details of how to collect their device.
• Devices for Year 7 and 8 students will be issued to students personally as they resume classes on the Wednesday 3 February.
• Families who require a device to assist them with remote learning through School at Home may contact the school on admin@tvcs.sa.edu.au to make arrangements.
• New families who require assistance with their Canvas login may call the School on 8265 2077 or admin@tvcs.sa.edu.au.

Provision of Resources to support School at Home

• Resource Packs for School at Home will be supplied for each Year 2 to Year 6 student
• Families of Year 2 to Year 6 students may collect resources to support School at Home from the Hall.
• Year 9 to Year 11 students will have all resources for School at Home digitally provided through Canvas and will not need a Resources Pack.

THANK YOU…

We appreciate your support and understanding in observing these important reminders and helping us ensure the wellbeing of our community as we work together.

We are monitoring the updates from the Premier and will keep you informed of any changes as they come to hand.

Please know I am praying for you and your family as the new year begins. God bless you as we start 2022!

Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have further queries via our designated email address COVID19@tvcs.sa.edu.au

Yours in Christ’s service,

Julie Prattis
Principal