Dear Parents and Caregivers
As a whole school community – teachers, students and families – we have been working together to proactively respond to the challenges of COVID–19.
Our key focus has been to provide continuity of learning at Thornlie SHS as we completed this term, a week earlier than planned.
This week teachers and support staff have remained on site to fully prepare for the changes ahead of us next term.
We are committed to providing students with continued access to quality learning and teaching experiences and pastoral care support as we respond to the COVID -19 pandemic. We will be using CONNECT and Work Packages to assist ALL students to engage, inspire and achieve their best until we can all officially return to the classroom.
As at 6 April, the Director General has informed schools that teachers will be on site for the start of Term 2. The majority of students will recommence their schooling on Wednesday 29th April 2020 via remote learning.
Remote Learning Guides for students have been emailed and posted home to all families.
Our approach to learning in 2020 is now a multi-faceted, flexible model – this means that teachers and students will be using different methods of teaching and learning next term.
Students will have access to:
- Online resources from a range of technology platforms (Connect, Office 365, WebEx).
- Student Work Packages with support from their family at home (only if there is no access to technology).
- And/or in the Classroom (as directed by the Health Department and Department of Education)
Parents of students requiring a Work Package at the commencement of Term 2 are invited to contact the school via Thornlie.SHS@education.wa.edu.au or by telephoning 9376 2101 during school office hours.
Teachers and support staff will return to the school site on Tuesday 28 April 2020 for the commencement of Term 2.
Students will commence remote learning via Connect or Work Packages on Wednesday 29 April 2020.
Stay Home, Stay Safe,
Mrs Donna McDonald
Principal
April 7th 2020
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The last day of this term for Thornlie SHS is now Friday 3 April 2020.
Teachers will be engaged in professional learning and working onsite until Thursday 9 April.
We will supervise students from Monday 5 – Thursday 9 April if their parents require our assistance.
For the official letter from the Minister of Education, click here.
Regards
Donna McDonald
Principal
March 27th 2020
As we work through the challenges of responding to COVID 19 together, we trust the information on this page and the school’s webpage will support your child’s continued learning over the coming weeks. http://www.thornlieshs.wa.edu.au/covid-19-important-information/
Thornlie SHS is here for all of our students.
Over the remaining weeks of this term we are providing normal lessons for students who are attending school. We are also using CONNECT and a range of other platforms to support students needing to study from home.
We are continuing to run all classes as normal until Friday, April 3rd 2020.
In the last week of term, all students attending school will be provided with supervision and engaged in activities until Thursday 9 April 2020. A limited menu will be offered by our School Canteen.
Classroom teachers are working hard to expand the range of online curriculum resources for your child to access in Term 2.
Please contact the school on 376 2100 or ThornlieSHS@education.wa.edu.au should you have any concerns that you need our assistance to resolve.
Yours faithfully
Donna McDonald
Principal
March 26th 2020
| RESOURCES AVAILABLE
Preparing to Learn from Home guide – click here Parent/Student ICT Information guide – click here Department of Education – Learning at home – click here Need Extra Mobile Phone Data – click here Refurbished Computers – click here Laptop Hire – click here Department of Education Update – click here Interim Reports letter – March 23rd 2020 – click here Follow us on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/thornlieshs |
Dear Staff and Students
Above you will find a series of communications and links to resources to assist in this unprecedented time in our global history as we respond to Covid-19.
We are here to help students continue their learning program be it at school or from home. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you need any additional support or advice, 9376 2100.
Students are currently welcome to attend school as normal. Parents choosing to educate their child at home using technology will find the resources below of assistance.
Kind Regards
Donna McDonald,
Principal
Thornlie.shs@education.wa.edu.au
March 24th 2020
Current as at March 24th 2020
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Facebook post – March 17th 2020
Health Department link – translated information
Factsheets – managing the Anxiety around Covid-19
Fact_Sheet_Building_Resilience (2)
SEL in times of stress- COVID-19pdf2020
APS – Tips for coping with coronavirus anxiety
Email letter sent home 13th March 2020
Dear Parents/Caregivers
While the situation regarding the COVID-19 continues to evolve, the Department of Education sector has established plans and a team to support principals and schools. It is important that as a school community we apply common sense, factual information and a practical approach to COVID – 19.
If a WA school has to close due to a confirmed case, it will be on advice from the WA Health Department’s Chief Health Officer. The Chief Health Officer will, if there has been a positive COVID-19 test result in our school, close our school temporarily while assessment and tracing of exposure is conducted. A thorough school clean will then be carried out to make the school safe for the return of students and staff.
In this situation the principal will receive direct advice and support regarding the closure process and communication materials from the Department of Education’s Coronavirus support team.
Upon the school being notified, all families will be immediately contacted and provided with the relevant information. This contact may be during the school day, or before or after school. It is therefore important that we have up-to-date contact details for your children, please notify the front office if these have changed.
Parents will also be advised of the extent to which class work can be completed at home during this temporary closure and provided with the details of how this will work.
While it is acknowledged that this may be a stressful time for the community, parents are reminded that schools open and close all of the time and that the reason for any school closure will be to ensure the safety of all students and staff.
How to minimise the spread of COVID-19
- Frequently washing your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water, or using an alcohol based hand gel
- Refraining from touching mouth and nose
- If coughing or sneezing, covering your nose and mouth with a paper tissue or flexed elbow
- Dispose of the tissue immediately after use and perform hand hygiene
- Avoiding close contact with anyone if you, or they, have a cold or flu-like symptoms (maintain a distance of at least 1 metre).
Who cannot attend school – advice as at 11 March 2020
Students or staff cannot attend school and need to self-quarantine if they have:
- left or transited through mainland China in the last 14 days, they must isolate themselves for 14 days from the date of leaving mainland China;
- left or transited through Iran on or after 1 March, they must isolate themselves for 14 days after leaving Iran;
- left or transited through the Republic of Korea, on or after 5 March, they must isolate themselves for 14 days after leaving the Republic of Korea;
- left or transited through Italy, on or after 11 March, they must isolate themselves for 14 days after leaving Italy. People who left or transited through Italy prior to 11 March, should monitor symptoms and seek medical attention should they feel unwell; and
- been informed by public health authorities that they have been in close contact with a confirmed case of coronavirus, they must isolate themselves for 14 days after the date of last contact with the confirmed case.
Returning from Travel:
| Higher Risk | Moderate Risk |
| Must isolate for 14 days prior to attending | Can attend school, but self-monitor |
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All other countries |
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Students or staff who have been tested for COVID-19 should follow the advice of the Department of Health and stay away from school whilst awaiting results.
COVID-19 symptoms
People with COVID-19 may experience:
- fever;
- flu-like symptoms such as coughing, sore throat and fatigue; or
- shortness of breath.
For the latest health information and health related enquiries please visit WA Department of Health or access the helpline 1800 020 080.
COVID-19 testing
The WA Chief Health Officer, Dr Andrew Robertson, has advised people should not go to be tested for COVID-19 to either COVID Clinics or GPs unless they are currently experiencing symptoms and meet the testing criteria.
To be eligible for testing people must:
- be currently experiencing symptoms such as fever, cough or sore throat AND have
- returned from overseas travel in the last 14 days
- OR be currently experiencing symptoms, and be a contact of a confirmed case
- OR be currently experiencing symptoms and believe they have been in close contact with a person infected with COVID-19.
Donna McDonald
Principal
13 March 2020