FORTNIGHTLY MARCH 20TH 2020

FORTNIGHTLY

   KAIRI STATE SCHOOL
      NEWSLETTER
                MARCH 20TH 2020

Welcome everyone to this week’s edition of our newsletter. We have worked at getting
this edition out a little earlier than normal to try to answer any question you may have
regarding the ever-changing dynamics around COVID-19 and our school.

COVID-19

In this edition, we have included a section dedicated to COVID-19 and our response as a
department and as a school community. Please read on further for that information.

Bus

The school bus has been ordered! (Yay). It will arrive hopefully over the next couple of
weeks depending on any issues surrounding Coronavirus. Exciting times ahead. Please be
patient as we work through the logistics of a possible route, paperwork etc.

P&C AGM

I would like to thank all who came to our P&C AGM last week, especially to our new
members. I would also like to congratulate our 2020 executive committee that includes
President Danielle Pauline, Vice Presidents Cliff Pearce & Cirsty Kidner-Bonadio, Treasurer
Kim Cannan and Secretary Loretta Wessel. I look forward to another year of improving the
education of our students by having a strong relationship with our P&C and wider
community.

Enjoy the rest of the week with your family 

Matt Andrews

Principal

Harry and Analise travelled to Tinaroo Environmental Education Centre as our school captains
to take part in a leadership camp. At the camp, our two students learnt about essential
leadership skills that will help them as leaders and as people. Analise and Harry planned
ahead, thinking about how they can help our students, staff and wider school community.
Well done Harry and Analise!

Dear Parents and Students,

I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself. My name is Danielle and I am the incoming
President of the Kairi State School P and C Committee. For those of you who don’t know us (although I am
fairly certain most do!) my son Harry is currently in year 6 and has been at Kairi since Prep.

I would also like to take this opportunity to issue a massive thank-you to the outgoing president Debbie
Scrivens who has worked tirelessly for the last few years to help make Kairi the best possible environment
for our children. Debbie, your efforts have been incredible and we hope that this year you can have a year
that is just a touch more restful! You are appreciated beyond measure!

The P and C Association play an integral part of the school community and a huge part in many of the
decision making processes for our school. This year we want to encourage as MANY people as possible to
come along and have a say about our children’s education and the future of our school. Our meetings are
fun, social and it is a great way to keep abreast of what is happening at school! We would love to see your
faces at a meeting or two!

I would also like to take this opportunity to introduce our P and C executives for 2020:

President: Danielle Pauline

Vice President/s: Cliff Pearce and Cirsty Kidner Bonadio

Treasurer: Kym Cannan

Secretary: Loretta Wessel

Tuckshop Convenor/s: Melinda Pensini and Leanne Godfrey

Feel free to message me or email me with any suggestions, ideas or concerns that you may have that you
wish to be raised during the course of the year! We would love to hear your ideas on possible fundraisers,
events and the like. My email is d.pauline82@gmail.com.

We look forward to an exciting and eventful year building this beautiful school community of ours!

Kind Regards,

Danielle 

IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER
                            PLEASE READ CAREFULLY AND TAKE NOTE
Please take note that the Staff Carpark is NOT to be used to drop
off or collect your student/s, also please let your students know
that the Staff Carpark is NOT a walk way.

Last week there was an incident where a parent had parked their
car in the Staff Carpark and their student/s were walking through to
the car and not paying attention. A Staff member was reversing
their car and had to stop quickly so as not to collide with the
student.

            The Staff Carpark is for Staff Only
   Please park on Walker Street if the main
                                   spots are taken
                                        ooo000ooo

                CORONAVIRUS – COVID -19

                 Notice from CommBank School Banking
The health, safety and wellbeing of our communities and our people is our first priority. Due to the rapidly
developing situation with coronavirus, School Banking has been temporarily paused from 20 March 2020
until the start of Term 2. Please don’t bring your deposit book with your weekly banking into school and
we will notify you when banking will recommence.

 All outstanding Library books are to be returned
            before Friday 20th March.

COVID-19 Update – Kairi State School
      Departments Response
      Our response
      Procedures
      Upcoming Events
      Possible future scenarios
Departments Response

As we are a Queensland State School. Our response to COVID-19 relies on directions given to me (as
principal) by the Director General. We are currently being provided updates daily on the situation. I have
included a couple within this newsletter for your perusal.
The following article was provided by the Department of Education

The following article was written by the Chief Health Officer regarding school closures

Our Response

Strict Hygiene Measures

Students in all classes have been taught how to implement stringent hygiene measures. What we are
implementing at Kairi follows advice from Queensland Health and I will include posters of the steps we are
using below.
More Washing Stations

We are moving to provide more washing stations for students to wash hands before school, before lunch,
after lunch and other moments throughout the day. The P&C have been generous in backing the school
with this issue.
Sick Children to stay home/Be sent home
Again, I must plead with you all to keep your sick child at home. Even if they are just a little ill, they can
pass on illnesses very easily. If a child presents unwell at school. You will be notified immediately to come
and collect your child.
Implementing Directives
All general public directives that have been provided will enacted with as much fidelity as possible. Social
distancing is a struggle with children. The more you educate your child at home in regards to how to stay
socially distant from someone, the easier it is for us to implement here at school as well.

Hygiene Procedures
The following steps are provided by the Australian Government and will be taught and implemented
throughout Kairi School. Please teach and use at home as well.

Upcoming Events
The most immediate event that has been postponed is our school cross country. This is in line with all
district sporting events that have also been postponed.
Assemblies will now be presented Monday morning in each classroom to hand out awards and share news
etc.

Voting for the upcoming election is to be held at our school on the 28th March. At this stage that is still be
going ahead. In terms of a cake stall being held on that day, a decision has yet to be made, details to be
sent home as they come to hand.
Lunches at this stage are all still going ahead as normal. The latest advice restricts gatherings of more than
100 people indoors and 500 people outdoors.

Possible Future Scenarios
School closures at the moment look to be unlikely. The advice as you have seen here is leading towards
keeping schools open for as long as possible. If you wish to keep your child at home due to concerns
around COVID-19 please let us know.

In the unlikely instance that our school does close. All staff have started putting plans in place to provide as
much of the content as possible online. This includes:

       Setting up class emails to allow for easier communication and the sending of resources.
       Multiple online learning companies are providing free online content during this time, which we
        will look to utilise.
       Using the departments online resources (The department is putting together a range of resources
        for schools to use during this time)
       Continuing to use our online homework programs in the older grades
       Also including extra texts for your child to read at home
If you or anyone you know is returning from an overseas trip can you please let us know. As the current
advice will mean that you and your children would need to self-quarantine for at least 14 days before
returning to school.

Questions
Please feel free to call, email or come in and ask any questions that you may have about how our school
are handling the difficulties faced with COVID-19 going forward.

If you enjoy learning about nature, join us at

                               LAKE EACHAM NATURE KIDS CLUB!
                             Nature based activities for 7 -10 year olds.
              Come and learn about the flora, fauna and ecology of the Wet Tropics!
                                 Bookings are essential! 4091 8102
Where: Lake Eacham Picnic Area
When: Wednesday afternoons. Program will run for 6 weeks: 20 May–24 June. Topics will include
Frogs, Awesome Possums, Rainforest Explorers, Fungi and Lichen, Beaks and Feet and Terrific Trees.
Time: 3:45 – 5:15 pm
Cost: Free
Activities are run by the Tableland National Park Volunteers along with Queensland Parks and
Wildlife rangers. Please note that volunteers possess ‘Working with Children’ Blue Cards. Parents
are welcome to stay for the sessions if they wish.
For further information and to enrol, contact Jodie 4091 8102 or email Jodie.eden@des.qld.gov.au.
As we only take 15 children per program, please enrol early to secure a place!