Welcome back to Term 2. What a roller coaster of a few weeks it has been.
I would like to begin by thanking all the parents and caregivers for being so supportive of the school during the COVID situation. We know that dropping your students at the gates must be hard, however we have appreciated your understanding and compliance with this requirement.
We are working very hard to ensure all children are safe, distanced where practical, adhering to good personal hygiene protocols whilst also trying to ensure that school remains as “normal” as possible supporting their seamless return to face to face schooling. I am confident that I speak for all staff when I say that the school is better when your children are here!
School Development Day
We had originally scheduled a School Development Day for Friday 29 May, however after discussions with the staff and with the School Board we feel that it is appropriate that we defer this until Monday 20 July (Day 1 Term 3). We felt that keeping the original date would be just another disruption to the students in what has already been an interrupted semester of schooling and was too soon given that many have only just returned to school in the last week or so. I hope that this change does not inconvenience any families.
Semester 1 Reports
At this moment we are waiting on further information from the Department as to what Semester 1 reporting will look like. Clearly the disruptions due to the COVID-19 virus has caused significant disruption to student learning. We will ensure that we keep families informed as information becomes available.
Cancelled Events for Term 2
Unfortunately, assemblies remain cancelled until further notice. I can also confirm, as previously advised, that swimming lessons for PP-Year 4, NAPLAN and school camp for the Year 6’s are also cancelled.
DETECT
Our school has been invited to participate in research the WA Government is undertaking in partnership with Telethon Kids Institute. The research is part of DETECT: a larger study of particular groups in our community to determine the prevalence of COVID-19 in Western Australia. Education has been prioritised for inclusion.
Approximately 80 public schools across Western Australia will participate in the research. They represent a cross section of the community and include primary, secondary, education support, metropolitan and regional schools, and residential colleges.
The study will be rolled out across schools over the next few weeks. Participation is voluntary and consent will be sought from staff and parents, as well as students for the psychosocial survey component.
As part of the research, staff and students from 40 schools will be tested for COVID-19 at monthly intervals over a period of at least three months. These schools will be randomly selected by the researchers. All 80 schools will participate in the online survey component, providing information on how COVID-19 is impacting their physical, social and emotional wellbeing. All students, staff and parents would be encouraged to participate and TKI will work directly with schools.
I will provide further information, including a fact sheet from TKI, and consent forms in the coming days.
Our school’s involvement in this research will make a valuable contribution to better understanding the extent of COVID-19 in Western Australia and what measures are required to keep our communities safe during the pandemic.
Glen Purdy