Reopening of School for Grade 6 Learners

We wish to inform you that the school has taken necessary precautions under the hygienic conditions as laid down by guidelines from the Department of Basic Education (DBE) and Department of Health for the return of Grade 6 Learners.

• Do you have a cough?
• Do you have a sore throat?
• Do you have difficulty breathing? Do you have short breath?
• Do you feel weak and tired today?
• Is your body aching?
• Do you have diarrhoea?
• Do you feel nauseous/ Do you feel like vomiting?
• Can you taste food and drinks normally?
• Can you smell normally?

If your child/ward answers any of the questions in a way that suggests that he/she has COVID-19 symptoms, then he/she will become a “person under investigation” and will be immediately moved to the isolation area.

You will be immediately contacted so that you may fetch your child/ward timeously. Please note that the parent and not the transport or any relative (as instructed by the Department of Health) must fetch the learner. The Department of Health will also be contacted regarding the learner.

If your child’s/ward’s temperature is below 38ºC and answers “No” to the above questions he/she will then proceed to two sanitizing stations – hand sanitizing and disinfecting of shoes. Learners must observe social distancing at all times. Learners will then be directed to their classrooms and will be received by their form educators. Learners may be split into different classes to observe social distancing.

Learners will be screened twice daily (upon entrance to the school as well as midday). If there is a change in the temperature of the learner or in the manner in which the above questions are answered to indicate COVID-19 symptoms the learner will be immediately isolated. You will be immediately contacted so that you may fetch your child/ward timeously. Please note that the parent and not the transport or any relative (as instructed by the Department of Health) must fetch the learner. The Department of Health will also be contacted regarding the learner.

Learners will be dismissed at 13:30. Dismissal of learners will be staggered to ensure social distancing. Please ensure that your child/ward is fetched timeously as the school gate will be closed at 13:45. The school will then undergo deep cleaning and sanitization. No learners will be allowed in the school due to the chemicals that are being used for this process.

If your child/ward uses private transport to and from school, the onus is on the parent/guardian to ensure that the transport service is compliant in terms of sanitization and social distancing. The school will not be held responsible for the transmission or increased risk of infection in these transport services.

Online Learning:

In order to assist us with our planning, please contact the school at enquiries@deccan.co.za if you are considering keeping your child at home. We will ensure that all classwork will be uploaded onto the d6 Communicator app. We are also busy engaging with educators to have recorded lessons uploaded as well. It is our prerogative to ensure that all learners whether at school or not have access to these platforms.

NON-NEGOTIABLES:

1. All learners must wear a mask at all times in school. Your child/ward will also be given a mask upon arrival to school.
2. Winter uniform will be permitted. NO TAKKIES.
3. Hair must be neat and tidy.
4. There is only ONE access into and out of school for learners – Assembly gate.
5. Due to the screening process parents are requested to drop learners and immediately leave.
6. NO PARENTS will be permitted to enter the school premises with learners. All learners must be dropped off at or near the gate. Learners must then join the social distance queue.
7. No sharing of stationery or any other personal products. Please ensure that your child has the required stationery.
8. There will no sporting events or extra-curricular activities after school.
9. Please ensure that your child/ward is fetched from school timeously for their own safety.
10. If your child/ward shows any symptoms of COVID-19 after attending school, please notify the school immediately.
11. Please encourage learners to wash their hands with soap and water frequently.
12. IF YOUR CHILD/WARD IS NOT FEELING WELL IN THE MORNING OR SHOWS ANY SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19, PLEASE DO NOT SEND YOUR CHILD/WARD TO SCHOOL.

Visitors:

• Parents/guardians are not allowed to enter the school premises unless the nature of their visit is essential or urgent, or if the parent has been contacted by the school to fetch his/her child/ward.
• In such a scenario, you, the parent, will follow the same procedure as above, by completing the screening questionnaire, getting your temperature read, signing a register, and sanitizing your hands and disinfecting your shoes before entering the school building.
• No visitor will be allowed to enter the school premises without a mask.
• Non-compliance of any of the above will result in the visitor not being allowed to enter the school.

Communication:

It is of UTMOST IMPORTANCE and in the best interest of your child/ward, that you provide the school with the CORRECT telephone number. Thus, if the school requires to urgently communicate with you, this may be done timeously.

Measures to be observed if a COVID-19 case is confirmed:

• If a learner or staff member is confirmed to have COVID-19, the school will contact public health officials, who will then identify those with whom the infected person has been in contact.
• Public health officials, with the assistance of the appropriate staff, will conduct a risk assessment and will provide recommendations on how the situation should be managed.
• In the case where a school is not contacted by public health officials, they have been provided with the appropriate provincial official to contact and can alternatively use the NICD toll-free emergency hotline to be referred to the correct person.

In conclusion, we assure you that the interest and welfare of our learners remain at the top of our priority list. Every precaution has been undertaken to ensure the safety of the child/ward, however, we cannot guarantee the non-transmission of the COVID-19 virus.

A reminder to please inform the school via email (enquiries@deccan.co.za) if you choose to keep your child/ward at home. Please include your child’s/ward’s name, surname and grade. This will assist us with the planning of making the necessary resources available to these learners.