As previously advised, the Victorian State Government has announced that Victorian school students will begin a phased return to classrooms.

 Monday, 25 May, will be a student free day to support all school staff to prepare and complete the necessary planning for a successful transition back to school. Remote Schooling will not take place on this day and all students will remain at home.

From Tuesday, 26 May, all Foundation, Grade 1 and Grade 2 students will return to classroom learning.

Students in Grades 3 to 6 will continue Remote Schooling at home until Tuesday, 9 June, except for:

• children of parents who cannot work from home;
• children who are not able to be supervised at home and no other arrangements can be made; and 
• vulnerable children.

If you intend for your child in Grades 3 to 6 to attend on site schooling from 26 May due to one of the reasons listed above, we ask that you continue to contact the office.

On Tuesday, 9 June, all students will return to classroom learning and will be expected to attend St Thomas’ as normal. 

Where parents, guardians or carers choose to keep children home instead of returning them to classroom learning, St Thomas’ will no longer be required to provide a Remote Schooling Program. However, St Thomas’ will endeavour to provide an extended absence work program and your child will be marked as absent from school.

We ask all parents, guardians and carers to keep their child at home if their child is unwell. Upon on arrival to school or during the school day, if your child becomes or is unwell, you will be contacted and required to come and collect your child.

If your child is experiencing signs or symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough or sore throat), it is recommended that appropriate medical advice is sought. Your child should not be sent to school.

We would also like to inform parents that the school will not be conducting temperature checks of students, staff or visitors to the school. Instead, the school will be implementing known controls, such as good hygiene measures.

While medical advice states that physical distancing is not required for students during classroom activities, St Thomas’ will be implementing control measures including:

• designating drop-off/pick-up points for parents
• designating specific play areas
• extending school cleaning programs during the school day, including cleaning school playground equipment after use
• limiting the number of visitors attending the school, including parents.

If parents, guardians or carers wish to meet with a member of staff, please contact the school on 51441332 to make an appointment, or email the staff member directly.

I wish to reassure you that the safety and wellbeing of our school community will remain our highest priority with these and other provisions being made for the safety of students and staff.

I appreciate that the transition to classroom learning will be a challenging time for all and I thank all our parents, guardians, cares and the wider school community for their hard work and support.

Further information is currently being prepared to facilitate the return to classroom learning and will be provided to you as soon as possible. 

If you require assistance or additional support, please contact Anita Little or Allison Arnup.