Covid-19 Regarding opening of school for learners
-31-May-2020Download
The uploaded letter reads as follow
RE-OPENING OF SCHOOL AMID THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Dear Parents s you all are aware through media reports, the Education Department is opening schools as from 1st June 2020.
Our grade 7 learners will be the first to come back to school. The school has been sanitised and we received the PPE rom the Department. Each grade 7 will at first receive 2 surgical masks as no cloth masks were provided. Every child ill also receive a bar of Dettol soap. We want each child to bring a soap holder with, in which he/she can put their bar of soap for daily use.
When the school opens, school attendance become mandatory and the normal attendance policy is followed. All schools are obligated by law to adhere to this and attendance data has to be submitted to the Department weekly!
It may now be that some parents decide to home school their children. If this is the case, the school must be notified in writing by the parent and then the child will be taken off the register at school.
High Risk factors:
It may be that your child has a comorbidities: Suffering from another illness for example diabetes, a respiratory illness like asthma, a heart condition or any other chronic illness that may place your child at higher risk if Covid-19 is contracted.
These parents have to take the child to a doctor and obtain a certificate from the doctor specifying the illness and prognosis and stipulate that it will put the child at risk and that it would be best for the child not to attend school. It must be handed in at the school.
Parents who are afraid to send their children to school must also communicate their concerns in writing to the school. E-mail address: admin@nellieswart.co.za.
If a child just stays at home without any communication to the school, he/she will be removed from the register within 10 days and a new application process will have to be followed.
We will also provide a letter with health and safety information, prevention, a daily control sheet and procedure to follow when entering the school premises.
At this stage we can inform you that there will be NO extra mural, sport and cultural activities during or after school.
There will not be any after school care facility available and the learners will also not have Physical Education periods during school hours.
The arrangement about the tuck shop will be made during the coming week. Please provide a pre-packed lunch for you child.
We are cautiously optimistic to start the school in these uncertain times.
Once we received our Grade 7 learners, we will then inform you as parents how we will proceed with the teaching. It will either be by dividing the classes or teaching will take place on alternate days. It all depends on the number of educator staff and number of learners that will be present at school.
Be assured that we really take the health and safety of all our staff and learners very seriously.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
Covid-19 Committee:
The school established a Covid-19 Committee headed by the principal. This committee is responsible to see that all safety requirements and protocols are followed to the best of our knowledge.
Communication:
- Our parents are requested to inform the school when a child is sick and or if someone in the household contracted Covid-19.
- The school will inform the parent asap if the temperature (first indication) of the child is too high for further action.
- The daily control form must be truthfully completed by each parent for every day.
Prevention and health:
According to the Department of Health and the World Health Organisation the following prevention measures are the most important:
- Wearing of prescribed masks is mandatory
- Hands must be washed thoroughly at regular intervals
Sanitising of the hands regularly
- Avoid touching the eyes, nose or mouth
Handle the mask correctly
- Cough or sneeze into a bent elbow
- After the use of a tissue, throw it in a dustbin immediately
- Keep a safe distance of 1,5m from other people
- Disinfect areas that are regularly touched
- Dustbins must be regularly emptied
- Do not share stationery, cutlery, crockery or electric devices
Disinfect / Sanitise:
Every one entering the school must first have their hands sanitised. When teachers and learners enter classrooms their hands must be sanitised again.
Measuring of temperature:
Anyone entering the school will be subject to a temperature reading with a non-touch thermometer.
Screening:
According to regulations there will be a thorough recording of the questions on symptoms. All learners, educators and staff information will be recorded and stored. Visitors will answer these questions upon entering the premises and it will be recorded on a register.
The daily control form for learners:
These forms will be issued to all learners and the school expects from the parent to fill this form in every morning, sign it and make sure the learner comes with it to school. No learner will be allowed to enter the school premises without daily control form.
These forms must be filled in truthfully!
The learner will hand this form in where the temperature will be measured. If the temperature is 37,80 or higher, the learner will be put aside for 10-15 minutes and the temperature will be taken again. If the temperature persists, the learner will be placed in isolation and the parent will be contacted immediately to fetch the learner and take him/her to a doctor.
Social distancing:
Learners should be regularly reminded to keep their distance from one another.
Avoid physical contact with any other person. Avoid hand shaking, embracing and or hugs.
Classrooms will have sanitisers so learners and teachers can take responsibility for their own health and that of their personal space.
Posters on good hygiene and other information will be on display.
Procedure when a learner falls ill during school hours:
The learner must notify his/her teacher immediately. His/her temperature will be measured and indicated on his/her control form. The learner will be placed in isolation. The parent will be contacted immediately.
When a learner falls ill with Covid-19:
According to the information from WHO the average time frame for mild Covid-19 cases from infection to recovery is about 14 days, but more severe cases can take three to six weeks.
When infected and positively tested, a person must stay at home in self-isolation or at a hospital for at least 14 days.
After this period or if no symptoms are shown, the person must be tested again. The learner can only come back to school when he/she presents a negative test results from a medical professional.
Kind regards
Mr Vermaak & Mr Rantho