As responses to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) impact on our daily activities at school, work and in the community, I would like to take this opportunity to update and inform you as we continue teaching and learning whilst maintaining the health and wellbeing of our students and staff.

Firstly, I would like to express my sincerest gratitude for the positive attitude and support of the staff and school community here at Jarrahdale Primary School as we take actions to support statewide and nationwide efforts to minimise the potential spread of coronavirus.  Jarrahdale Staff continues to provide excellent teaching and learning in their classrooms and support the health and wellbeing of students and colleagues.

Currently, the Department of Education has a business as usual approach to schools, and at this stage, we will remain open through to the end of term one to support students whose parents choose to send them to school. 

As per usual, if your child is unwell or showing signs of a cold or flu, please keep them home until they are well and notify the Office.  If students become unwell during the school day, we will also continue to notify you. 

Please be aware that every family context and situation is different. Some families are choosing to send their children to school, some may have no choice due to their work arrangements. Some families are self-isolating for medical reasons on advice from their health practitioner, and some are choosing to keep their children home to minimise perceived risk.  These are every parent’s personal choices and individual to each family’s circumstances, and in these testing times, it is vital that we respect and support each other, as we come to grip with a new ‘normal’ way of life at the present time.

Please understand that our teachers first priority continues to be classroom learning. For students that are at home, for whatever reason, teachers are updating Connect weekly with the topics and focus of learning, and there are many educational websites.  The Department of Education have now released Learning at home, a website for Kindergarten – Year 10 students, full of resources, activities and information to help children and young people continue to learn while at home.  https://www.education.wa.edu.au/en/learning-at-home

Students will be asked to fill their water bottles from the drinking fountain and not drink directly from them, to minimise saliva and surface contamination. Parents, could you please continue to ensure your child has a water bottle at school. As per usual, students are also reminded not to share their food with others at school.

As we are now moving into the flu and cold season and some of us have coughs and colds, we are also asking that parents, families and siblings ‘drop off and pick up’ children from the classroom door as much as possible.  This minimises the risk of our teachers and other students catching the normal bugs and germs that are going around at the moment. 

As always, I am available and happy to answer your questions or address any concerns that you may have, so please don’t hesitate to contact me.  Please continue to monitor our school and your child’s Connect page for future updates and information.

Cherie Dobbs

Principal