Dear Parents and Carers,

The Premier has announced that from Monday 11 May, 2020, students in Kindy, Prep, Year 1, Year 11 and Year 12 will be able to return to their school and community kindergarten.

For students in Years 2 – 10, the current home-based learning arrangements will remain in place.  If low COVID-19 transmission rates continue, students in Years 2 – 10 will be able to return to school from Monday 25 May, 2020. Confirmation of this step will be made by 15 May 2020. 

Foxwell State Secondary College students in Year 7 should be returning to School on Monday 25 May, 2020.

It is recognised that some parents may choose to keep their child at home due to concerns about COVID-19 and this is respected.  If parents choose to do this, I ask that you notify the school to discuss how we can support you as you continue to home school your child.

Frequently asked questions are available to assist you understand how schools will be implementing the transition back to school-based learning. This includes hygiene practices such as effective hand hygiene, cough and sneeze etiquette, restricting visitors to the school and reminding you to notify our school if your child will not attend.

I ask parents and carers to pay particular attention to the requirement for adults to maintain physical distancing of 1.5m at all times if you need to be on school grounds. Parents and carers should not gather in areas around the school such as carparks or at the school gate during this time. Please make use of our stop, drop and go area wherever possible.

It is essential that you keep your child home from school if they are unwell. In accordance with Queensland Health Directions parents or carers of any child showing signs of illness will be asked to collect them immediately from the school.

Foxwell State Secondary students will continue to receive prepared lessons and materials via home-based learning, as they have over the last two weeks. However, in responding to parent and student feedback, we have made some decisions regarding the inclusion of the Learning Areas of Digital Technology and Healthy World and have decided that it would be in the best interest of our students and community, during this time, to reduce the learning load and so will no longer include these subjects in our weekly learning schedule. This will take effect tomorrow, with no additional work being scheduled in these subjects. There is also no obligation for students to continue to submit work for these subjects. Students will receive a video tomorrow morning from both Mr Anderson and Mr Kerwin which will explain this further. We are busy planning some exciting learning in these subjects for when all our students return to us, hopefully, on May 25. Please be reminded that additional resources are also available at The Learning Place and learning@home website, which includes details about Learning@Home TV programs.

Learning@home TV, is broadcast on channel 7TWO from 8.30–10.30am every Monday, Wednesday and Friday (excluding public holidays) and features Queensland curriculum-based lessons prepared and delivered by some of Queensland’s outstanding school teachers. Content will cover English, Mathematics and Science lessons, along with health and wellbeing segments, and special guest appearances.

In addition, the Department of Education is also launching reading@home TV on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 8.30–9.00am on channel 9GO and coding@home TV on Wednesdays and Fridays from 11.30am to 12.00pm on 10 Peach. Both of these programs begin this week to further support children in their home-based learning.

Again, it is recognised that some parents of students may still wish to keep their children home from school due to concerns about COVID-19. This is an acceptable decision and your child won’t be marked as being absent, rather that they are learning from home.  It is important for parents to advise the school of the student absence as you would normally do, and discuss any support you may need.

In these cases parents and carers remain responsible for their children. This includes ensuring their children stay at home and continue their learning using the material and websites that can be accessed on the learning@home website (qld.gov.au/learningathome).

Our staff have greatly appreciated all the positive feedback that has been provided to them over the last few weeks. My sincere thanks goes to all parents and carers for your support and understanding during these challenging times.

Please see below information provided by the Chief Health Officer.  

Regards

Kym Amor