Update from the Principal

Dear Parents/Guardians,

As you are no doubt aware Dianella SC ESC is open for students as of Wednesday 29 April.

I have condensed some of the available literature for you.

What is the current DoE position on students with special educational needs (SEN) attending schools? The WA Chief Health Officer letter which was sent to all school staff states:

• Schools are safe for staff and students and should stay open
• That school staff and children are not at increased risk of COVID-19 by physically attending school
• That there have been no cases of student-to-student transmission in Western Australia and no cases of student to teacher transmission.
• Students with disabilities are entitled to attend school on the same basis as all students. 
• All parents/carers have the option of keeping their child at home or sending them to school.  This includes students with SEN.  It is advisable to seek medical/DRs advice if you are unsure whether your child should attend school.
• This means that parents/carers are authorised to consider their child’s individual circumstances and needs.  No judgement will be made of anyone who keeps their child at home.
• Tuesday 28 April is a pupil free day for schools.  Students, including students with SEN, will not attend on these days. 
• From Wednesday 29 April all schools are open and parents are able to send their children to school if they wish to. 
• Online packages/SeeSaw will still be in use for children who remain at home.
• PTA (Special buses) and Transperth school buses will be running as usual
• Parents are not permitted on site
• WPL, excursions, incursions.

What Can I do as a Parent?

• Keep sick children at home
• Maintain regular phone/email contact with your child’s teacher
• Follow new staggered start/finish times
• Use the drop off zones for pick up and drop of at the start and end of each day and keep traffic, moving in these zones
• Reinforce Personal Space and COVID- 19 hygiene plans – sent out last term

What we are doing:

• Adhering Health Department WA hygiene practices in our school at all times
• Maintaining Personal Space with all students and staff
• Therapists not attending until week 2 at earliest
• No visitors to site
• No parents at site
• Tribes sessions held in class
• Staggered drop off/pick up times outside the school gates
• Regular contact with parents who choose to keep students at home
• Staggered recess/lunch breaks

 
Kiss and Drive Instructions:

• No parent or their car is to enter school grounds
• Only special buses and staff cars will enter school grounds
• School gates will be manned by Dianella SC ESC Administration Staff each morning and afternoon
• Gates will be locked after the last special bus leaves 
• Parents who drive their child to school will adhere to the parking guidelines and staggered start/pick up times
• Students will be collected form parent’s cars and walked to their classrooms at the start of the day
• Students will be taken from their classroom to their parents’ cars at the appointed time
• The pedestrian gates will be opened at the start and end of each day
• The drop off/Pick up are will be identified by a series of Witches hats – parents are to follow Kiss and Drive rules- that is the child exits the car into the care of the classroom staff and parent drives off
• The staggered start times will be sent out to you via email, Facebook and school website
• NO student should attend site until 8:20 am at the earliest.

Best Wishes,

Jacquie Gellel
Principal
28.4.2020