Dear CSPS Parents and Carers,
I hope that at the time of sending this message you and your families are safe and healthy, and that you are managing the very challenging circumstances that we all face at present. A big “Hello” to all our children from the CSPS staff! It’s a strange feeling indeed as we look towards this term of flexible remote learning.
I have had online meetings with our Department regional representative and other principals as we wait for advice from the Department of Education and Training (DET). We have been asked to hold off on further detailed communication to our communities until this advice is received.
I wanted to let you know the reason for no further communication at this late stage and thought it sensible to take this opportunity to support your understanding of what lies ahead for our students and ourselves. The Victorian Government is very clear that almost everyone in our community must now be staying at home or working from home to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus. This includes teachers and ancillary school staff. The Government is also clear that from the commencement of Term Two, children who can learn from home must learn from home.
Our teaching staff, who are in home isolation like you, have spent much time over the break, further familiarising themselves with online learning technologies and developing lessons and resources in preparation for online flexible learning from this coming Wednesday April 15th.
I know you may have many questions, however at this point in time, I am unable to provide you with any further information about arrangements for Term 2. Schools are waiting on information from the DET with official advice about the small number of children who might qualify to be supervised at school. I will email the school community as soon as I have been given the official advice.
In the meantime, you may like to visit the Department of Education and Training Learning from Home Website to help you as we head into this period of online learning from home.
I am also seeking feedback from families who don’t have access to digital technologies at home (i.e. access to a device (may be a shared device) &/or the internet) and will need support from the school. Please email: caulfield.south.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au with information regarding your particular circumstances where there is a need so we can work out how best to support you. We have limited resources and will do the best we can to support families where there is no access to a device. There will clearly need to be sharing of resources between children in many families during this time which will require much cooperation and patience.
I hope to be able to forward more comprehensive information to you all over the weekend.
Happy Easter and Happy Passover to those who celebrate these rituals. Despite the challenges, may you all enjoy some family time and reflect as many of us return to appreciating the simpler things in life.
Stay well, safe, patient and at home.
Warmest regards,
Gayle, Bianca and CSPS staff