COVID-19 Update – Additional Measures

Dear Families,

Following on from my email sent on Tuesday where I indicated that we would be implementing additional measures in response to the announcement of the high caseload settings in place across WA, this email is to let you know of changes that will be in place at Joseph Banks Secondary College from Monday 14 February.

The main purpose of these changes is to limit opportunities for students from different year groups to mingle. The following measures will be in place.

Amending the Structure of the School Day

To complement our existing split Lunch break, a split Recess break will be introduced from Monday 14 February and the College will reallocate year groups, to minimise contact between Middle School and Senior School students during break time. The College Lesson Times for students are published in the table below, and SEQTA will be updated over the weekend to reflect these times on student timetables.

To reduce the number of students entering and exiting the college at the beginning and end of the school day, Senior Secondary students (Year 11 and 12) will have a 10 minute change to their school day.

Commencing Monday 14 February, Year 11 and 12 students will commence at 8:40am each day and finish at 2:50pm, and SEQTA will be updated to reflect these times over the weekend.

This will provide a window for two cohorts to arrive and depart at different times to reduce numbers of students exiting the college at the same time.

Period 1 for Year 11 and 12          8:40am – 9:54am

Period 5 for Year 11 and 12          1:58pm – 2:50pm

Further, in order to reduce crowding in the Senior School reception area, Senior School students with Flexi periods (0/6) will not be required to sign in/out at Senior School. However, if your child chooses to attend school during their Flexi time, they must sign in at the Senior School Reception to notify us they are on site.

College Lesson Times from Monday 14 February 2022

Year 7, 8 and 9		Year 10		Year 11 & 12
P0	8:00am	P0	8:00am	P0	8:00am
P1	8:50am	P1	8:50am	P1	8:40am
Recess	9:54am	P2	9:54am	P2	9:54am
P2	10:16am	Recess	10:58am	Recess	10:58am
P3	11:20am	P3	11:20am	P3	11:20am
Lunch	12:24pm	P4	12:24pm	P4	12:24pm
P4	12:52pm	Lunch	1:28pm	Lunch	1:28pm
P5	1:56pm	P5	1:56pm	P5	1:56pm
Finish	3:00pm	Finish	3:00pm	Finish or P6	2:50pm

During Recess and Lunch, we are encouraging students to remain in an allocated zone.

• Quadrangle – Theatre to Discovery                                      Years 8 and 10
• Grove, North of Solander, Café to Sea Containers               Years 9 and 12
• West of Café and area around Florilegium                            Years 7 and 11

At this stage our Café seated area will remain open, with reduced seating capacity and students in the area must be seated.

Where possible, student entry into classes will be through external doors, and teachers will communicate expectations for this with students from Monday.

Health and Hygiene Practices

A reminder that students should be attending school with their own face mask. The College is unable to provide every student with a new mask each day. Each person has a responsibility to protect themselves and others and therefore staff, students and parents must stay home when sick.

Thank you for your understanding as we take the necessary steps to keep our school safe and open for learning. For more information on the high caseload protocols visit WA.gov.au.

If you have any concerns or queries, please do not hesitate to contact the school on 9303 7400.

Each person has a responsibility to protect themselves and others. We encourage everyone in our community to follow good hygiene principles and practices, such as:

• staff, students and parents staying home when sick;
• adults maintaining physical distance from other adults, where practicable;
• avoiding unnecessary physical contact and physical greetings (e.g. handshakes, hugs);
• covering mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, using a flexed elbow or tissue;
• disposing of tissues appropriately; and
• washing hands regularly for 20 seconds with soap and water or an alcohol-based sanitiser, including prior to meal breaks.

Parent and Onsite meetings

As mentioned in my email from Tuesday, in the current settings, family members can no longer enter classrooms, including to volunteer. Online or telephone meetings for families when needed are encouraged. Attending the school is still permitted, while following the WA Government mask-wearing mandates, and physically distancing from other adults. You are allowed on school grounds for drop-off and pick-up in outdoor locations, but please physically distance, avoid gathering where possible and follow mask-wearing requirements.

I understand that these changes may cause some concern as they are implemented. Staff are aware of the changes and we will work together to ensure as smooth a transition as possible. I thank you for your patience as we work through the requirements to meet current restrictions in place. We are grateful for your support while we endeavour to keep everyone in our community safe and well.

Yours sincerely,

Eleanor Hughes
Principal