Return to School Guide - Term 1, 2022
​for parents, guardians, students and staff
Issued 29/01/2022

Ascot Vale Primary School
‘Unique Learning Community’
Where we value:
RESPECT      RESPONSIBILITY      EXCELLENCE      EMPATHY      GRATITUDE

COMMUNICATIONS ARCHIVE - please access previous communications in the files below 

avps_r2s_handbook_term_1_2022.pdf
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back-to-school-plan-letter-to-parents_thursday_27jan22.pdf
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29th January 2022
 
Dear parents, carers and students
 
Welcome to the 2022 school year at Ascot Vale Primary School (AVPS).
 
Staff have been working hard to prepare for the 2022 school year and are very much looking forward to our Year 1-6 children returning to school on Monday 31st January and our Year Prep students starting on Tuesday 1st February.
 
This guide has been developed to help support all families to help students settle back into the new school year in a CovidSafe manner. It also aims to reassure children and their families that we have a number of strategies in place to help us all aim towards a smooth and safe transition back to school in 2022, albeit in a continuing Covid-19 environment.
 
Content from this guide has been duplicated on a web page to enable community members to change the language, which is a function available in the top left corner of each of our school web pages. Please access the web version of this guide, including an archive of recent communications at this link: https://avps.vic.edu.au/R2SGuideT12022.html
 
We are mindful that there is a lot of information to share and take in at this time. As such, we endeavour to drip feed the important items as needed, via Compass alerts, which are also sent as emails to school community members. This will include daily (if necessary) updates to inform the community about staff impacted by Covid and the replacement arrangements that have been put in place.  
 
As always, please contact the school if you have queries that have not been answered in this handbook. See ‘contact us,’ p6.
 
Best wishes and good health to you and your families.

Sue Osborne, Principal

Michael Downing, Assistant Principal

Contact Us
Please contact the school if assistance or support is needed as your child or return to school in 2022.
●Principal team and admin staff:
i.Phone: 9370 6507
ii.Email:    [email protected]  [email protected]
 
●Teachers- via Class Dojo:  https://www.classdojo.com/


Reference:
Education - information for parents, students and educators
Details about changes to education settings during COVID-19 in Victoriahttps://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/education-information-about-coronavirus-covid-19
​
Victoria’s Back-To-School plan 2022
The measures set out in the Victorian Government’s Back-To-School plan will ensure every possible effort is made to ensure staff and students are safe and that schools remain open.
The plan maintains the importance of the 3Vs: Ventilation, Vaccination and Vital COVIDSafe steps and introduces some new measures.

​ 
Rapid antigen testing
Free rapid antigen tests will be made available for all staff and students in Victorian schools for the first 4 weeks of Term 1 2022. Rapid antigen testing will be voluntary for all primary, secondary and specialist school students and staff.
Table 1: Summary of rapid antigen testing recommendations for schools
Category
Recommended rapid antigen testing schedule

Primary school staff and students
Twice weekly (Tuesdays and Thursdays)

COVIDSafe Plan AVPS’s Covid Safe Plan outlines the key health and safety risks and links to the latest guidance. It sets out the approach for managing safety risks at AVPS in accordance with the minimum requirements for COVIDSafe Plans. The AVPS Covid Safe Plan is available at this site:  http://avps.vic.edu.au/school-strategic-planning.html

Management of suspected cases of COVID-19 at AVPS
A ‘suspected’ or ‘symptomatic’ case means a person who displays any COVID-19 symptoms.
As soon as practicable after becoming aware of a suspected case in a staff member or student – and if that person has attended onsite while displaying symptoms, or 48 hours before they developed symptoms –the following actions will be taken.

1. The affected person will be advised to follow guidelines in the Testing Requirements for Contacts and Exposed Persons. If applicable, the effected person/s should follow the COVID-19 RAT procedure, which recommends a symptomatic person in a workplace takes a COVID-19 test.
2. If the symptomatic person is confirmed to have COVID-19, the following steps will be taken /advised under the below section, Management of confirmed cases and household contacts at school.

 
Management of confirmed cases and household contacts at school
Updated approach to managing a confirmed case of COVID-19 in schoolsWhere a student or staff member is identified as a positive case, individual education contact tracing will end. The revised process is set out below.
1.Students who report a positive result must isolate for seven days and not attend school during that period.
2.Where a student is a household contact of a positive case (that is, they have spent more than four hours with someone who has COVID-19 inside a house, accommodation, or care facility) they must inform the school and isolate for seven days and not attend school during that period.
3.Ensure that staff or students refrain from returning to school if they remain symptomatic, unless it is known that their symptoms are caused by an underlying health condition or medication.
4.Ensure students refrain from returning to school if they remain symptomatic, unless it is known that their symptoms are caused by an underlying health condition or medication.

Student attendance
All students are expected to attend onsite unless they are formally registered as being home-schooled. Parent preference is not an approved reason for students to be absent due to COVID-19.
 
Students who are required to isolate or quarantine should be supported in the same way as students with an extended absence due to illness or injury, with learning materials provided to support their continued learning. Schools are not expected to provide a full remote learning program in these circumstances.

Students who may be medically vulnerable
Schools must ensure students with medical needs have an up-to-date Student Health Support Plan Student Health Support Plan and accompanying condition-specific health management plan (such as an Asthma Action Plan),based on medical advice from the student’s medical or health practitioner, and consultation with the student and parents and carers.
Please contact the school if you wish to discuss your situation with a member of the Principal Team.


QR codes and visitors to schools
The use of Service Victoria QR codes for electronic record-keeping continues to be mandatory in all schools.Visitors and volunteers performing work on school sites (both inside and outdoors) must have had at least two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine or have a valid medical exception.  Visitors and volunteers must adhere to COVIDSafe requirements: physical distancing, face mask requirements, cough etiquette, and good hand hygiene.


Camps, Events and Excursions
AVPS will consider current levels of COVID-related absences in the community and staffing pressures that may be associated with the conduct of the activity being planned (camp, sporting event or excursion). Whilst AVPS does not have a camp scheduled in term 1, please note, parents/carers will be informed that if a confirmed or probable case was present at a camp while infectious, children may be identified as household-like contacts and be required to quarantine for 7 days.

Moonee Vale Instrumental Music Program (MVIMP)
The commencement of MVIMP (Year 3-6 instrumental program) will be delayed in 2022 until March at the earliest. After this time, a CovidSafe plan for the reintroduction of MVIMP and management of tutors, who visit many schools in a given week, will be developed.

Community use of school facilities
School facilities can be used by the community, including play equipment, and for external hire.
Schools are permitted to allow external providers to use or hire school facilities. 
When hiring school facilities, AVPS will follow the department policy regarding vaccination and visitors to schools.

Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) program
Our Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) program, run by Camp Australia will restart on Monday 31st January. Parents/carers can log in and register through the parent portal, or smartphone app and start booking. Accessible here: https://pp.campaustralia.com.au/account/register-contacts or call OSHC phone:​​ 0423 795 247, Coordinator:​​ Dee Seneviratne.

Understanding Covid -19
For information on the science behind COVID-19 see Facts about coronavirus (COVID-19).
A combination of strategies is required to minimise transmission risk. No single strategy completely reduces risk and not every measure will be possible in all educational settings. Where some controls are not feasible, others should be enhanced. Strategies should also be adjusted over time in line with the changing risk of transmission in the community.

Mental health and wellbeing
The mental health and wellbeing of principals, teachers, school staff and students is a priority.
 
For students, AVPS staff will implement:
●Wellbeing check-ins with students
●  Education Program
 
The Three V’s - Ventilation, Vaccination and Vital Covid Steps
Ventilation
AVPS will increase fresh air flow into indoor spaces whenever possible, including maximising the use of outdoor learning areas or environments wherever possible. Strategies will include:
 
●Keeping all available windows, doors and vents open as much as possible.
●Keeping these openings clear of any obstruction to air flow.
●Door jambs to be used to keep doors open.
●All windows and doors across the school have been inspected/audited to enhance natural airflow capacity at AVPS.
●Exhaust fans to be used where available.
●Take measures to maintain thermal, noise and other comfort, such as flexible uniform and seating arrangements.
Mechanical ventilation
●Air recirculation will be eliminated or minimised by setting air conditioning units to use external air rather than recycling, where possible.
●Demand-controlled ventilation controls that reduce air supply based on occupancy or temperature should be disabled.
●increase the utility of mechanical ventilation, where available and practicable, is to run systems when rooms are unoccupied, and ideally two hours before and after use of a space.
Use of fans
●Fans are only to be used with other natural and mechanical methods in place.
●Fans should not be used if a person with respiratory symptoms is in the room.
●If used, ceiling fans can be operated on the winter setting (where possible) and lowest speed.
●Other fans, such as pedestal fans, should not be directed to blow air from one person directly past another and should be set to the lowest speed.
Maximise the use of outdoor learning areas or environments
●AVPS will maximise the use of outdoor learning areas and environments as much as possible.
●Preference will be given to the use of an outdoor space over an indoor space as much as practicable.
Air purifiers
●The Department has delivered air purifier units (model Samsung AX7500) to AVPS. These have been placed in all classrooms and areas where high levels of mixing or areas of lower ventilation and possible exposure to illness, e.g., in the sick bay.

Vaccination
All school staff and all students aged 5 and over are now eligible to receive a coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine. Information about vaccines and eligibility can be found on the following website https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/ .
 
All staff are required to have received three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, unless a medical exemption applies, in order to attend an education facility for work. Staff who do not update their third dose status by the appropriate deadline will not be able to work at a school site.
Vital Covid Steps
Social Distancing - Limit Mixing

• Staff movement across schools will be limited as much as possible. For example, MVIMP (Year 3-6 instrumental program) tutors who usually visit many schools in a week will delay the commencement of the program until at least March. After which time, a CovidSafe plan for the reintroduction of MVIMP will be developed.
• Professional development and staff meetings will be conducted online, in small groups or deferred.
• Staggered recess and lunch breaks will be continued where year P-2 and 3-6 are separated from each other. This will reduce crowding in the school yard and limit mixing.
• Multi age activities across units will take place via video conferencing rather than in person.
• Multi age activities within the same unit may take place.
• Specialist classes will be conducted outdoors or in classrooms, rather than in specialist rooms (e.g., Art room or LOTE room, which would usually be accessed by all students across the school).

Social Distancing – maintain physical distancing
A variety of strategies to support physical distancing among all students and staff will be implemented, where possible. Staff will practise physical distancing 1.5m between themselves and other staff members or adults to the extent that is reasonably practicable. Staff will physically distance themselves from students where appropriate and feasible. Staff will reduce, as far as possible, the use of common areas such as staff rooms.
 
Students should practise physical distancing where possible. Maintaining a physical distance of 1.5 metres will not always be practical in the school environment and may be particularly challenging in the younger years of primary school. In these contexts, a combination of health and safety measures will be utilised to reduce risk.
Social Distancing  - Use large spaces
AVPS will consider opportunities to adapt indoor activities to outdoor settings, for example holding classes outside.  The staff room will be closed except for access to tea/coffee/food making facilities. Where possible, staff will rest, eat and meet in outdoor areas only. Signage will continue to be used to promote physical distancing in more confined spaces. The school hall will be utilised where appropriate.
Social Distancing  - Recess/Lunch Breaks
Staggered break times will continue in 2022, as follows
RECESS
Year P- 2 - 10:45-11:15am
Year 3-6 - 11:15-11:45am
 
LUNCH TIME
Year P- 2 – 12:30-1:30*
Year 3-6 – 1:30-2:30*
* First 15 minutes is eating time
●Playground equipment may be used by AVPS students AND by outside community members.
●Where possible and age appropriate, children will be encouraged to observe physical distancing in the playground. Noting, this may be easier for the older students rather than the younger ones.
●Bans will apply on the following (until restrictions are eased):
a.Shared sporting equipment or toys brought from home
b.Contact games (including tag games, hugging, ‘stacks on’, clapping games)
c.Play pod
●Break time arrangements will be observed and monitored over time and strategies adjusted where necessary.
Social Distancing  - Designated access gates and staggered start and finish times
AVPS will continue implementing the use of designated entry and exit points to prevent concentrations of students and minimise groups of people gathering, where students will meet a teacher, who will open their designated gate at the arrival time. Students will depart from the same gate at as follows:
 
ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE ACCESS GATES:
Unit 1 – Bank Street – in front of blue entry door close to Unit 1
Unit 2 – Bank Street – office entry
Unit 3 – Bank Street – car park gate
Unit 4 – Moonee Street – double gates near playground
Unit 5 – Moonee Street – pedestrian gate near oval
Unit 6 – Bank Street – northwest gate – in front of Unit 6
 
ACCESS GATES have been allocated to each unit for arrival and departure.
Unit 1 – Bank Street – in front of blue entry door close to Unit 1
Unit 2 – Bank Street – office entry
Unit 3 – Bank Street – Car park gate 
Unit 4 – Moonee Street – double gates near playground 
Unit 5 – Moonee Street – pedestrian gate near oval
Unit 6 – Bank Street – North West gate – in front of Unit 6
 
STUDENT ARRIVAL / DROP OFF TIMES until further notice

• Family names A-G please arrive at 8:50am
• Family names H-P please arrive at 8:55am
• Family names Q-Z please arrive at 9:00am 

 
STUDENT DEPARTURE / PICK UP until further notice

• Family names A-G please depart at 3:20pm
• Family names H-P please depart at 3:25pm
• Family names Q-Z please depart at 3:30pm

 
Please note that school gates will be locked outside of these nominated arrival and departure times; i.e. there will be no access to the school yard from gates other than the times above.
 
Arrival/Departure notes:

• Strategies will be put in place to support students experiencing difficulty, particularly our younger cohorts of children at arrival time. Please speak to a teacher at the gate who will help. 
• Arrival and departure arrangements will be monitored, reviewed and adjusted over time.
• One teacher from each unit will begin their duties at their allocated gate, unlocking it at 8:50am, greeting students and their siblings and directing them to move straight to their classroom, where the other unit teacher will greet them.  A teacher will remain at the gate until 9:05am, when they will lock the gate.
• We encourage families to please do their best to meet these times, noting that AVPS is relying on the majority of school community members to follow the arrangements to achieve the safest possible arrival/departure practices.
• Where a family has multiple children across different units, we encourage them to choose the gate allocated to the youngest child or communicate with teachers if a different gate is selected by the family. 
• Families are encouraged to use the vehicle drop off system on both Bank and Moonee Streets for older/independent children, where adults remain in the car.
• Parents of older students (and their younger siblings if applicable) who travel independently to & from school are requested to please communicate (via Class Dojo) their permission for children to be dismissed at the 3:30 pm timeslot without an adult present.
• Please be patient and prepared to wait at a distance for crowds to disperse.
• Children arriving after teachers have locked the gates will be considered ‘late’ and must enter via the Bank Street front door.
• Parents are encouraged not to congregate in groups and are not to enter the school grounds.
• Bikes may be ridden to and from school; to be secured in the usual locations. Bikes are not to be shared by non-family members.

 
Face Masks Please visit for the latest face mask requirements.
For all school settings:

• School staff will be required to always wear masks indoors when not actively teaching or communicating with students. Masks are not compulsory for teachers and staff outdoors.
• Students in Year 3 and above must wear a face mask indoors at school and Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) programs, unless a lawful exception applies. Students must wear face masks even if vaccinated. Students are not required to wear masks outside.

• When attending outdoor school camps and excursions, face masks are not mandatory, unless physical distancing cannot be maintained. Face masks must continue to be worn when indoors on camps and excursions.

• Everyone over 8 years old must wear a face mask when travelling to and from school on public transport, taxis or ride share vehicles.
• Visitors to schools aged 8 and above must wear a face mask in all indoor spaces, unless a lawful exception applies.
• Students in Prep to Year 2 are strongly recommended to wear a face mask indoors at school or an OSHC program.

A face mask must cover the nose and mouth. Face shields, scarves or bandanas do not meet these requirements.
 
There are lawful reasons for not wearing a face mask, including for staff and students who are unable to wear a face mask due to the nature of their disability, medical or a mental health condition. Parent/carers of a student/s who meet the criteria for an exception should provide their approval in writing for their child/ren to not wear a mask to the school. There is no requirement for a letter for a medical exception for not wearing a face mask from a medical practitioner.

Hygiene and testing – Practice good hygiene
●All staff, students and visitors to schools will be encouraged to undertake regular hand hygiene, particularly on arrival to school, before and after eating, after blowing their nose, coughing, sneezing or using the toilet. Staff will direct or supervise young students where required.
●Hand sanitiser will be made available at entry points to classrooms. Age-appropriate education and reminders about hand hygiene will be provided. If soap and water are not readily available, hand sanitiser that contains at least 60 percent alcohol will be made accessible.
●Sharing of food is not permitted.
●Use of non-contact greetings (not shaking hands, hugging or kissing) will be encouraged.

Hygiene and testing – keep surfaces clean
Routine cleaning arrangements will continue at AVPS in Term 1, 2022. This involves daily end-of-school-day cleaning, with a particular focus on cleaning and disinfecting high-touch surfaces.
 
AVPS will carefully manage the use of shared equipment. Such items may include shared digital devices, class sets of teaching and learning materials, and musical instruments. If used, strict hand hygiene will be followed before and after use. Risk will be further minimised by frequent hand sanitising and users wiping items where appropriate using disinfectant wipes.
 
AVPS will adjust how staff and students interact within the school environment to reduce contact with certain surfaces. For example, keeping a door open will reduce the need for multiple people to touch the door handle.
 
Digital device management:
●Shared Chromebooks in the P-2 classes will be cleaned using disinfectant wipes prior to and after use.
●Year 3-6 students will be allocated a Digital Device (Chromebooks in 3-4, & Notebooks in 5-6) and encouraged not to share devices. However, disinfectant wipes and sanitiser will be available if needed.
 
Items and resources brought from ‘home to school’ & ‘school to home’
●Books and equipment may not be borrowed from school and taken home.
●Home reading will move to digital platforms and/or students will be encouraged to read their own books.
●Students will, however, be able to access and read books at school and use some equipment. Hand hygiene and cleaning measures will be implemented to mitigate risks.
●Students are to bring essential items to school in their bag and take them home every night – lunchbox, drink bottle, uniform items (e.g., hat), medical items (e.g. asthma preventer), books from home (that return home and are not shared with others)
●Students are not to bring sport equipment or toys to school as the shared use of these increases risks of transmission.

Hygiene and testing – stay home when unwell and get tested 
The most important action school communities can take to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19, is to ensure that any unwell staff and students remain at home and get tested, even with the mildest of symptoms. Everyone should consider their health before starting work or attending school and ensure that they are free from coronavirus symptoms.