Dear Parent and carers,
Welcome back and thank you for your ongoing support as we together navigate returning back to school in 2022.
The Premier announced on Sunday the Queensland Government’s COVID-safe back to school. From Monday 7 February (First day back for 2022), key features of the plan include:
- The suspension of school camps, excursions, assemblies, and large gatherings (please note that school sport will continue as usual)
- limiting visitors on site except for parents and carers of students experiencing vulnerability, and students attending early childhood development programs, kindergarten, Prep or Year 1
- staggered drop off times and special drop off zones
- masks strongly encouraged for students in Years 3 to 6
- mask wearing for all high school students and all staff
- rapid antigen tests (RATs) available in school for students and staff who develop symptoms while on site
- priority access to RATs for students and staff at Queensland Health testing clinics
- a range of ventilation measures including air purifiers as required.
You can access the Back to School plan here, and further information and FAQs on the Department of Education COVID-19 website.
Essential to the success of these measures is that if your child is unwell or displaying any COVID-19 symptoms, they must not attend school. I cannot emphasise this message strongly enough – it is critical to keeping our school community safe.
Rapid antigen tests (RATs)
Our school is expected to have a supply of RATs which will be provided to staff or students who, while attending school, develop COVID-19 symptoms. Please note if your child has COVID-19 symptoms while at home they must not attend school as a close contact neither should you or any other household members. If your child has COVID-19 symptoms, you can visit your local Queensland Health testing clinic and will be given priority access to a free RAT.
Limiting access for parents/volunteer/visitors
Limitations on parent and visitor access are now in place. If you are a parent of a Prep or Year 1 student, you may enter the school with your child. All other parents and volunteers are not permitted on school grounds at this
point. The exception will be this Thursday and Friday between 9:00am and 11:00am each day where parents will be permitted to drop off students’ books to their new classrooms.
Volunteers
Currently volunteers are not permitted on site, we will update you as soon as we are able to allow volunteers back at school. All volunteers will need to be double vaccinated and show proof of this at the office before commencing.
Morning Drop off
Please drop children off as normal and allow them to enter the school by themselves, please do not send children to school before 8:30am. Exceptions will be made for parents of vulnerable students, new students commencing school, Prep and year one and students.
Staff will be available at the Crossing Gate of a morning from 8:30am to assist younger children to their classes. For other parents and visitors, please limit your access to our school as much as possible.
Meetings
P&C meetings and parent teacher meeting will be conducted online or by phone until otherwise notified.
Afternoon Collection (to avoid mass gatherings)
Parents/carers please social distance while waiting and avoid gathering in groups.
Prep students collected from classrooms at 2:00pm for first 2 weeks (7-18 Feb) and then 2:40pm from then onwards.
Teachers in grades 1 to 6 will escort children to the footpath via gates below for parents/carers to collect.
- Office Gate at 2:45pm Year 6 & 5
- Office Gate at 2:50pm Year 3 & 4
- Crossing Gate at 2:50pm Year 1 & 2
Swimming
Swimming will commence on the week beginning 14 February on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday and continue for the rest of term.
This week
This week, our school remains open for children of essential workers and vulnerable children, in the same way we were last week. If you need to send your child to school you must ensure your child is well and not displaying any signs of illness. School staff will supervise any students who attend school.
Which Class is my child in?
Teachers will email parents at 12:00 noon on Wednesday 2 February to introduce themselves and advise which class students will be in this year. Classes have now been finalised and will not be changed.
Bring your child’s Books to school this Thursday 3 Feb or Friday 4 Feb
To avoid parents coming into the school on the first day Monday 7 Feb the following process will be in place.
Parents/carers are encouraged to bring their children’s book into school this Thursday or Friday between 9:00am and 11:00am. Staff will be on hand (school side of office) to direct you to your child’s classroom to drop off your child’s books quickly and then leave.
Please wear a mask, socially distance and avoid gathering with others.
By doing this you will greatly assist students that struggle to carry the weight of all their books and juggle their bags, lunchboxes etc it will also reduce the number of parents on school grounds.
I look forward to a very positive 2022 and welcoming your children into our school on Monday 7 February.
Yours sincerely
Mr John Byrne - Principal - Maleny State School