March 22 2020 Dear Regent Families, Hello everyone! I'd like to reach out to you today and let you know that we are thinking of you as we navigate this uncharted territory. We've just learned that all NAPLAN testing has been cancelled for this year, see below for more information. ESSENTIAL SERVICES SURVEY Please complete this 3 question survey only if you are employed in the essential services sector.
STEPPING UP PROTECTIONS As part of our COVID-19 plan, we are stepping up our protections for the College even further. In order to promote social distancing and support even greater protections for students, staff and families, we begin this week by asking that
parents no longer enter school premises for routine school drop off/pick-ups. Administration remains open, as required - as long as you are not unwell and haven't been overseas in the last 2 weeks. Exemptions apply for OSHC, Mandarin language sessions, chess and Speech Pathology sessions, with details outlined below. STUDENT
DROP-OFF (Monday-Friday) - 8am Kindergarten to Year 6 students can be dropped off at the gate entrance to Kiss and Drive. Parents can walk their children and leave them with staff or utilise the normal drive and drop-off arrangement. At point of drop-off, all children will be directed (assisted as required) to wash their hands with soap and water.
- 8.15 Main gate in front of
Administration will be opened (not before) and supervised by a staff member. No parent entry beyond the first gate, other than if visiting Administration. Students will be directed to wash their hands with soap and water before preparing for the morning (8.30am) bell.
- 8.15 Rear gate off Geddes St will be unlocked and supervised by a staff member. No parent entry beyond this gate. Students will be directed to wash their hand with soap and water before preparing for the morning (8.30am) bell.
- To repeat - students can be dropped on foot or by vehicle at the Kiss and Drive entrance from 8am. The main gate in front of administration and rear gate off Geddes St will open at 8.15am.
- Exception. The exception to this arrangement in the morning will be any parent delivering their child to Before School Care.
- 8.45am A reminder that the kiss and drive access point is now open until 8.45am, daily. The morning bell continues to sound at 8.30am and remains the
official start of the school day.
STUDENT COLLECTION (Monday-Friday) - No afternoon entry to the College by parents
- 2.50pm Kiss and Drive continues to operate from 2.50-3pm for early Kindergarten and
Pre-primary collection.
- 2.50pm Kindergarten and Pre-primary. From 2.50pm, parents can wait outside the ELC gate off Colombo St (which will NOT be accessible in the morning) and their children will be brought out to them by a staff member. Kindergarten parents collecting their children on foot, will not be permitted to walk down and behind the Kindergarten classes.
- 3pm Years 1-6 students who are utilising Kiss and Drive service can continue with their normal
arrangements.
- 3pm Years 1-6 students who normally wait for collection by parents at classrooms will be instead queued near the front main gate and directed to parents who will need to wait outside the main gate.
- *The rear Geddes St gate will not be an exit point at the end of the school day.
- Inform in advance. Please talk through the above adjustments with your children before arriving at school on Monday to minimise any distress associated with changed routines.
OSHC (Outside School Hours Care) - Parents dropping off (Before School
Care in the morning) or collecting their child(ren) from After School Care are asked not to remain in the centre or on school grounds longer than required to sign their child(ren) in or out.
MANDARIN AND CHESS - Parents and siblings are asked not to remain on-site whilst waiting for tutoring sessions to conclude. Rather, arrive just a few minutes before the end of the session and then enter, collect and leave
straight away.
SPEECH PATHOLOGY - For parents attending speech pathology sessions during the week, please attend Administration as usual and sign in before continuing to the room and session. Parents are asked to use the antibacterial gel at Administration before entering the College.
OTHER TUESDAY PARENT COMMUNITY PRAYER - The parent community prayer group will continue. Rather than meet on-site, simply walk down to the end of the street to Raphael Park and head for the closest large tree, which will be the meeting point, straight after the morning bell. You will be greeted by a few friendly Regent faces. You
are really welcome, especially in these challenging times. No experience necessary!
UNIFORM SHOP AND TERM 2 REQUIREMENTS - The Uniform Shop will be closed for the remainder of Term 1. Parents can collect an Order Form from administration (or download from website) and orders will be prepared; alternatively, an Order Form will be sent home with each child during the week.
- Families will not be able to organise uniform fittings in readiness for Term 2. A transition period will be in place and students will be permitted to wear either their summer or winter uniform for the first fortnight or so, on their return to school, while uniform matters are resolved. Parents should not be concerned about having all the correct uniform elements for the return to school after the break.
ALL THINGS LEARNING - NAPLAN 2020. As recently announced by the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), NAPLAN has been abandoned for 2020. Year 3 and 5 parents should disregard the Update 2 that was sent to families by the College on the evening of Thursday 19 March.
- ONLINE LEARNING FOR ALL. Developing a meaningful online learning program in a primary school setting is neither a quick or simple process, particularly when teachers are required to meet the
requirements of their normal face to face program. If there were to be partial or full closure of the College, it is anticipated that this process could be achieved quite quickly - planning is well underway. In the meantime, families are asked to please manage their expectations. For those families remaining at home by choice or for self-isolating requirements, teachers will endeavour to have tasks available by Wednesday evening of this week. Please note that this will not be a full online learning program; rather, some tasks that students at school will be completing during the day, adjusted for the online environment.
- SEESAW. As previously mentioned, Seesaw will be
our space for online learning if we progress to part or full closure. All students should now have access to additional Seesaw functionality, as communicated last week.
For information communicated last week about this additional Seesaw functionality, please follow the link HERE.
SCHOOL CLOSURE - This is the same information provided previously We will be guided by the Department of Health regarding the need for school closure (if at all) and do not intend to pre-empt this decision. In the meantime, we encourage you to continue sending your children to school. Any unexplained absences from school require a letter of absence. In the event of a partial or full College closure, please note the following announcement/confirmation process: 1. SMS to College families directing them to check their email for a communication from the College 2. Email announcement explaining the partial or full closure process.
It is difficult to anticipate how much notice we will be given, but we will convey any news to you as soon as practicable. Yours sincerely Derek Nicholls. Principal
REGENT COLLEGE
22 Colombo Street
Victoria Park WA 6100
(08) 9470 4569
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