Coronavirus (Covid-19) Update for Families

16/03/2020

Dear Parents/Carers and members of the David Scott School community,

I write to you to provide you with an update about the Novel Coronavirus and its impact on the operations of our school as the safety, health and welfare of our students, staff and families continues to be our highest priority.

The David Scott School’s response to managing the virus continues to be informed by the regularly updated advice provided by the Australian Government Department of Health www.health.gov.au and the Victorian Government Department of Health and Human Services.  www.dhhs.vic.gov.au

In the interests of your family, our school and the wider community we urge you to regularly revisit the Government Health departments’ websites and adhere to the advice provided; specifically:

• People with Coronavirus may experience fever, flu like symptoms such as coughing, sore throat and headaches and have difficulty breathing. We have asked our students and staff to stay at home until fully recovered should they or their regular contacts present with these symptoms. Similarly, if you experience these symptoms, we ask you not to visit the School or attend School events until you have recovered from the illness.

• DHHS advice is that students, staff and close community members should self-isolate from the School if the person is a confirmed case of COVID-19 or if the person is a close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the past 14 days.

• Continue to practise good personal hygiene. You should wash your hands frequently with soap and water, before and after eating, and after going to the toilet, cover your cough and sneeze, dispose of tissues, and use alcohol-based hand sanitiser and if unwell, avoid contact with others.

Whilst we appreciate the anxiety that exists in the school and wider community, the government Health Departments advise a common-sense approach, and this is one we will continue to follow. David Scott School staff will continue to carefully monitor our students and staff, and those who present with flu like symptoms will be immediately sent home and instructed to seek, and adhere to, medical advice.

Until advised by the relevant health authorities, our school program will continue to run, notwithstanding some adjustments to regular operations. To limit unnecessary exposure for our school community, all remaining scheduled school excursions for Term 1 will not proceed. Similarly, given the food shortages currently being experienced, we will be unable to provide our regular lunch service to students. We will endeavour to provide nutritional food for as long as able but encourage families to supply students with alternatives sourced from home.

If health authorities advise the school of the need to close temporarily, please be reassured that our staff will do everything practicable to provide support for the continuation of student learning. This may include using email and the School’s on-line learning portals, however teachers will also be available via telephone. These arrangements will be outlined in more detail should this situation eventuate.

I trust students and families will exercise, patience, understanding and flexibility which are required under these unique circumstances. The impact of the coronavirus is of concern to all of us. However, to avoid any unnecessary distress to our school community, I ask that we remain calm, keep the situation in perspective and be reassured by our plans that have been informed by government Health Department advice.

We will continue to keep you informed of any significant developments. Please do not hesitate to contact the school office on 8781 5911 should you wish to discuss any aspect of the school’s arrangements further.

Take care and look out for each other,

Catherine Arnold

David Scott School Principal