Answering your mask questions and clarifying new dates      18 October 2021

Every day makes a difference! That was how we all felt yesterday when the end of Lockdown 6.0, and return to school dates, were moved forward.

In reality, the only LPS students affected by the new dates are Year 5 and 6, who will now return to school this Friday, 22 October. The revised table below lists dates for other levels, which have not changed, so Years 3 and 4 still return on Tuesday 26 October (not this week). We're aware that some media reports yesterday were incorrect, so this should clarify dates.

As the Senior School Parents@Webex was planned for Friday 22 October, we have now moved that forward to accommodate the new arrangements. Year 5 and 6 parents, this meeting will now be held on Wednesday 20 October at 2:45 p.m. Invitations for both Middle and Senior School sessions will be sent to parents soon.

Remote and flexible learning will continue to be delivered to students, only on the days they are not scheduled to attend onsite.

*As per Victoria's Roadmap: Delivering the National Plan, the updated dates listed below are indicative dates, subject to Public Health consideration of epidemiology at the time.

Thank you to all those parents who have supported the strong recommendation for Prep - Year 2 students to wear masks at school. It was great to see our Preps settle in so well this morning, with most of them wearing or carrying masks.

Schools have now received detailed information about mask-wearing for students. The letter below is provided by DET to answer parent questions or concerns. The letter covers both primary and secondary school students, as well as metropolitan and regional Victoria.

Dear parents, 

As you know, students will soon begin a staged return to onsite learning to school as announced under the Roadmap.

To support this, the Victorian Chief Health Officer has announced new rules around mask wearing to keep everyone at school safe.

We know that returning to school will look a little different this time and it’s important that we support you and your children with effective ways to keep everyone safe and well.

One of the most important and effective things we can do to help keep students in the classroom is to wear masks to help minimise COVID-19 transmission risk.

When worn properly, masks can play an important role in reducing the transmission risks of Covid-19 that could happen from common activities in school.

Students in Grade 3 and above

• Face masks will be required for secondary students at all times both indoors and outdoors at school, unless a lawful exception applies.
• Face masks will also be required for all school students in Grade 3 and above indoors including at Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) programs, unless a lawful exception applies. Face masks can be removed while outdoors at school for primary students.
• Students in Grades 3 to 6 are required to wear face masks from 18 October 2021. All other students who are required to wear a face mask must continue to do so from the first day they return to onsite learning.
• Face masks will be strongly recommended for Prep to Year 2 students.
• For composite classes of Grade 2 and 3 students, Grade 2 students will be strongly encouraged to wear masks like their Grade 3 peers.
• For students with a disability, parents and carers should speak to the child’s doctor or regular health professional about the best methods to encourage mask wearing. Students and parents can also contact the Disability Liaison Officer program for more information.
• Students with a medical condition or disability that make wearing a face covering unsuitable are not required to wear a mask. [Please advise the school before your child returns if this applies.]
• Face masks are required for students in Year 3 to Year 6 unless an exception applies. Exceptions include students with a physical or mental disability where their disability means it would not be suitable. Parent/carers of  a student/s who meet the criteria for an exception must provide their approval in writing for their child/ren to not wear a mask to the school.

We will try to maximise outdoor learning where possible and offer more recreation and breaks wherever practicable to further support students.

We can work together to support students by having conversations around the importance of masks in preventing COVID -19 transmission and remind them that it’s only for a few days a week.

We have seen through remote learning that friendships are important. We can work together to remind students that wearing masks means they can see their friends and be at school together more often. We also protect our friends and keep them safe.

We encourage you to discuss wearing masks with your children to keep kids in the classroom and minimise COVID-19 transmission risk. The Raising Children Network has resources that can help you with having conversations with your children about wearing masks.

These new changes to wearing masks will come into effect when students return to staged onsite learning from 18 October 2021 in regional and metropolitan schools.

Thank you for your ongoing support in the implementation of these important steps that enable us to return to onsite learning. We look forward to welcoming your children back into the classroom.

We hope this is helpful.

The Victorian Government has also announced full support for the free online 'Fear-less Triple P' online Positive Parenting Program, especially for parents of anxious children. The program aims to help you:

• Get a better understanding of anxiety and fear and what can be done about it.
• Get a whole range of tools and strategies based on proven principles.
• Know what to do when your child is anxious or upset

The same website also has other 'Triple P' parenting program for parents/carers.

If you are interested, just follow the link above.

Stay safe everyone,

Kim