Executive Director's Update to Principals #59: COVID Update - 25 Aug 2021

Prayer For Our Community
Loving God, you fill all things with a fullness and hope that we can never comprehend. Thank you for leading us into a time where more of reality is being unveiled for us all to see. We pray that you will take away our natural temptation for cynicism, denial, fear and despair. Help us have the courage to awaken to greater truth, greater humility, and greater care for one another. May we place our hope in what matters and what lasts, trusting in your eternal presence and love. Listen to our hearts’ longings for the healing of our suffering world. Please add your own intentions . . . Knowing, good God, you are hearing us better than we are speaking, we offer these prayers in all the holy names of God. Amen.

COVID Update

Vaccinations for Students

In this morning’s Victorian press conference, Deputy Premier of Victoria Minister James Merlino spoke at length about the plan to vaccinate students.

The following announcements were made: 

• The aim is for children aged 12 and over to be vaccinated at least with their first dose by the end of this year.
• As part of the expanded eligibility vaccination program announced by the Premier yesterday, the priority now is for all final year students to receive their vaccination before they start exams on 4 October.
• From Monday there can be school-based assessments for year 12 students on-site in small groups if they can’t be done online.

Minister Merlino’s announcement can be watched here, and his press conference Q&A session can be watched here. 

We will circulate further details on the above as they become available.

Updated Remote Learning Guidance – Safeguarding Children and Young People

Updated guidance documents for staff, students and parents in schools utilising remote learning systems are below. The documents are based on guidance provided in 2020 and have been updated for the current period of remote learning. Schools wishing to use the documents are to contextualise them for the local setting.  

• DOBCEL Staff Utilising Remote Learning System Guidelines
• DOBCEL Student and Parent Utilising Remote Learning System Guidelines

Please note: 

• These documents are supplied as ‘Word’ documents, and the areas in green font are to be contextualised and changed to black font. 
• The document should be saved as a ‘pdf’ before circulation within the school community.

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