Executive Director's Update to Principals #17: COVID Update - 27 May 2021
Loving God , we turn to you in our hour of need.
Give us discernment to make the right decisions,
and Your love and power to help us overcome any difficulties.
Please watch over everyone as times and routines are about to change once again.
We know that we can do anything through You,
so please help us to stay safe and in good health,
while we strive for semi-normalcy during this time.
We give our hearts to You, now and forever.
Amen.
7-Day Circuit Breaker Lockdown - New COVID Restrictions
The Victorian Government today announced new directions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). From 11:59pm tonight, Victoria will enter a 7-day circuit breaker lockdown.
As a result, in line with the directions issued from Victoria’s Chief Health Officer, all Victorian schools will move to a period of remote and flexible provision from Monday 31 May to Thursday 3 June inclusive.
At the discretion of each school, tomorrow, Friday 28 May, can be used as a planning and preparation day in anticipation of a four-day off-site learning program.
Schools must continue to provide on-site supervision for students in the following categories:
- Children whose parents are considered essential workers as listed, cannot work from home and where no other supervision arrangements can be made
- Vulnerable children, including children in out-of-home care, children deemed by Child Protection and/or Family Services to be at risk of harm and children identified by the school as vulnerable (including via referral from a family violence agency, homelessness or youth justice service or mental health or other health service).
During this period, schools should, to the extent possible, enable continuity of learning from home. This can include remote learning programs and/or the provision of learning materials.
Where necessary, students should be provided with access to digital devices to enable access to learning programs being provided by the school.
Attendance should be recorded daily for those on-site and learning from home.
Students attending on-site must be supervised at all times by staff with either current Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) registration or a Working with Children Check. Education Support staff can provide direct support to and supervision of students, provided they have access to support from a VIT registered teacher.
OSHC programs must follow these same directions.
Staff attendance
School staff not required to support the on-site supervision program should work from home for this period.
Staff working on on-site must wear masks indoors and outdoors (unless an exemption applies).
The HIVE Remote Learning Resources
The HIVE has a link to last year's Remote Learning Resources back on the homepage and in the top site menu for teachers to use as required.
PD Events Postponed
Next week's Learning Diversity Network days and Graduate Teacher Program days will be postponed until further notice.
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.
John Meneely
Deputy Director of Catholic Education