The aim of this page is to provide the TAS community with the latest updates in relation to the School’s management and response to COVID-19, all in one place.
Only the most recent updates will be stored here to ensure you and your family can access the most relevant information as quickly as possible.
Whilst we had hoped that it was not something that we would need to implement again, we have worked hard to put a contingency plan in place in order to ensure that the education of our students is not affected if:
(i) TAS staff or students are identified as having a confirmed case, or
(ii) the government mandates that schools across Queensland or in Local Government Areas (LGAs) have to close for a period of time again.
Our IT department has finalised processes for enabling teaching remotely that can be followed again if necessary and our Teachers have finalised lesson plans, that are deliverable online.
Remote learning resources
Student-guide-to-remote-learning-1
Parent-guide-to-online-learning
Access the online library resources here
How to use the online library resources
Counselling & Student Support
From the commencement of Term 1 on Monday 7th February, our school counsellor is available on Wednesdays (Kewarra Beach Campus) and Tuesday, Thursday and Friday (White Rock Campus), during school hours.
From Tuesday 25th January – Friday 4th February, our counsellor can be contacted via email counsellor@tas.qld.edu.au. Where practicable, limited services may be able to be provided online for existing clients if required.
Please see the TAS Counselling Guidelines on Parent Lounge for an overview of the counselling services and referral processes at TAS.
Students and families can also access the many excellent support organizations within our community, including Headspace (ages 12-25, 40413780) or Kids Helpline (24/7, Ph 1800 551 800). Parents can get advice and support through Parentline on 1300 301 300. Alternatively, your GP can organize a referral to an external counsellor or psychologist on a mental health plan. For urgent / critical matters, contact the Cairns Youth Mental Health Service (4226 5280).
The resource sheets below provide further advice and resources for parents and students regarding mental health and wellbeing during the pandemic.
Resources
Tips-and-resources-for-coping-with-COVID 19
Physical-activity-and-sport-during-COVID-19
Pandemics-and-the-Coronavirus (a story for kids)
How to write a personal reflection journal
When students are on campus the following precautionary measures have been implemented to help safeguard our students and our staff.
Cleaning & environment changes
Our cleaning teams are wiping over all high touch surfaces, including door handles with hospital grade disinfectants, every evening.
Where possible, desks in classrooms have been positioned with as much distance apart as possible.
All surfaces in the gym are being disinfected after each gym session.
Hand washing
We have ensured that there are hand washing posters and guides in every bathroom on our campuses.
Students are being instructed to wash their hands before and after every class.
Soap and paper towels are being restocked every evening.
Hand sanitising stations have been set up around campus.
Social distancing
Social distancing is important to stop or slow the spread of infectious diseases as it means less contact between people. We have implemented a number of social distancing practices at TAS:
- Avoiding handshakes and other forms of contact.
- Regularly disinfecting high touch surfaces.
- Advising members of our community to stay home if unwell.
- Encouraging members of our community to maintain a distance of 1.5 metres from each other.
- Considered if large gatherings can be rescheduled, staggered or cancelled.
- Encouraging the sanitisation of hands at regular intervals.
- Parents and carers encouraged to drop and pick up at the school gate rather than coming onto the campus
- Coming to school sick
Unwell members of the TAS community are advised to not attend school if they are feeling unwell. If you are feeling unwell please remain at home until symptoms have resolved and seek medical assistance as required. If any members of our community come in contact with a person who has been tested for COVID-19 please advise the school immediately.
Sick Bay procedure:
Students will be assessed when entering the sickbay to see if immediate action should be taken. If immediate action is not required students are able to rest in the sickbay for 20 minutes, at this time if the student is still unwell the Parent/Guardian will be contacted to collect the student from school. If the student’s condition has not been deemed a risk and they are feeling better they can return to class at this time.
Early Learning Centre
For those children of essential workers we have extended outdoor play in the mornings to reduce children’s contact and increase fresh air
Our mats during rest time have more space between them.
We continue with embedding personal hygiene in our program with consistent hand washing transitions and this week we have started our germs project where children can see pepper react to washing up liquid, this represents the germs on our fingers and how soap washes germs away.
Our sanitiser station has moved to the gate, we request that all visitors to our service use the sanitiser provided and that children are encouraged to wash hands on arrival and departure of the service
Communications
Please expect regular communications from us during this time and through the following channels:
Whole school announcements: From the Principal via email and COVID-19 information hub.
School-specific information: Will come directly from the Deputy Principal and the Heads of Campus and where applicable updated on the hub.
WRS Subject-Specific Information- Will be communicated from the Heads of Faculty or individual teachers when necessary.
Experiencing technical difficulties
If your child is experiencing technical difficulties please contact the TAS IT department at helpdesk@tas.qld.edu.au
Cybersafety
We encourage all parents to review the cyber safety information available on TAS Cyber Safety Hub or in our Remote Learning Plan. We will be providing regular updates once the remote learning program gets underway and the needs arise. With most students spending increased time online it is important that cyber safety is revisited regularly.
Nil at present