Updated Advice: Coronavirus 16/3/2020

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Our priority at Cranbourne Carlisle Primary School is the health and safety of our school community.

We are being provided with the latest advice from the Department of Education to ensure our school practices are helping to keep our school community safe from the COVID-19 outbreak.

Any incidents that arise will be addressed in accordance with our Incident Support and Operations Centre and DHHS, Department of Health and Human Services.

I am aware of concerns about the disruption of teaching and can assure you that the Department of Education is advising schools to begin planning for the provisions of learning continuity for all students. This may include online learning or the use of learning resources that students can access and download from the Department’s Learning from Home website that will be made available in the event that a school closure occurs.

We have been advised that we are not to proceed with any school event that involves attendance by community members where the total attendance will exceed 500. Unfortunately, we will have to cancel Harmony Day and school assemblies until further notice.

Also, another reminder that everyone can protect against infections by practising good hand and respiratory hygiene.

Here are some tips that we all can follow:

1. Cover your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing with a tissue, or cough into your elbow.
2. Dispose of the tissue into a bin and then wash your hands afterwards.
3. Wash your hands regularly using soap and water, including after using the toilet, and before eating. Please refer to the Department’s coronavirus web page for the latest advice and information.

Please advise the school as soon as possible if your child;

• has just returned from overseas,
• has a confirmed case of COVID-19
• has been in close contact of a confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the past 14 days.

Close contact is defined by DHHS as someone who has at least 15 minutes face-to-face contact with a confirmed case, or shared a closed space with someone for more than two hours with a confirmed case.

As parents, you have a critical role in helping the school manage this situation:

• Exercise good judgement by keeping children home if they are feeling unwell for any reason and communicate with the school
• Talk to children about the situation, as they may be feeling anxious or stressed. You have a key role in helping students feel prepared and safe
• Encourage children to be proactive and committed to their schoolwork, and to stay connected with the school and their teachers
• Please ensure your child has a water bottle each day to avoid using shared water taps.

The Department of Health and Human Services has a number of resources on its website, which explain the virus, detail risk-reduction practices and behaviours, and answer frequently asked questions. These are available at www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus

We are also preparing for the possible impacts of the virus in a considered and careful manner. The possibility of school closure must be considered and as such we have plans in place to ensure minimal disruption to student learning. You will be advised via Seesaw or through the school website should this be necessary.

The measures are intended to protect the health of our students and broader school community. All school measures will also continue to broader efforts across the community to contain and slow the spread of the virus over a period of what is going to be a number of months.

Please note these are precautionary measures and that the school day continues as normal unless otherwise informed. This is an evolving situation, but we will keep you updated as circumstances change. I ask that you continue to work closely with the school and if you have any urgent concerns or queries, please contact your sub- school Assistant Principal. Foundation to Grade 2, Anne McDonald, Grade 3-6, Mick Sweeney or Kerry Bates, Wellbeing Assistant Principal.

Thank you for your support as we work to keep our students safe.

Yours sincerely,

Mrs Nicky Walker

PRINCIPAL