Beeac school given all-clear to reopen, remote learning still in place

Beeac Primary School has received the all-clear to re-open on Friday after a COVID-19 scare last week.

The school site has been closed after a school community member tested positive for coronavirus.

There are currently five active COVID-19 cases in Beeac’s 3251 postcode area.

In a statement to the school community today, principal Andrew Rogers said DHHS had completed contact tracing and provided specific advice to people who had been in close contact with the affected person.

DHHS has advised that the school can reopen from Friday because appropriate cleaning was complete.

All Victorian schools have reverted to remote learning, except specialist schools. But on-site supervision is available for students whose parents or guardians cannot work from home and where no other supervision arrangements can be made, vulnerable children and any child with a disability based on parent choice.

 

See the school’s full statement below.

 

Reopening 14th August

Dear parents and carers,

I’m writing to update you about the situation at our school, after a members of our school community tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19).

I’d like to thank the entire school community at the outset for your patience and understanding during this difficult time.

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), as the lead health agency, has now completed its risk assessment.

As part of its investigation, DHHS has identified people who have potentially come into close contact with the member of our school community who tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19). It provided direct and specific advice to these individuals and their families about quarantine and looking after themselves.

If you were not contacted by DHHS directly, then you are not considered to be a close contact.

DHHS has also advised the school it can reopen from Friday 14 August now that appropriate cleaning has completed.

Next steps

New arrangements have now come into effect for all schools.

To slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), Stage 3 restrictions now apply for regional and rural Victoria and Stage 4 restrictions now apply for metropolitan Melbourne.

All schools across Victoria have returned to remote and flexible learning, for all year levels, except for specialist schools in rural and regional Victoria, for the rest of Term 3.

On-site supervision in regional Victoria is available for students whose parents/guardians cannot work from home and where no other supervision arrangements can be made, vulnerable children and any child with a disability based on parent choice.

Face coverings are compulsory for all Victorians over the age of 12. The exception to this is students over the age of 12 attending primary school, who are not required to wear a face covering while at school. Further information on the use of face coverings in schools can be found on the DHHS website.

More information
More information regarding coronavirus and schools is available from the Department of Education and Training (DET) on the DET website or by contacting the DET coronavirus (COVID-19) hotline on 1800 338 663 8am to 6pm, seven days a week. If you call them, please be clear that you are calling in relation to Beeac Primary School, and they will provide as much information as they can.

For school information in your language, call TIS National on 131 450. Please ask them to call the DET coronavirus (COVID-19) hotline on 1800 338 663 and they will help interpret.

For health advice in other languages visit www.dhhs.vic.gov.au.

There are also resources and supports available on DET’s coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for parents, carers and guardians page.

I also remind you to please respect the privacy of the member of our school community who tested positive to coronavirus (COVID-19). I am proud to belong to such a caring and supportive school community and I thank you for your understanding at this challenging time.

The school will continue to work closely with both DET and DHHS during this time, and we wish the affected members of our school community a speedy and safe recovery.

 

Yours sincerely,

Andrew Rogers
Principal

Beeac Primary School