On behalf of our College, I want to say a big thank you to all our students, parents and carers for your continued resilience and support throughout this year. I know remote learning has not always been easy, but through our collective efforts, our students have continued to make valuable progress in their learning. You can be confident that our College will support any student who has fallen behind to catch up.
Term 4 is important for every student, and our teachers will strive to deliver high-quality learning for everyone. Whether we’re teaching remotely or face-to-face, our focus for Term 4 is on making sure that every student is supported in their wellbeing, learning, spiritual and transition needs.
The Victorian Government has outlined the staged return to on-site schooling for all students as part of its gradual roadmap towards reopening.
Term 4 on-site schooling arrangements for students
Following advice of the Victorian Chief Health Officer, the Victorian Government has released a staged approach for students to return to on-site schooling.
The purpose of the plan is to get students back in the classroom as soon and as safely as possible without putting at risk all that has been achieved through the period of restrictions to reduce the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).
From 12 October (second week of Term 4)
- students in Prep to Year 7 will return to on-site schooling. The existing remote learning program will not continue for these year levels
- Students enrolled in years 11 and 12 (and students in Year 10 undertaking VCAL or VCE Assessments will attend on-site schooling)
- remote learning will continue for all students in Year 8 to Year 10
- on-site supervision will remain available for students in Year 8 to Year 10 who are the children of permitted workers and vulnerable students.
From 26 October (third week of Term 4)
- students in Year 8 to Year 10 will return to on-site schooling. The existing remote learning program will not continue for these year levels
Health and safety measures
As on-site schooling resumes, we will continue to have in place strong measures to protect the health and safety of students, staff, families and the community. This includes the compulsory wearing of masks, staggering finish times, restricting parent access to school grounds and continued emphasis on hand hygiene and physical distancing where possible.
Please give particular attention to reducing the risks associated with congregation at school gates and taking steps to contribute to physical distancing within the school.
Whether your child is, or children are, returning to face-to-face learning or will be continuing with remote and flexible learning for a short period, please be assured we will be focused on three key priorities in Term 4:
Mental health and wellbeing
Our highest priority will be the wellbeing, particularly the mental health, of every student and member of staff. This means effectively mobilising all available resources to support our most vulnerable students and enabling staff to access the relevant support services.
Learning and excellence
Some of our students have thrived in the remote learning environment, others have maintained their learning progress, and some have fallen behind, despite their best efforts and those of their families and teachers. Our priority will be supporting both those who need it to catch up and those who have progressed to continue to extend their learning.
Transitions
We know some families are worried that their child may have to repeat a year due to the disruptions of coronavirus (COVID-19). There is little evidence to support the benefits of repeating a year to catch up. Instead, schools will use teaching strategies that draw on the best evidence available to help students meet their learning needs. Parents, families and carers can be confident that the best option for almost every child is to remain with their current peer group.
Our College, working with you, has shown it can be flexible and adaptable in responding to the challenges of coronavirus (COVID-19) and will continue to meet student needs as we look towards the end of the 2020 school year and ahead to 2021.
Included are the ‘Term 4 Return to Onsite Learning Student Health & Safety Guidelines’ and ‘Term 4 Return to School Quick Guide’, similar to those implemented during the previous return to school. Please take the time to read through them with your child and contact the College if you have any questions.
Below is the link to a recent video message from Mr Jamie Madigan – Principal.
We are looking forward to re-connecting with the students face-to-face and finishing the year as a community working together.
Staffing News
We wish our College Counsellor Eloise Sternar all the best, as she begins her maternity leave awaiting the birth of her first child.
We also warmly welcome back to the CRCCS community, Michelle Edwards (Kugele) (First Aid Officer/Receptionist) who is returning from maternity leave.
AFL Grand Final public holiday
A reminder that Friday 23 October is the AFL Grand Final public holiday. No classes will be held on this day and the College will be closed.
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