Dear Parents/Carers,

The Annual School Improvement Plan has been drafted and is attached to this newsletter. This plan will guide the activities of the school in 2020.
(Click here to view)

CORONAVIRUS

We are getting daily updates from the Director-General to ensure we are taking all precautions and are prepared for this ever-unfolding health event. Those families who have arrived back from affected countries or have had exposure to the virus, have followed all precautions such as self-isolation and testing regimes.  There are no confirmed cases at this point. The Federal and State Department of Health are directing Education Queensland daily and sending communication.

Here is the current advice from Queensland Health:

Self-quarantine advice

If you have been overseas in the last 14 days and are feeling unwell, see a doctor immediately.

The advice below is for anyone who feels well and has travelled through high-risk countries, or been in contact with a confirmed case of novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

If you have been in, or transited through, mainland China, Iran, South Korea or Italy

• You need to self-quarantine for 14 days:
• from the date you departed mainland China or Iran
• from the date you departed South Korea (if you departed on or after 9pm 5 March)
• from the date you departed Italy (if you departed on or after 6pm 11 March).
• If you begin to feel unwell and develop a fever or shortness of breath, a cough or a respiratory illness during your period of self-quarantine you should seek immediate medical attention. Call ahead to your GP or emergency department and mention your travel history before you arrive.
• If you experience any other symptom during your period of self-quarantine you should also seek immediate medical attention. Call ahead to your GP or emergency department and mention your travel history before you arrive.
  
  

If you have been in close contact with someone who already has novel coronavirus

• You need to self-quarantine for 14 days from the last date of contact with the confirmed case.
• If you begin to feel unwell and develop a fever or shortness of breath, a cough or a respiratory illness during your period of self-quarantine you should seek immediate medical attention. Call ahead to your GP or emergency department and mention you’ve been in contact with someone with novel coronavirus infection before you arrive.
• If you experience any other symptoms or illness, perhaps due to chronic disease, during your period of self-quarantine you should also seek immediate medical attention. Call ahead to your GP or emergency department and mention you’ve been in contact with someone with novel coronavirus infection before you arrive
  
  

Here is the current advice from the Director-General of Education

The Commonwealth travel advice follows the decision I made yesterday that all school/departmental international student and staff travel should not proceed until further notice for all destinations other than New Zealand. 

Please note that the directive I issued yesterday only applies to school and departmental travel abroad. It does not include any private international travel plans that you have made or are considering.

Notwithstanding, all of the above information and advice is underpinned by the need for good personal hygiene, both at home and in a school setting.

Again, the message is very clear. To help stop the spread of germs, please make soap and paper towel available across our schools and workplaces and use these materials to wash your hands regularly, especially before and after eating, and after going to the toilet.

In addition to this advice, please:

• use alcohol-based hand sanitiser if soap is unavailable
• cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or the inside of your elbow
• dispose of tissues in the bin immediately
• if you’re unwell, stay at home and avoid contact with others through touching, kissing or hugging..
• I would also ask that school leaders ensure there is an appropriate supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) for staff dealing with ill children and for cleaning staff.
• Disinfectant products should also be made available for cleaners and disposable cleaning cloths are also recommended for use in favour of reusable cloths.

Ms Green and I were spending the Easter Holidays on an International Study Tour with a focus on inquiry to Canada and the United States which entailed school visits. This has been cancelled.

The school is currently acting on the advice given by Queensland Health and the Director-General of Education to ensure we are aligned. Extra care around the cleaning of surfaces and resources and information around handwashing are taking place. I would advise all families to be aware of the personal hygiene advice stated above and consider implementation in the home setting, if it isn’t already.

Schools across the Region are asked to look at their upcoming events which may need to be cancelled/postponed to minimise risk. The school will keep the P and C and the parent community as a whole informed as we undertake assessment of our various events.

WORKING BEE

Sincere thanks to the merry band of helpers who came to last weekend’s working bee and those that made the beautiful new garden at the front of the Sensitivity Unit with Sharlene. Much was achieved with a full skip and gardens, gates and paths at the back of Prep looking so much better. Particular thanks to our Business Services Manager Karen Rye and Jay Brosnan our Grounds/Facilities Officer who gave up their family time to come to work.

ONLINE FORMS DUE AND SUPPORT PROCESSES

The response to the new online forms has been considerably positive.  The following forms are now due:

Year 2 excursion

Year 5 incursion

Year 6 Commemorative shirt

For those who are having any issues or technical difficulties completing the online form, you are more than welcome to seek support from the office staff or use the school iPad in the office.

Thank you for your support with this transition to going digital and paperless in order to improve efficiency and environmental sustainability. 

OVAL UPDATE

The oval looks to be handed over to us sometime in the coming weeks depending on rain delays. 

HARMONY DAY - (CANCELLED - Assembly only)

Our school will mark Harmony Day on Tuesday March 17. There will be a variety of activities in classrooms and play-breaks and a whole-school assembly taking place from 2.15pm. We encourage all students to wear their international dress or sun-safe orange to commemorate our diverse community and our stance on bullying no way.

EASTER BONNET PARADE (CHANGE OF PLAN)

Please revise your school calendars. We will be cancelling Junior Assembly on March 31 and instead conducting the Easter Bonnet Parade for Prep to 2 students only on Friday April 3 from 2.15pm.

Have a good week,

Kathy