Staying Connected

Staying Connected COVID-19 Parent Guide Term 2, 2020

FROM THE PRINCIPAL Dear Parents and Carers Thank you for the support you have shown our College through these extraordinary times. I have personally appreciated the way everyone has pulled together as a community to show support and kindness, despite the circumstances. However, it is important that we all keep vigilant. As time continues, it is easy for us not to see many manifestations of illness in our circles of contact and become complacent. This will change in the days and weeks ahead and we need to instil behaviours now that will keep our families and students safe for the long term.

Within this booklet are strategies that the College will be implementing for the remainder of this term and into Term 2, to ensure that your child is well supported to continue their learning, and achieve their learning outcomes.

At this unpredictable time, I want to assure you that our team of experienced staff at Cooloola Christian College is prepared for all contingencies moving forward, whether this is extended holidays, a partial or full school closure.

We will continue to keep you updated with relevant and timely information, so that you are able to make informed decisions.

The College appreciates your ongoing support and understanding during this time and the consideration you continue to show to the teachers and school staff as we navigate through these issues.

Trevor Norman Principal

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GOD’S WORD We can draw encouragement from the words that the apostle Paul wrote to the Philippians. Let us always rejoice in our blessings, bring concerns to God rather than dwell in anxiety, and focus our thoughts on what is excellent. If we do this, God’s peace will be evident.

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me or seen in me—put it into practice.

And the God of peace will be with you” you” Philippians 4:4-8

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OUR COMMITMENT

Cooloola Christian College will continue to provide excellence in student wellbeing and learning. Although we are experiencing unprecedented changes as a result of the rapid spread of COVID-19, we are well positioned both with staff expertise and our technology platforms to adjust the way we do school for the next term and beyond, if needed.

We have always valued building community and we will continue to support students and families through existing strategies and some new, exciting initiatives.

Our students will not be disadvantaged whether they continue with learning at school, or if they transition to learning at home. There will be high quality tuition, pastoral care, healthy connections with peers and rich engaging learning experiences. Assessments will be adjusted to reflect the changes.

CCC is committed to providing familiar routines for your child whether at school or at home, through consistent timetabled lessons, direct teaching (virtual or in person), meaningful structure, daily devotions and familiar faces.

Through the efforts of our staff and volunteers over many years, Cooloola Christian College has positioned itself as a leading school in Gympie. We have embraced technology and flexibility as a normal part of learning which has prepared us well for the challenges ahead.

Finally, we want to assure you that we are committed to regular and clear communications giving our whole community a voice and to ensure up-to-date messaging.

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Staying Connected

Two delivery options From Term 2, Cooloola Christian College will provide parents with two different options for learning. Learning from Home or Learning at School. Both options will provide excellent educational opportunities in a safe supportive environment. You are welcome to choose the option that suits your family needs best. See Appendix 1 for a more detailed comparison table.

To register for our Learning from Home option please access the ‘Learning from Home’ Parent Guide, which includes a Parent Agreement, via Parent Lounge (available from Monday 30 March).

Learning from Home: • Daily routines established and expected each weekday (including roll marking); • Daily lessons delivered through Microsoft Teams, OneNote and Loom videos created specifically for our classes by our teachers; • Daily devotions, pastoral care and check ins; • Physical activity, arts and away from screen sessions; • Modified assessment where required; • Full access to Student Support Services; • Instrumental Music delivered through one of our live lesson platforms; • Home internet and printer are a prerequisite for this mode of learning.

Learning at School: • Face to face lessons in similar age group classes; • Daily timetable with plenty of outside, physical activities; • Clean and hygienic rooms, social distancing practiced as much as possible; • Daily connection with students at home through live lesson platform; • Delivery of some elective or specialist subjects in the timetable may be adjusted depending on class numbers; • Bus services may change.

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Wellbeing Our Student Support Services will continue to provide comprehensive support for you and your children. Services that will be available online and at school include: • Pastoral Care Call Centre. Our Chaplains and Wellbeing team members will be available by phone or online to provide pastoral care, Chappy Chats and referral to Pastors or other counselling services; • CCC Psychologist. Karen Ellis is our school Psychologist and will be happy to arrange an in-person appointment; • Recognising that young people need healthy peer connections, we are investigating platforms to ensure that monitored interactions are a regular part of daily routine; • Our learning routine will include daily physical fitness activities, creative arts, and away from screen learning; • Our support services team are trained in B.E.A.R social emotional strategies developed after the Bunderberg floods in 2013, designed to assist students in coping with sadness, anxiety, anger and trauma.

A direct care line is available during school hours - 07 3154 6888 or email supportservices@ccc.qld.edu.au

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Health & Safety In line with current Government advice, Cooloola Christian College has implemented a range of practices to ensure the school is operating in line with current directives and leading hygiene practices.

At Cooloola Christian College: • All teaching spaces are naturally ventilated by leaving windows and doors open; • Student desks are separated as far as practical in rooms; • Some lessons are being taught outside; • All assemblies, chapels and school gatherings are being streamed live to classrooms; • We have cancelled timetabled interactions between grades; • Students have been trained in social distancing and hand washing with soap; • Students who present or report illness are being referred to the sickbay where an assessment is made and if required, they will be sent home; • In line with government requirements, we have either cancelled or adjusted all camps and excursions. We are doing our best to provide alternate learning opportunities in lieu of these trips; • Extensive cleaning and sanitising is carried out by our facilities team after each day.

Upcoming changes: • School tuckshop will be closed in Term 2 in line with similar school decisions; • The uniform shop will operate by appointment through Admin; • Parent volunteers and visitors to classes will be cancelled (from Monday 30 March). We would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their service.

In the event that we have a confirmed case for either a staff member, student or family member we will follow Queensland Health Advice to maintain health and safety for our school community, and notify families.

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Staying Connected

Finishing Term 1 We know that many families are choosing to keep their children at home in these last weeks of term. Classes will continue to run for the remainder of this week. However, Friday 27 March will be our last day for students this term. This will be a non-uniform day to celebrate the end of term (this is free – no gold-coin donation required).

Professional Learning for Staff Staff will remain at school Monday to Friday undertaking Professional Learning and preparing for the transition to Term 2. Non-academic supervision of students will be provided for families where learning from home is not an option on these days.

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Staying Connected

Online Safety For those students learning from home we have guidelines that assist families to ensure safe engagement with our online platforms, chat between students, the use of video lessons and live streaming. As always, we recommend that you install filtering software that protects your whole family when using the internet.

If you decide on our Learning at Home option for Term 2, you will receive a guidebook for parents which includes many more tips in this regard.

As we have been doing for years, students will engage in eSmart lessons through the term to remind them how to work online safely.

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Fee Flexibility We know that many families will be experiencing financial stress at this time. We are establishing a direct line so that you can discuss your current circumstances confidentially and we can explain tuition fee options. We are commited to supporting you in your choice to remain with Cooloola Christian College.

If you have questions or concerns about fees or levies please contact our direct line during school hours - 07 3154 6877 or email supportservices@ccc.qld.edu.au

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Continuity of Learning The Prime Minister has regularly spoken about the importance of students continuing to learn. This message has not changed. Regardless of your decision for Learning from Home or Learning at School, we will continue to deliver quality and engaging learning aligned to the Australian Curriculum. Additional learning will include: • Instrumental Music lessons. These will continue online and at school; • Enrichment Support for students with learning needs. Our Enrichment team will be on hand to support specific students as needed; • Pastoral Care. These lessons will continue – delivering wellbeing, biblical, and life skills lessons; • Chapel and Assembly will continue in a streaming format. Students are currently enjoying this innovative change.

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Staying Connected

Continuity of Community Many parents comment on how much they value the sense of community they experience at Cooloola Christian College. We are determined to retain this community in coming months.

Some initiatives ready to be employed include: • P&F Faith in Action representatives will be checking in on the families from their classes on a regular basis. The P&F will do all they can to respond to identified needs; • Weekly bulletins and video notices will be uploaded to share all the good news stories; • A Prayer request form is being set up on our website.

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Appendix 1

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Learning at School

Learning from Home

Expectations from our school

Arrive at school on-time, ready and equipped for learning.

Arrive in their learning space on-time, ready and equipped for learning.

Dress code for learning

Staff are professionally dressed and well prepared for school.

Students wear school uniform, reflecting timetabled lessons for the day.

Students will be dressed appropriately for school learning each day.

Learning Spaces

Rooms are cleaned daily by cleaning team.

Rooms are well-maintained and organised by classroom teachers.

Designated learning space is set-up at home.

Learning spaces are well maintained and organised by students and parents.

Teachers guiding learning

Our teachers will continue to prepare quality learning experiences.

Various resources will continue to be used as tools for learning at school.

Our teachers will continue to prepare quality learning experiences for all students.

Necessary resources will be provided to support learning at home in a timely fashion. Some resources are made available through a digital subscription.

Where necessary (as part of the provided teaching program) resource links will be communicated to families.

School Timetable

Class timetables will remain unchanged, providing familiar routines at school.

Any adjustments to class timetables will be efficiently communicated to parents, students and staff.

Class timetables will remain unchanged and provide a familiar routine for learning from home.

Any adjustments to class timetables will be efficiently communicated to parents, students and staff.

Staff will be available during the school day to respond to parent and student queries via email or college phone Our Admin team will assist with responses where necessary during lesson times.

Academic Calendar

The school calendar has been adjusted to reflect travel restrictions and physical distancing guidelines as announced by the Federal Government and Health Department.

Any changes in the coming months will be communicated to parents, staff and students.

The school calendar has been adjusted to reflect travel restrictions and physical distancing guidelines as announced by the Federal Government and Health Department.

Any changes in the coming months will be communicated to parents and students.

Assessment

Staff, Students and Parents are aware of our College Assessment Policy.

All assessment dates will remain unchanged until further notice.

Students with queries about assessment (extension or alternative adjustments) are reminded to check Sections 4 and 5 of our Assessment Policy for advice and direction.

Staff, Students and Parents are aware of our College Assessment Policy.

Students undertaking learning from home are particularly reminded of our expectations about academic integrity and assuring that all submitted tasks are evidence of their own independent work.

All assessment dates will remain unchanged.

Students with queries about assessment (extension or alternative adjustments) are reminded to check Sections 4 and 5 of our Assessment Policy for advice and direction.

Learning looks like:

Learning at school will continue with familiar routines, expectations and processes.

• Our school day will continue to follow the class timetable. Break times and lesson changes will occur as usual until alterations are communicated as necessary.

• Physical activity and friendship interaction will continue to be a valuable element of every school day.

• Classes will continue to gather for Pastoral Care and Devotion times daily.

• Support for students at school will continue to be available through out RTC BEAR program and College Chaplains.

• Teachers will provide direct instruction.

• Students will complete learning activities using familiar workbooks and resources.

• Support and modifications to learning programs will continue to be available to students through the support of our Enrichment Unit (EU), Multi-Level Class (MLC) and Responsible Thinking Classroom (RTC).

• Teachers will continue to use evidence of student learning (completed tasks, responses to emails, digital images and worksheets) to guide future lessons and interventions to ensure student learning continues smoothly.

• Student work is used in the construction of a portfolio of evidence for Reporting to parents and other authorities.

Learning from home will be different and may require the assistance of parents at times through the school day.

• Our school day will continue to follow the class timetable. Break times and lesson changes will occur as usual. Students engaged in learning from home are encouraged to take breaks, move outside and follow activity suggestions provided by our Wellbeing team.

• Physical activity and friendship interaction will continue to be a valuable element of every school day. Our Wellbeing Team will provide activities and suggestions for students during Break Times and Bedtime routines.

• Classes will continue to gather for Pastoral Care and Devotion times daily. Students engaging in learning from home are strongly encouraged to connect through live stream to see and speak with teachers and classmates during our daily Pastoral Care time.

• Students and parents engaging in learning from home are also encouraged to speak individually and directly with our Chaplains and RTC staff (BEAR Program) at any time using the emails below or by phone: 5481 1000.

• Teachers will provide direct instruction and clear instructions for activities. Students are reminded to complete these independently when working without teacher supervision.

• Parents are encouraged to provide appropriate assistance to ensure students understand the tasks provided.

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Parents will also contact the class teacher or Director of Teaching and Learning where there are queries.

Students will complete learning activities reflecting familiar tasks.

Students will maintain our expectations of academic integrity to ensure all tasks and activities evidence individual work.

Support and modifications to learning programs will continue to be available to students through the support of our Enrichment Unit (EU), Multi-Level Class (MLC) and Responsible Thinking Classroom (RTC).

Teachers will continue to use evidence of student learning (completed tasks, responses to emails, digital images and worksheets) to guide future lessons and interventions to ensure student learning continues smoothly.

Student work is used in the construction of a portfolio of evidence for Reporting to parents and other authorities.

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Student Support Services

Students and parents are also invited to email any of our Student Support Services (IT, EU, ILC) to raise queries and concerns, or share celebrations via the emails below: • RTC Staff – The BEAR program for emotional support rtc@ccc.qld.edu.au • Chaplaincy Staff - for pastoral care and emotional support andrew.mallett@ccc.qld.edu.au or cheree.hughes@ccc.qld.edu.au • Enrichment Unit – existing literacy and numeracy support tracey.farley@ccc.qld.edu.au or mary.harris@ccc.qld.edu.au • Independent Learning Centre (ILC) – queries about traineeships and certificate courses cheree.hughes@ccc.qld.edu.au • IT Services helpdesk@ccc.qld.edu.au

Parent and Family Support

All class groups at school have a P&F ‘Faith in Action’ representative. This person is available as college community contact and can be reached by text or email. Their contact details will be available on Parent Lounge.

Our College Chaplains are available for parents also (as above) as needed.

Pastors from CCC ‘s associated churches will provide additional pastoral support: • Pst Daniel Saunders – Gympie Presbyterian Church • Pst Kevin Dunn – Gympie Church of Christ • Pst Brendan Edwards – Mary Valley Wesleyan Church • Pst Gary McClintock – Gympie Wesleyan Church • Pst Ben Cumerford or Pst Tony Roberts – Gympie Baptist Church

Ensuring quality teaching and learning

Our teachers demonstrate quality teaching skills by engaging in ongoing professional learning activities and opportunities to work with instructional coaches.

Coaches will continue to work beside teachers ensuring all learning programs, class lessons and choice of learning resources are well aligned to the Australian Curriculum (Prep – Yr1) and QCAA Senior Syllabi (Yr11/12).

All teachers are committed to providing excellence in education and supporting student learning every lesson every day.

Every week our teachers meet in professional learning teams to reflect on the needs of students and discuss teaching strategies and assessment practices.

Teachers will continue to collaborate to share responsibility for planning and assessment of student learning.

We gather data on student learning every day and communicate expectations in every lesson by reviewing learning goals and school values consistently P-12.

Home-based Learning involves specific planning considerations. The Curriculum Leadership team will continue to work closely with our teaching staff to explore communication, assessment and resourcing strategies to provide quality learning experiences for all students.

1 College Rd, Southside, QLD (07) 5481 1000 admin@ admin @ ccc.qld.edu.au www.ccc.qld.edu.au