As we are all well aware Victoria has entered into a five day Covid “Circuit Breaker” lockdown to conclude at midnight this Wednesday 17th February.

I especially thank everyone for your support of the stay at home orders and the option of a care and supervision program. Our approach for these three days is to support the Victorian Government’s health objectives, not put extreme formal student learning pressure on the home environment over hopefully what will be a very short lockdown period.

Last year and early this year our curriculum focus has been on essential learnings; the important to know, not the nice to know. With parent support this has stood our students well as their progress has been excellent. Our data collection is confirming this approach.

Thus, over these three days the work for students is listed in this “Principal Optional Project”. It has a simple range of open ended tasks that are completely independent. Students are invited to do one, some or many. Personal creative options are also welcome. The key focus is on simple, ‘doable’, creative and self-initiative. Obviously the younger students may need extra help. See below for details.

Our Victorian Premier, Chief Medical Officer and our Catholic Education leaders have requested all Victorians enter a 5 day “Circuit Breaker” lockdown to stop the possible spread of the Covid 19 variant. This action is to support our health and is similar to what has recently been completed in Western Australia, South Australia, and starting in Auckland, New Zealand today. I have also included, for family information the workflow that our school employee teams will be completing over these next three days.

Using Time Well

Teachers will work from home over these 3 days to complete Teacher/Parent Interview preparations, develop goals for students on individual learning plans, continue to prepare learning for daily classroom work, review student literacy and numeracy interview results, complete file handover from last year and plan for another possible future remote program for offsite learning.

Learning Support Staff will complete self-paced online learning modules about student safety (Eg. Mandatory Reporting and Covid Safe infection control) and continue research and any self paced learning and teaching opportunities that will support students in classrooms.

The School Facility Team will be able to give the school building and playground equipment an extra deep clean. The team will also make sure classrooms are right for the on-site supervision program. Oval works will continue as normal and the tree removal on the Allen Oval North are will be concluded.

Our Administration Team will continue answering phones, completing school policy work, updating web pages, complete newsletters, manage school budget, complete first aid teacher updates and answer all manner of general inquiries.

All the best with the next three days and we look forward to Thursday with everyone on-site ready to go.