Something new is mounting, growing

Deep within me, outward surging.

Seed is ripening, sap is flowing;

Power streaming, light emerging.

Fire-spirits sparkle round me, warmth and will-bestowing;

"Sing our fiery song of summer strength!"  I hear them urging. 

Dear GHSS Families,

Bushfire Recovery The whole Denmark community has certainly been rocked by the recent fires and with many of our families displaced from their homes until recently, and 3 of the 4 homes lost coming from within our school community, the impact has certainly been keenly felt within the school.  To all those families, please know that the school community is here and keen to assist in any way they can in the weeks ahead.  Please do not hesitate to be in touch as we have a ready and willing task force to assist in any way needed. 

Thank you to Miranda Miller who has been coordinating support for the Miller and Lund-Brunton families and to Kirsten Lebbing supporting the Barter family.  To those who have been completing wash loads, your assistance has been greatly appreciated. 

There are Meal Trains currently in place for the Miller and Lund Brunton families.  If you would like to help out then follow the links below - 

Lund Brunton Family Meal Train https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/goyl3o 

Miller Family Meal Train https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/3doqel

For those who who would like to make a cash donation to the Lund-Brunton family, you are able to donate to their account at Mitre 10.  If you are donating electronically you must state on your donation that it is for the 'BRUNS FIRE’ account.

The account is BSB: 086595 Account No: 657509012

You can also go in there and donate in person.

Fire Drill  When our Admin upgrade occurred, we fitted out our Adminsitration Block to be the Assembly Point for the school prior to evacuation in the case of a fire.  We are fitted with an excellent fire-safe sprinkler system connected to the large water tank alongside the office building and have installed a TESLA battery that will supply power for the full length of time required to evacuate the site.

We are required to run a fire drill where the staff and children are able to rehearse what to do in the event of a fire threat to the school, if DFES advises us to evacuate.  In light of recent events and given we are still in fire season, it is timely for us to hold such a drill.  We are also mindful that we do not wish for this to be a traumatic experience for those recently impacted. 

Staff will address the fact that we are doing a practice with their classes this week.  We plan to hold the  drill on Thursday and want families to know that they should not be concerned that it was the "real thing" should they hear any reports back.

Interestingly, it is really important for parents to know that in the event of an evacuation occurring whilst they are on site, it is important for them to follow the directions of staff.  This would include accompanying them to the evacuation site to ensure the collection of the children is recorded and then departing the site promptly to ensure the carpark is clear for the turnaround of the bus that will be evacuating staff and students.  Parents are discouraged from coming to the school site in the event of an evacuation as the additional congestion could hamper the efforts of ground crew and evacuation vehicles.  It is also important that parents sign in at the office, first thing upon arriving at the school for any reason other than the usual morning pick up and afternoon drop off.

GHSS and new COVID-19 Restrictions:  As you will be aware a COVID-19 high caseload environment has been declared.  Here is a summary of the new restrictions as they relate to our school and our Parents and Guardians. 

NOTE: There is a degree of uncertainty in how to apply some rules and our school is not alone in navigating this ever changing landscape and feeling some frustration.  We are here to educate and care for children as our primary purpose.  The school policy is to follow the guidelines as a matter of regulation and reputation.  Staff will feel uncomfortable and awkward if they have to remind people of the directions so your support with regard to these restrictions is expected and much appreciated.

Interactions:

1.  Parents and Guardians are to largely restrict their interaction with the school to pick up and drop offs.  This means all gatherings including parent meetings, study groups, choirs, craft groups, play audiences, school assemblies, etc. are cancelled for the time being.  Face-to-face meetings with staff are unable to be conducted at this time.  Please communicate by phone or email.  Staff are also often available on their verandahs at drop off and pick for quick messages, but we ask that parents who avail themselves of this opportunity, remember to have a mask to wear or maintain social distancing.  Home visits are also cancelled at this time. 

2.  Phone or Microsoft Teams/Zoom meetings may be arranged for Parent/Teacher nights or one-to-one appointments with admin/education staff. 

3.  Parents and Guardians are asked not to enter the classroom, including to volunteer, whether they have a mask on or not.

When at School: 

1.  Parents and Guardians are to follow mask wearing mandates and maintain physical distancing from other adults, especially when entering the Front Office.

2.  If you can’t maintain physical distance outdoors, please wear a mask. 

3.  Early Childhood parents and guardians are asked to drop off and pick up children from outside the kindy classroom, including the foyer area. 

4.  Primary School parents and guardians are asked to collect children from the area outside the class verandahs or, where children are old enough, direct them to meet on the oval or at the car park.

5.  In Early Childhood, if it is necessary to enter the classroom for a child’s needs, a mask should be worn. 

6.  If a staff member asks to see a mask exemption, please have a copy of the doctor’s letter ready.  Please don’t put school staff in a position of having to bring these matters to a conflict.  Creating conflict or passive aggression doesn’t show goodwill, compassion or support for their primary purpose as staff members focussed on education and care for children. 

Programmes and the Curriculum:

1.  Separate from the school, Playgroup, are following a special process in working with the rules.  Please follow the guidance of the group leader.  Masks must be worn indoors at Playgroup.  Most activities will take place outdoors.  Outdoors, masks will be required when adults are in close proximity (less than 1.5m from other adults), even when outdoors.

2.  Overnight camps are postponed until further notice.  We will try to run camps later in the year. 

3.  Excursions will continue  at this stage.  Additional guidelines around excursions will be communicated at the time of organising.

4.  All interaction between year levels is being minimised, especially indoors.  This means no buddy classes and no assemblies.  A single year level ensemble, choir, recorder, instrumental class, etc. will continue.  Rules around singing will be observed to reduce the spread of the virus and no multi-year singing will occur.

5.  No out of school social events for classes will be run at this time without much consideration and in reference to the rules at that time.

6.  In the event a rule is introduced that masks must be worn for students in Year 3 and up, teachers will treat this as an adventure and support them.  Children are resilient and need adults to reassure them that they can cope.

7.  Only a letter from a GP can be used for an exemptions and this needs to be provided from the parent, to the class teacher and lodged with the front office so a record can be be kept to inform other staff. 

8.  Attending school for:

• the education and skill development, 
• the social development and interactions and 
• physical growth and development 

is important for a child.  Not attending school due to mask wearing is highly discouraged for those reasons. 

This is a link to an article that speaks to the issue of Masks and Vaccinations from a Steiner education perspective. https://pws.wa.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Reflections-on-masking-and-COVID-vaccination-in-children.pdf 

1.  Community Service and other off-site activities will be held where possible and restrictions will be managed on a case-by-case basis.  Our aim is to ensure all the usual offerings of the school experience are provided or alternatives are explored. 

2.  If children cannot be at school as a result of the rules around isolating, etc. teachers have been asked to prepare work for them.  In the event that many school staff are absent, classes will be managed to the best of the school’s ability.  The school’s Duty of Care to the children remains our highest priority.   

In the event of infections:  

1.  The official advice to the school is that “in the event of a positive case being identified we should notify the Department of Health and follow their directions”.  That is what we will do.  All action plans etc. will be subject to that advice. 

2.  The current definition of close contact with a positive case in a school includes: 

• face-to-face contact for 15 minutes or more with an infectious person, where a mask was not worn by the exposed person or the person with COVID-19;
• interaction for more than two hours in a small indoor space or interaction for more than two hours in a classroom environment with an infectious person, where masks have been removed for this period; or
• someone who is directed by WA Health that they are a close contact.

3.  Please remember to keep children at home if they are feeling unwell.  If you or your children have any COVID-19 like symptoms, get a COVID-19 test and remain at home until a negative COVID-19 test result is received. Symptoms are: 

• Fever or recent history of fever (eg night sweats, chills) without a known source, OR
• Acute respiratory symptoms (including cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, runny nose) OR
• Acute loss of smell or taste.

Please keep your Teacher and/or the office informed of your situation so we have up-to-date information.  Further information can be found at www.healthywa.wa.gov.au.

The school is striving to meet the guidelines and directives.  With limited relief staff, all of this is in an effort to ensure we are able to remain operating and can manage the impact upon our staff and families when the spread begins through our community.  We sincerely appreciate your patience and understanding.  The school has a number of vulnerable staff and some students who need your support at this time, physically and emotionally.  Please show care, respect and love for one another. 

Kind regards,

Jacqui Hollingworth

Principal