Dear Parents
I write this whilst I reflect on the world, our country and our school. And I have to pause and consider how we as a school, and through no fault of our own, have moved from a place of growth, development and expectation in May, to our current position of financial threat, survival, anxiety and uncertainty. All this in the short time frame of 60 days. And a situation that faces schools across the country and indeed echoed by a number of my colleagues in the UK, USA and India. Through all this, we as a school have remained positive, have adapted our craft and ensured that the welfare, safety and academic progress of our pupils is front and centre in all we do. This has not been easy and continues to present challenges every day, and every day we find ourselves confronting new and unfamiliar complications.
We are developing and implementing a greater online/remote teaching capacity which will support our current program. (I do welcome comments from parents regarding the effectiveness of the program and suggestions that will assist our parents in the remote teaching of their children.) This development will come at a cost to the school which we will endeavour to carry. However, the payment of school fees remains essential to our function without which we are unable to continue to offer a quality service to you and this may impact on the progress of your child at the end of the year – a situation we will do everything in our power to avoid.
On Monday 8th we welcome back four Grades. Grades 11,6,3, and 2. We have sent out a WhatsApp measure to the effect but I will repeat it here and ensure that its available on our website. The DBE has provided written approval for our deviation from the approved phased reopening which is also on the website for your information. Download here. Please familiarise yourselves with the Standard Operating Procedures for the different school venues.
Dear Parents
We will be moving forward with our phased reopening of the school and will welcome back the Grade11’s Grade 6’s and Grade 3’s and Grade 2’s on Monday. Please note the following important information for Primary, High school and
Foundation Phase parents.
All Parents
- School hours are from 06h30 to 14h00 High/Primary schools and 06h30 to 12h30 for the Foundation Phase. Learners may not be in or around the school before or after these times unless private arrangements are made for extra lessons.
- There will not be any morning assemblies.
- Social distancing, regular handwashing and the wearing of masks will be enforced at all times. Face shields may not be worn as a replacement for a mask.
- All persons entering either of the schools will be subject to a screening process which includes standard sanitsing and recording of temperature. Protocols will be explained to learners when they arrive.
- Learners with temperature above 37,7°C will be sent home as will learners showing any symptoms of a fever, flu or chest infection. Do not allow any ill children to come to school.
- Any child who has a medical condition must communicate this to his/her teacher.
- Gloves are discouraged as they have proven not to be effective for the protection against the Covid-19 virus. No children may wear gloves to school.
- Each learner will be provided with two face masks
- Learners must complete the Covid-19 indemnity form which they will receive on the first day back at school, and have it signed by a parent or guardian. They must also complete and return the health questionnaire, transport permit and the permit to attend school. Please ensure that these are returned (signed) to school the following day when your child returns to school as they are legal requirements.
- Although we are opening the school for Grade 12, 11 and Grade 7,6, 3 and 2 no child is compelled to return to school. Ideally we would like as many of our learners back at school as soon as possible so that we can start getting back into routine, but we do understand that there are other circumstances to consider when making this decision.
- There may be no sharing of stationery
- Learners are encouraged to bring their own wet wipes.
- We will continue to offer the online remote learning at the same time as in-class instruction for those who return. I do urge you however, that if you choose for your child to come back to school that you stay with this choice (your child’s health not withstanding), so that we know how many children we need to prepare for each day.
- The school will be cleaned daily and high traffic areas on a regular basis
- We are not permitted to open the tuck shop at this stage
- Please pack a healthy lunchbox for your child as they are not allowed to share food
- Learners will not be able to make use of the lockers, however, they will be permitted to remove items and empty the lockers.
- Learners are not required to wear uniforms but must have a clean set of clothes every day
- Learners who are unable to wash hair daily (Girls with Braids) must keep their hair covered with some form of headdress ie a beanie
- High School and Primary School
- Grade 6’s to enter through the back Gate in Domba Street and Grade 11’s through the black side gate and staff through parking entrance.
- Our conversion to an online school and now back to a normal school hasn’t been easy. However, there is no doubt in my mind that the true heroes are the teaching staff! They willingly and enthusiastically agreed to learn a new way of teaching, which included learning new systems. Going forward we will implement a more structured online schooling program which will follow the current school timetable
Foundation Phase Parents
- Please use the small gate for Grade 2 Learners
- Please use the large gate for Grade 3 Learners
- Please be extra vigilant when dropping off and collecting children
Feel free to contact the school if you have any questions or need any further information.
Regards
Brian Dawson
Important Dates
Please note: We will have school on Monday 15th and will be welcoming the next cohort of learners to the school. We will not have school on Tuesday 16th and will resume again on the 17th June.
Revised Term dates for the June Break. In order to limit the loss of academic time but allow learners a few days to relax and have a break from the online program, they will be given 5 school days’ holiday at the end of June
Second Term Ends 26 June and Third term opens 6 July
We all look forward to welcoming back the next cohort of learners and the further roll out after that. Please be mindful that as more and more learners return, we may have to adjust the online and classroom teaching programs to ensure that at all times we are compliant with prescribed COVID-19 health and safety protocols.
As always, stay safe, stay in touch and have a great weekend
Regards
Brian
