Dear Parents/Carers
Welcome to Term Two I hope your families are safe and well and were able to celebrate Easter as a family unit. As promised at the end of last term here is our update about the way the College will operate at the start of Term Two.
As you may be aware, Premier Mark McGowan announced Term Two arrangements for public schools in Western Australia on Friday 17 April. The following sets out Mercedes College’s arrangements for Term Two, which reflects the guiding principles of Catholic Education Western Australia (CEWA):
- The health and safety of our students and staff remain our first priority.
- All students will continue to be provided with a quality Catholic education.
- Decisions regarding school education will continue to be informed by nationaland state-based health and educationadvice andalign with the National Principles for School Education.
When Term Two commences on Wednesday, 29 April, Mercedes College will provide one mode of learning, online learning, until Friday 22 May (end of Week 4, T2), with a review taking place on 18 May. If triangular meetings have been arranged, they will proceed as normal.
Year 11 and 12 Students
From Wednesday 29 April, students in Years 11 and 12 are strongly encouraged to attend school to continue their learning. Where possible a student’s teacher will be present unless their health or family situation requires them to be at home. Students onsitewillbe supervised by analternative teacher if their usual teacher is not available.
Mrs Angove will survey Parents and caregivers to determine which students will be attending school. This is necessary to ensure appropriate plans are in place to comply with the Department of Health’s physical distancing advice. It also ensures the school is able to make appropriate arrangements for student supervision while ensuring teaching and learning continues.
Year 7 to 10 Students
From the start of Term Two, parents and caregivers with children in Years 7 to 10 may choose to keep their children at home to engage in online learning. As has been the case since our school transitioned to online learning in Term One, this approach particularly allows parents and caregivers who are engaged in essential services or are required to maintain employment to send their children to school if they are unable to care for them at home.
Should parents and caregivers choose to send their children in Years 7 to 10 to school, these students will engage in the same mode of learning being provided to students learning from home. Schools will provide appropriate supervision but not face-to-face teaching for students attending school in person.
Students attending school
- Mrs Angove will survey Parents and caregivers to determine which students will be attending school. This is necessary to ensure appropriate plans are in place to comply with the Department of Health’s physical distancing advice. It also ensures the schoolis able tomake appropriate arrangements for student supervision while ensuring teaching and learning continues.
- Medically compromised students are asked to remain at home until they receive a medical clearance to attend school. Online learning will be provided to these students.
- Parents and caregivers are not permitted on school property other than to drop off or pick up their children, at which time they must not exit their vehicle. If parents and caregivers are walking their children to and from school, they should undertake their drop off or pick up at the College gate.
- Students need to restrict the number of books/items they bring to school so that locker access is limited due to social distancing requirements.
- Assemblies, excursions, interschool activities and school-based co-curricular activities will not recommence until advice is received from the Department of Health that it is safe to do so.
- Due to online learning no physical education or practical lessons will occur on site.
- Catherine’s Café will be open for snacks and drinks. Students will need to provide their own recess and lunch as they will not be permitted to leave the campus.
- The school will continue to ensure that environmental cleaning practices are in place, with enhanced routines where necessary.
- Students will be required to continue with the hygiene practices put in place in Term One and will need to follow the physical distancing measures that are needed to ensure the safety of all students and staff.
I wish to reiterate that during this period, our staff will continue to ensure we best support our students’ learning from home, as well as those students who may be at school. We acknowledge that it will be important to maintain regular contact between the school and parents and caregivers.
At this difficult time, I wish to reassure every parent and caregiver that the ongoing enrolment of every child in our school is guaranteed. I encourage parents seeking financial support arrangements to discuss this matter with myself or Mr Ian Barter our Business Manager.
I will keep you updated with any new information as it becomes available.
Kind regards
Mrs Kerrie Fraser