Westville Senior Primary School is ready!
As per notice given by the Department of Education, the staff of Westville Senior Primary School (WSPS) returned to school on Thursday 28 May.
A staff meeting, that included briefing on a comprehensive strategic plan to guide all aspects of our return to school, was held. This is being implemented in conjunction with the Standard Operating Procedures provided by the Department of Basic Education (DBE). We have consulted with medical experts and those already implementing covid-19 protocols in the workplace so that our staff are being trained on the best practices to minimize the risk of virus spread. We are confident that all of our staff are able to educate about, and carry out, the safe hygiene practices required to combat the spread of the covid-19 virus in our school. Our school was ready to receive grade 7 learners on Monday June 1, but as this return of the learners to school has been delayed until June 8, the planning for the journey ahead continues. The outgoing school principal, Richard Brown, whose service at WSPS has been extended, and the current acting principal, Patsy Pillay, commended and thanked the staff at WSPS for their dedication, altruism and professionalism during this challenging time.
The curriculum and dual systems
WSPS has received the revised curriculum framework from the DBE. The teachers are ready to fulfill the necessary requirements to ensure that each learner’s academic year is successfully completed. However, in order to respond effectively to the ever-changing circumstances associated with this pandemic, our approach to curriculum delivery and the academic programme is reviewed weekly.
On return to school on June 1, our teachers made a detailed study of the revised curriculum and it was found that much of the work was already covered during lockdown. As a result, we do believe that learners will be able to comfortably cope with the revised curriculum. We are also confident that they will be ready for assessments at the stipulated time. Management respects the decision made by parents who decide not to send their children back to school, but the online programme which has been running throughout the lockdown will be suspended as each grade returns to school. This is because a full, 5 day school week for all children will commence, and since the classes will be split into 10 groups to facilitate social distancing. Additional teachers will be delivering a full timetable in the classroom, utilising all manpower available. Online presence will therefore not be possible. However, the situation will be monitored, depending on the absence of learners. Online tuition will be considered, especially for children who have comorbidities.
School bags may be brought to school on the first day that the learners return to school, solely to return books and resources that have been used at home during lockdown. Parents are asked to sanitise all equipment and the bags before leaving for school, and no school bags will be permitted at school thereafter. All resources will be at school and there will be no homework sent home for the foreseeable future as homework has been included in the timetable.
Lunch bags
Each learner will require a packed lunch in a labelled and sanitised lunch bag. The tuckshop will not be open for the first week. Arrangements are being made for the tuckshop to prepare hot meals for delivery to learners once their Covid-19 protocols have been finalised.
Break areas
The Grade 7 classes will be split into two groups, and separate fields will be utilized during break times. The fields have clearly demarcated social distancing markers to guide children and staff will be allocated break time supervision duty on a rotational basis.
How many learners are you expecting to return?
Grade 7 teachers have gone onto Zoom to motivate and encourage learners to return and consequently we are expecting most of our grade 7 learners to return to school on Monday June 8. Children have been allocated a desk and chair in a specific teaching venue. Children will be directed to their respective teaching venue after arrival at school on the first day back. There will be no movement of children between teaching venues during the school day.
Infrastructure and sanitation
We are fortunate to have well maintained infrastructure and facilities to enforce the basic health practices required to prevent the spread of Covid-19. With the current phased return of only one grade at a time, class groups have been allocated their own toilets. Alternate basins and urinals are taped off to ensure social distancing. The cleaning and sanitising of the school began on May 4 according to the stringent protocols required of the hygiene sector, and the monitoring of daily cleaning practices has been escalated.
Bathroom cleaning schedules and protocols have been increased. Sanitiser is available in bathrooms, and learners are encouraged to use this on self and handles. These practices will form part of the pastoral education programme. Access to bathrooms will be strictly controlled to avoid congestion.
Thorough sanitising of all classrooms, offices and corridors will be done at the end of each day. Every classroom will be supplied cloth and sanitiser for regular wiping of all desk surfaces and contact points as part of the day’s classroom schedule. Learners are also welcome to bring in their own sanitisers and cloths.
A quarantine area to assist the management of children requiring further screening or possible isolation has been established in accordance with National Department of Health guidelines. Awareness posters have been placed throughout the school to reinforce appropriate health practices.
What measures are being implemented by the school to ensure that social distancing is adhered to outside of the classroom?
Social distancing markers have been painted on the pavement outside the school, on the corridors outside the restroom facilities and on the field where children will sit at break time. Teachers will constantly issue verbal reminders to the learners to adhere to social distancing.
Screening
All staff, children and visitors (by appointment only) to the school will be screened. Learners will arrive at school from 07h00 daily, and are to observe social distancing in a line outside the front gates. They are to stand on ‘demarcation markings’ as they wait to be screened. Parents are encouraged to accompany their child to the front gates, but they will not be granted access to the school premises.
As learners enter school, their temperature will be taken by trained staff and their hands will be sanitised. If the temperature of a learner is higher than 37.5°C they will be sent home with their parent or guardian. If their temperature is above 37.5°C and they cannot immediately be taken home, they will be escorted to the quarantine area and be screened further, bearing in mind the stigmatization policy of the school. Should a learner not pass their screening in the quarantine area, the parent will be contacted to collect them. Learners with a temperature less than 37.5°C are to walk straight to their classrooms where they will again have their hands sanitised before entry.
Supervision of classes from 7am will be in place every morning. Lessons will begin once all learners are in attendance, by 8am. Every day’s lesson will begin with a revision of health protocols and basic screening questions. As more grades return to school, staggered finish times to the school day to assist social distancing will be implemented. Break times will also be staggered and separated areas will be used.
Personal protective equipment
It is mandatory for all children to wear a face mask or visor. Learners who do not have a face mask will be provided with one. Learners are required to alternate their uniform with their PE kit to allow for their clothes to be washed on a daily basis. Sneeze shields have been installed in reception and the administration offices.
The complexities of dealing with the pandemic in a school environment are challenging and we have been diligent in our considerations of how best to create a physical environment which is as safe as possible for both staff and children. The Management and staff at WSPS trust that our children will enjoy being back at school and we urge those still working via the online programme to be patient. Their time to return to school will come.
Caxton Local Media Covid-19 reporting
Dear reader,
As your local news provider, we have the duty of keeping you factually informed on Covid-19 developments. As you may have noticed, mis- and disinformation (also known as “fake news”) is circulating online. Caxton Local Media is determined to filter through the masses of information doing the rounds and to separate truth from untruth in order to keep you adequately informed. Local newsrooms follow a strict pre-publication fact-checking protocol. A national task team has been established to assist in bringing you credible news reports on Covid-19.
Readers with any comments or queries may contact National Group Editor Irma Green (irma@caxton.co.za) or Legal Adviser Helene Eloff (helene@caxton.co.za).
Do you want to receive alerts regarding this and other Highway community news via Telegram? Send us a Telegram message (not an SMS) with your name and surname (ONLY) to 060 532 5409.
You can also join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
PLEASE NOTE: If you have signed up for our news alerts you need to save the Telegram number as a contact to your phone, otherwise you will not receive our alerts.
Here’s where you can download Telegram on Android or Apple.
