Half day school closure from 12pm for Parent / teacher interviews.

Dear Parents and Carers,

I hope you are well and I’m sure you’re managing the best way possible!

Now is the time to stay close to our children. We need to be honest with them and let them know that people from around the world are working hard to keep them safe and happy.

To all the Coronavirus heroes in our community; educators, healthcare workers, police, retail staff and anyone working in the front line - Thank you for everything you have done and continue to do.

My thoughts are with those in our community that are feeling vulnerable, unwell, have lost jobs or unsure about job security.

Although we feel it’s important to maintain an academic routine while children are not attending school we understand that this may be difficult. Please look at the websites below for support in keeping all aspects of life – physical, mental, social and emotional maintained under these circumstances and to have some fun.

https://www.education.wa.edu.au/learning-at-home/support-for-parents-and-carers

https://www.123homeschool4me.com/101-fun-things-to-do-in-covid-19-isolation/

Teaching and learning is going to continue to look very different in our schools for the foreseeable future and we have staff leading amazing work to enable students to keep learning and connected.  Willetton Primary School teachers understand the need to use different, flexible learning methods, and technology-enabled tools to deliver differently for our students.

Every school is currently working on what Term 2 will look like in their school.

Our focus will remain on caring for our students, and supporting their engagement and learning growth. Our aspiration is that their achievement will not be disrupted by the changes we’re facing.

During Term 2 whilst students remain isolated in their homes, Willetton Primary School will deliver teaching and learning in two main ways:

1. Online – through Webex and Connect.
2. Work Packages – Our school will send home work packages for each student for the following reasons: To ensure a combined digital technology and pencil & paper approach to distance education; to supplement online learning delivery of lessons; to practice fine motor skills, to provide students with tools for home use such as stationery, lined paper, worksheets, texts and workbooks.

Please read the instructions below carefully.

WORK PACKAGE COLLECTION PROCEDURE

1. Date for collection – Wednesday 8 April, 8:30am-3:00pm
2. Where – Classrooms: Desks will be across the classroom doorway to ensure social distance rules, parents to approach desk from outside the classroom, one at a time, teachers to place child’s package on the desk, parent picks up package and leaves (as per shopping across the counter).
3. It is perfectly acceptable for packages to be picked up by a nominated person.
4. All uncollected packages will be returned to the office on Wednesday afternoon.
5. They will be available to be collected from the office ONLY on Thursday 9^th April.

Effective learning depends on good relationships between teachers, students and their communities.

We will continue to stay in touch and keep you updated.

Stay safe. We are all in this together.

Best wishes,

Heather McNeil

Principal

1 April 2020

COVID-19 MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNMENT

Today, the Government has announced all public schools in Western Australia will remain open until the end of term – Thursday, 9 April 2020.

However, families are now encouraged to keep their children at home if they have the capacity to do so. 

What this means for our school is:

• From Monday, 30 March to Friday, 3 April all children who attend school will be taught as normal.
• The following week (6 to 9 April) teachers and education assistants will prepare teaching programs for Term 2.
• During this time (6 to 9 April), students who attend school will be supervised.

During the week of Monday 6^th –Thursday 9^th April our teachers will be continuing to work on developing our contingency plan in the event that the school is directed to close.

Our School Continuity Plan (SCP) is in two phases; the first for students who are in self-isolation from now until the start of the Easter school holidays and the second is for an extended period of time.

SCP Phase 1: Students who are remaining at home are able to engage with; Mathletics, Reading Eggs or read, keep a diary, research topics of interest and any other work.

The Department of Education learning from home resources are available on our website under the heading LEARNING RESOURCES BY YEAR LEVEL

https://willettonps.wa.edu.au

Should the school close, WPS will move to SCP Phase 2 that will focus on the delivery of the curriculum in different ways, including the online learning platform Connect for all students in PP-Year 6. We will also be ensuring teachers maintain connection with their students through the use of Webex.

Tomorrow afternoon, all Principals have been invited to a webinar being hosted by the Director General of Education, Lisa Rodgers.

By Monday 30 March further information will be distributed to our school community.

Thank you for your understanding. We are here to support you and your children.

Yours sincerely,

Heather McNeil

26 March 2020

Supporting our School

As a staff we feel privileged to be a part of the Willetton Primary School community. We have been buoyed by the many positive messages and support from our parents over the past couple of weeks. Thank you!

The COVID 19 virus is creating an ever changing landscape in the community and I’m sure we have all been impacted in some way already. It’s unknown territory we are entering and at this time our focus should be on our health and the wellbeing of those closest to us.

In a large organisation such as WPS, it is important that we stay abreast of all of the current information and follow all directives from the Department of Education and Health. At a system level our Department has staff highly trained and skilled in risk management so we are maintaining regular communication to be informed but not alarmed.

As previously stated, we will remain open with Business almost as usual although we are mindful of a possible closure. This will only happen under the direction of the Chief Medical Officer.

Work Packages

At this stage the school will not be providing homework packages for students. All staff are focusing their energy on minimising the risk to students attending school and the continuity of their classroom teaching and learning.

Home Learning Programs

The Department of Education is working to provide online access to resources for parents, caregivers and students.  This will be through the Learning at home website.  The website is now available and resources will continue to be added over the coming weeks.

To access this support, please go to the DOE Learning at home website:

https://www.education.wa.edu.au/learning-at-home

Social Distancing

Parents are to drop their children off as outlined below and leave the school grounds promptly.

• K, PP please drop your children off at the classroom door and then leave. As you do this, please demonstrate social distancing - staying at least 1.5m from staff and other adults and their children. Please also demonstrate social distancing when collecting students.
• Y1 - Y3 please drop your children off near their classrooms and send them in independently. As you do this, please demonstrate social distancing - staying at least 1.5m from staff, other adults and their children. Please also demonstrate social distancing - staying at least 1.5m from other adults and their children when collecting student.
• Y4 - Y6 please consider using a kiss and drive option to drop off and pick up your children. Should you be on the school grounds, please demonstrate social distancing - staying at least 1.5m from staff, other adults and their children.

Keeping Our Community Updated

The Executive Team will:

• Provide families and staff with regular COVID-19 WA Department of Education updates.
• Monitor and support student and staff wellbeing.
• Minimise disruptions to teaching and learning as much as possible.
• Maintain routines as much as possible.
• Continue to prepare the school for the possibility of a different mode of educational delivery in the near future.

The classroom teachers will:

• Maintain regular teaching and learning routines as much as possible.

• Post two Connect notices per week to maintain relationships and provide information on the teaching and learning programs in their classroom.
• Continue to teach our children good hygiene habits, including using the inner elbow to sneeze or cough into if they can’t grab a tissue in time, washing hands regularly with soap and water and keeping hands away from faces as well as physically distancing themselves from one another wherever practicable.

We are a strong and resilient community and together we will get through this. All students who have been absent, are welcome to return to school at any time while our schools remain open. However, I also acknowledge, that as parents, you know what your children need best, and all choices are respected.

Kind regards,

Heather McNeil

Principal

24 March 2020

       How can I protect myself and others against COVID-19?

• Frequently washing your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water, or using an alcohol-based hand gel
• Refraining from touching mouth and nose
• If coughing or sneezing, covering your nose and mouth with a paper tissue or flexed elbow.
• Dispose of the tissue immediately after use and perform hand hygiene and
• Avoiding close contact with anyone if you, or they, have a cold or flu-like symptoms (maintain a distance of at least 1.5 metre).

Health Department - Coronavirus Fact Sheet for Parents (English version)

Health Department - Coronavirus Fact Sheet for Parents (Chinese version)

Dear Parents & Guardians,

With the constantly changing COVID-19 situation, Willetton Primary School is putting in place plans and processes in the event of a school closure. Staff have been developing contingency plans for the continuation of teaching and learning for students should this occur. To support staff in preparing, we are asking that all students install the following two apps:

1. SnapType: Free Version
2. WebEx Meet

Staff will begin familiarising students with these apps (where appropriate), and the use of Connect, over the coming weeks. These platforms will enable staff to deliver online learning programs to students and classes to stay in touch with each other.

 

Thank you for understanding and support as we prepare for a number of possibilities moving forward. 

11:00 - 11:30 am in the classroom.

3:15 - 3:45 pm in the classroom.