John Paul II College News

7 May 2020

Dear Parents and Carers,

I would like to express my deep appreciation to each of you for your support and loyalty to the school during what has been a challenging time for you and your families. You have been magnificent supporting your child in their learning during this period. Staff have been incredible in the way they have adapted to provide a remote learning program and we have all missed your children and their energy, humour and joy.

From an academic and welfare perspective it remains our priority to return to face to face teaching when it is safe to do so. Australia’s Chief Medical Officer has continually informed us that it is safe for children and staff to return to school for those who are not vulnerable. Health experts advise us that children are infected with COVID-19 at much lower rates than adults.

Following extensive discussion, review of the medical advice and guidelines, and considering the regional context where there are no current reported cases of Covid-19, the Director of Catholic Education has authorised that all students in Years 11 and 12 may return full time (5 days a week) to St John Paul II beginning on Monday 18 May – Week 4.

JPC has the following transition back to face to face teaching for the following year groups.

Students in Year 7 will return to school on Monday 25 May (week 5)
Students in Years 8, 9 and 10 will return to school on Tuesday 2 June (week 6)

If for any reason there is an increase in the safety concerns for the students and staff before the 18 May this decision will be reviewed. As each Year group returns to school, remote learning will cease and face-to-face teaching will begin. Remote learning will continue for those year groups who are still learning from home. ILT (Independent Learning) will recommence in Week 5 for all students as will mentoring.

Personal Hygiene and the Health and Safety
As we prepare to have the students return to school for face-to-face teaching, it is essential that measures relating to personal hygiene and the health and safety of all members of our community are known and understood.

Below is some clear information on the arrangements and measures based on the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) guidelines, which aim to establish, where reasonably possible, best practice in relation to health and hygiene at schools during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The full document can be found here:
https://www.health.gov.au/news/australian-health-protection-principal-committee-ahppc-advice-on-reducing-the-potential-risk-of-covid-19-transmission-in-schools-24-april-2020

We hope this will give you confidence in your child’s return to school and assist you in supporting the staff as we welcome students back into classrooms.

Extra hygiene and safety practices in place for when the children return to school

Increased cleaning schedules and resources onsite during the school day to wipe down and disinfect high-touch areas, including classrooms and common spaces, in addition to regular daily cleaning.
Provision of extra hand sanitiser across the school.
Provision of extra hand soap for students to wash their hands frequently, particularly before and after recess and lunch time.
Frequent reminders to ensure students are practising good personal hygiene. This means, covering mouths and noses when coughing and sneezing, frequent hand washing, not sharing food or drinks and minimising physical contact.
Please ensure your child brings a water bottle to school each day.
No child is to attend school if they are showing any cold or flu-like symptoms. They must remain at home, and stay away from school until they are no longer showing symptoms or have attended a GP who has instructed that they are fit and safe to return.
If your child, or family members or other close contacts are tested for COVID-19, your child is not to attend school until the results of those tests are known and are negative. Please advise the school if this situation occurs.
If your child has a medical condition that places them at greater risk from a return to face-to-face teaching at this time, please contact the JPC Office so that we can discuss their needs in greater detail and develop an appropriate plan for their circumstances.
We are attempting to minimise the number of adults coming onto the premises to reduce the possible risk of COVID-19 transmission. Please make appointments ahead of time and if possible, telephone or use email as the preferred method of contact with your child’s teacher or staff member.
At this stage, there will be no assemblies or large gatherings of students for the remainder of this term. An exception to this is any evacuation or emergency procedure that may be required (Fire alarm etc.).
After 18 May, if a situation arises where it is deemed not safe by health authorities for students or staff to be onsite, we would be able to move back to our comprehensive remote learning program as required.

I again thank you for your ongoing support of our school. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like any further clarification on any of these matters.

I continue to keep your family and the wider community in my prayers.

Stephanie O’Meara
Principal