Executive Director's Update to Principals #20: COVID Update - 2 Jun 2021
We are not people of fear:
we are people of courage.
We are not people who protect our own safety:
we are people who protect our neighbours’ safety.
We are not people of greed:
we are people of generosity.
We are your people God,
giving and loving,
wherever we are,
whatever it costs
For as long as it takes
wherever you call us.
COVID Update
Following today's announcement from Acting Premier James Merlino, Greater Melbourne's COVID lockdown will be extended for another seven days, however restrictions will be easing in regional Victoria from 11:59pm on Thursday, if testing shows there continues to be no new cases.
Therefore for regional Victoria, schools return as normal from this Friday 4 June.
A new School Operations Guide will be distributed in due course.
An updated Table of Restrictions is now available.
Mask Arrangements
Due to the virulent nature of the Indian variant B.1.617 and its casual transmission, it is important that mask-wearing and spatial distancing practices are adhered to for both staff and students. Where possible, students should be spaced to minimise contact, and fresh air circulation into rooms should be encouraged, despite the cooler weather.
For those schools who require a nominal supply of back-up masks to be utilised when any individual appears on-site having forgotten their own personal mask, please contact Simon O’Brien to place your request.
Staff Vaccinations
DOBCEL strongly encourages all eligible staff to receive their COVID vaccinations as soon as practicable.
Operating hours have been extended for some vaccination centres to better meet demand and access. (We are also hoping that by the time of the school holiday break there will be more vaccination hubs across Western Victoria and better access in general.) While aiming to minimise impact on student learning, we want to ensure that staff have the opportunity to receive a Covid vaccination. We recognise that some staff may have difficulty booking a vaccination appointment out of school hours. Where this is the case, principals may approve special leave to facilitate attendance at a vaccination appointment without impact to an employee’s personal leave balance. This leave would be recorded as ‘other leave’ in the Personnel Record System (PRS) and should be notated in the comments box on the PRS as Vaccination leave.
Any leave required subsequent to a vaccination for an adverse reaction is to be taken as paid personal leave. When booking a vaccination appointment, staff should liaise with their principal to minimise the impact of any leave on the school’s operations. In some instances, with a coordinated approach, groups of staff may be able to coordinate their vaccinations so that they minimise the staff required to cover their classes while they are off site.
The HIVE Teaching and Learning Resources
The HIVE now contains information regarding free access to MacqLit and MiniLit resources during this lockdown period as well as information about PAT Reading and Maths adaptive tests that are available free of charge until the end of Term 2.
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.