[Burmese translated version of this letter is available from here]
11 February 2022
Dear Parents, Guardians and School Families,
We have had a smooth start to the school year, thanks to our very good students, their families and staff ready to teach and serve together. We are thankful to have been able to welcome you all back to school and it remains our prayer that schools will be open throughout 2022.
At the end of week 2 of first term and after several announcements and updates to schools from the WA Government, I write to let you know what is happening at Emmanuel.
The aims of the measures are:
- Avoid or limit interactions between different year groups of students and staff
- Limit parent access to school grounds and classrooms
- For schools to remain open
PRIMARY SCHOOL
- No daily flag assembly. Students have ‘assembly’ via the intercom in each classroom
- Assembly and morning tea for new student councillors and their parents is postponed
- No whole school assemblies
- Separation of students for canteen at recess and lunch time
- Rostered play time in undercover area and at oval
- Primary leaders Camp is postponed
- Swimming lessons are postponed
- Interschool sporting events suspended for Term 1.
- Choir and music after school is suspended for Term 1
- Parent-teacher or Meet the Teacher meetings cancelled. TBA for online meetings.
- Excursions and Incursions are permitted
- Year 6 Masquerade is permitted
- Staff on duty to ensure prompt collection of students at pick up.
SECONDARY SCHOOL
- No combined weekly Assembly. Students gather in Form groups for this session each week.
- Separation of year groups for ‘pop up’ canteen.
- Choir and music after school is suspended for Term 1
- Interschool sporting events suspended for Term 1
- CAMPS are postponed
- Parent-Teacher meetings postponed. TBA online meetings.
- CADETS program may continue
- Excursions and Incursions may continue
STAFF
- Daily 8am devotion and meetings are conducted on-line via TEAMS
- Staff take their breaks in year or cohort groups as far as possible
PARENTS
- Parents can continue to drop-off and pick-up students but are not permitted to enter classrooms.
- As far as possible, parents should minimise entry into school grounds. If your child is a little anxious, please escort to staff waiting at classrooms.
- We ask parents to leave school grounds promptly and avoid gathering on school site.
- Parent-teacher meetings, Primary Meet the Teacher and Secondary Year information evenings are cancelled or postponed. Any future meetings will be held online.
- Steps already taken at Emmanuel to minimise student/staff movement remain in place.
- Sign in, mask wearing and social distancing are required of all staff and parents, at all times, even outdoors if you enter school grounds as social distancing cannot be maintained.
- Secondary students should come to school with a mask. We have limited supplies of masks and cannot continue to provide daily.
REQUIREMENTS REMAIN for sign-in, mask wearing and social distancing.
- Good ventilation and air flow is maintained in classrooms and working spaces
- increased daily cleaning of high touch areas is undertaken and
- teachers are vigilant with oversight of student personal hygiene practices (coughing, sneezing, hand cleaning, use of sanitiser).
- We remind staff, students and parents to remain home if feeling unwell and have any COVID-19 like symptoms, to get a COVID-19 test and remain home until a negative COVID-19 test result is received. Further information about symptoms can be found at healthywa.wa.gov.au.
- If you have a medical exemption for mask wearing , please produce that evidence and we can avoid any offence caused by having to ask you for it.
We have appreciated the kind words, encouragement, patience and support of parents this week.
This has blessed both staff and students in our community and we thank you.
In Christian service
Carol Davis
Principal
THIS INFORMATION IS CURRENT AT THE TIME OF WRITING BUT SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITH ANY GOVERNMENT UDATES.