Important letter – Stage 4 restrictions and schools
Dear parents, carers, students and staff,
Earlier today, the Victorian Government announced that, on the advice of the Victorian Chief Health Officer, regional and rural Victoria will move to Stage 3 restrictions and metropolitan Melbourne will move to Stage 4 restrictions to slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).
These requirements apply to all schools across the government, Catholic and independent sectors and across all metropolitan Melbourne and rural and regional Victoria.
The changes to schools’ operations will come into effect from Wednesday 5 August, following a student free day on Tuesday 4 August, and are likely to apply until the end of Term 3.
As outlined in the Chief Health Officer’s advice on Friday, schools remain safe places for staff and students – but these steps are critical measures to reduce the movement of students and families across the state.
There are implications for our school, and for families in our school community.
A summary of what the changes mean for schools is below.
METROPOLITAN MELBOURNE
PREP TO YEAR 10
- Prep to Year 10 students will continue with remote and flexible learning.
- The criteria for students that can attend on-site has changed as follows:
- Children whose parents are permitted workers. The Victorian Government will provide further advice about this over the coming days.
- Vulnerable children in out of home care, children known to child protection and other agencies and children the school identifies as vulnerable.
- Children with a disability who also fit one of the above two categories.
SENIOR SECONDARY YEAR 11 AND 12 (VCE AND VCAL)
- All Year 11 and 12 provision for both VCE and VCAL will move to remote and flexible learning.
- The GAT will be rescheduled from Wednesday 9 September to Wednesday 7 October.
- The schedule for the VCE examinations and release of results will remain as previously advised.
- Further information about consideration of disadvantage and coronavirus (COVID-19) will be provided shortly.
SPECIALIST SCHOOLS
- On-site provision in specialist schools will only be available to children whose parents are permitted workers, and vulnerable children.
RURAL AND REGIONAL VICTORIA
PREP TO YEAR 10
- Prep to Year 10 students will move to remote and flexible learning.
- On-site supervision in rural and regional Victoria will be available to:
- Children whose parents cannot work from home
- Vulnerable children
- Any child with a disability
SENIOR SECONDARY YEAR 11 AND 12 (VCE AND VCAL)
- All Year 11 and 12 provision for both VCE and VCAL will move to remote and flexible learning.
- The GAT will be rescheduled from Wednesday 9 September to Wednesday 7 October.
- The schedule for the VCE examinations and release of results will remain as previously advised.
- Further information about consideration of disadvantage and coronavirus (COVID-19) will be provided shortly.
SPECIALIST SCHOOLS
- Any child enrolled in a specialist school in rural and regional Victoria will be able to continue to attend.
- Any parent of a child enrolled in a specialist school in rural and regional Victoria who wishes to keep their child at home can do so, and where possible, the school can provide learning materials and activities for the child and their parent to complete at home.
TIMELINE
- Monday 3 August will be a ‘normal’ day of school under current arrangements, with students attending on site learning asked to take all their necessary learning materials home.
- Tuesday 4 August will be a student-free day across Victoria to enable teachers, especially in rural and regional Victoria, to prepare for flexible and remote learning.
- Wednesday 5 August will be the first day of new arrangements for schools across Victoria
- This is a day ahead of the statewide introduction of the Stage 3 restrictions in rural and regional Victoria, but will provide for a smooth transition and will enable as much continuity of learning as possible.
STAFFING
- Schools will ensure sufficient staff are available for necessary on site supervision.
- Staff not required for on site supervision will work from home.
I will provide an update soon about arrangements for remote and flexible learning at our school.
Thank you for your understanding and support.
Enza Calabro
Principal
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