Executive Director's Update to Principals #2: COVID Update - 3 Feb 2021
Dear Colleagues,
Working for your kingdom
Lord Jesus, give us the grace to hear your voice,
And the strength to continue working for your kingdom in this time of pandemic.
Do not allow us to be indifferent to those who today suffer the loss of a loved one, or who suffer from the absence of work.
But give us the courage to accompany and side with those who suffer violence or injustice. Amen.
Prayer: Javier Eduardo Martinez Rueda from Colombia. Javier is team director at Programa de Desarollo y Paz, an organisation working on peacebuilding as part of our Hands On Magdalena Medio project.
School Operations Guide
The current Term 1 School Operations Guide from 21 January 2021 is available to download from CEVN.
Some highlights from the Ops Guide include:
Visitors to School Premises (Including Interschool Activities)
From page 17 of the School Operations Guide
Visitors to school grounds must comply with physical distancing and face mask recommendations set out in this Operations Guide, and practise good hand hygiene.
There is no requirement to limit the number or type of visitors to school premises, however the density limit of 1 person per 2 square metres should be applied to any spaces and activities being attended by parent/carers and other visitors. The density limit applies to all persons in the space, including students, for the time that space is in use to avoid crowding.
To support contact tracing, schools must keep a record of all staff, students and visitors who attend on-site for more than 15 minutes. Schools must record the name, contact details, date, and time of attendance at school, as well as the areas of the school that the person attended. Schools can use existing mechanisms such as visitor sign-in procedures, student attendance records and staffing rosters to record this information.
Assemblies, Award Ceremonies and Other Large Gatherings
If an event is held with external guests (parents/carers/visitors) then the overall attendee limit (inclusive of guests, staff and students) must be based on available floor space of the venue; with the density limit of one person per two square metres applied.
Staff must practice physical distancing between themselves and other staff members or adults to the extent that is reasonably practicable and should physically distance themselves from students where appropriate and feasible. This would be a consideration when staff position themselves with their class group at a school assembly.
Face Masks
Teachers and education support staff:
- It is not compulsory for teachers, educators and carers to wear face mask while teaching or caring for children. Face masks can interfere with their ability to clearly communicate with students or children in their care. Teachers, educators and carers can choose to wear face masks if they wish when teaching or providing care for children.
- People over the age of twelve should always carry a face mask with them when you leave home unless they have a lawful reason not to.
- It is strongly recommended masks be worn whenever adults (including visitors) cannot keep 1.5 metres distance from others.
The DHHS Face masks - study and school page below is a comprehensive guide.
Ash Wednesday
In view of the coronavirus pandemic, the directions for the distribution of the ashes has been adjusted. Bishop Paul Bird has provided the below note from the Congregation for Divine Worship about the celebration of Ash Wednesday this year. He asks that school communities who celebrate Ash Wednesday with school groups use this as a guide.
Next COVID-19 Update
We will continue to send out COVID-19 updates on an as needs basis. Please liaise with your Education Consultant with any questions or concerns.
Stay safe and continue to look after each other…
Ever blessings.