Friday July 10, 2020
Re: Updated Health and Safety
Procedures for Term 3, Week 1 plans and Term 3 fees update
Dear Kindergarten families,
The Diamond Creek Memorial Kindergarten Educating Team and
Committee of Management (CoM), would like to provide an update to
families for term 3 in relation to COVID-19.
As term three comes around we unfortunately find ourselves in a
similar uncertain situation to the beginning of term two. We
understand that our kinder community consists of families facing
varying degrees of hardship and that each family's circumstances
are unique. It is important to us that all families have access to
early childhood education for their children regardless of their
situation so
please see the adjustment to Term 3 fees below.
We
are an essential service so open to all families and guided by
State and Federal Governments in relation to reducing the spread
among children, educators and families through risk mitigation. Please see the
plans for next week before we return to normal timetabling.
New Risk Mitigation Procedures
Teachers
have worked hard to ensure they can enact recommended requirements
as simply as possible ensuring kinder life is still comfortable and
familiar for the wellbeing of children. All educators are back on
deck and we are committed to ensuring we also look after our health
and will not attend kinder if unwell and will seek a covid test if
we have any signs or symptoms. This means we may have some movement
across 3 and 4 year old groups if we need to fill in for each
other. Educators will remain home until they receive the all clear.
All risk mitigation procedures implemented last term will continue
including drop off (which has been working very well for most) and
no adults coming into the service but there will also be extra
procedures.
Educators are required by the Department of Education and Training
(DET) to take temperatures of each child on arrival and document
their temperature. We
require a parent/ special person to stay until we ascertain their
temperature is under 37.5 C. Educators will greet parents with a
mask as recommended, but it is not recommended to teach in a mask
so long as educators ensure social distancing between themselves.
Please speak with your children about this new procedure as we want
children to be very comfortable.
Our
aprons and masks will be laundered daily as part of existing risk
mitigation procedures and they are never worn home.
Attendance in Term 3 and Term 3
Fees
All
children are welcome even in stage 3 restrictions, but we do
respect and understand if families would like to remain at home
especially while positive covid daily numbers are rising. I thank
families who have let me know already but please contact us and
tell us of your intentions on 0447 099 055 or at diamond.creek.memorial.kin@kindergarten.vic.gov.au
.
As
previously mentioned, we acknowledge differing circumstances for
families at this time. This being considered we have arrived at the
decision that term three fees will be reduced to 50% of normal rate
and we are introducing a pro-rata fee system whereby fees are
calculated weekly. Our intentions with these changes are to reduce
the cost burden and to give flexibility for families to make a
decision that best suits their unique situation.
Term 3 Start Timetable
The
Department of Education and Training has granted us 5 pupil free
days but to avoid confusion and to continue to support families, we
have decided to do the following:
Next
week starting July 13-17
- Monday- Pupil free
day- no 4yo kinder
- Tuesday- normal
session with staggered starts and extended hours
- Wednesday- Pupil
free day- no 3yo kinder
- Thursday- normal
session with staggered starts and extended hours
- Friday- normal
session for 3yo til 1.15pm with social distancing
Week
starting July 20
- Normal time tabling
for 3yo with social distancing
- Normal timetabling
for 4yo with social distancing, extended hours for 4yo and
staggered starts for 4yo
Unwell Children
As with the correspondence late last term, all unwell children and
educators are required to stay at home.
Please keep your child home if they are displaying any of the
following symptoms:
- Fever
- Chills or sweats
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Shortness of breath
- Runny nose
- Loss of sense of
smell or taste
In certain
circumstances headache, muscle soreness, stuffy nose, nausea,
vomiting and diarrhea may also be considered.
If
your child is displaying any of the symptoms of coronavirus
(COVID-19), however mild, they should get tested. Seek advice from
a healthcare professional who can advise on next steps. You can
phone the coronavirus (COVID-19) hotline on 1800 675 398 for help
and advice.
A medical certificate is not required for your child to return to
our setting after a period of illness, however children should not
return until they no longer have symptoms and should not return
until they receive covid test results.
Parents of children with complex medical needs such as asthma/
respiratory concerns should seek advice from the child’s
medical/health practitioner to support informed risk assessment and
decision making regarding the suitability of continuing education
and care at this time.
Joy, Learning and Exploration
We are aiming to have more ways to share the magic and learning
that is happening indoors and children have granted us some great
ideas. We will be working on this on the pupil free day next week.
Unfortunately, families are unable to see the evidence of the
amazing work inside so we look forward to finding innovative and
creative ways to share this with you.
We realise that even in a pandemic, we are truly fortunate to be
able to be within your children’s learning world and spend time in
their childhood. We are excited for a fabulous Term 3.
Warm
regards
The Educating Team
and Committee of Management
Diamond Creek Memorial
Kindergarten
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