Dear Reddford Family,
Welcome to the new school year! I am honored to be addressing you all as we begin this exciting journey together. As we embark on this new academic year, I am filled with hope and optimism for the opportunities and experiences that lie ahead.
As we begin this new school year, I want to remind us all of the importance of education and the role it plays in shaping our future. Our goal is to provide a learning environment that is safe, inclusive, and supportive, where each and every student can reach their full potential.
I also want to remind us all of the importance of teamwork and collaboration. We are all in this together and it is through working together that we will achieve our goals. It is important that we support each other and that we are respectful of one another's differences.
We welcomed all our ELS and JP parents and students into their new classrooms with their new teachers, and regardless of the couple of tears as mom and dad had to walk away, everyone had a great first day and week.
We said hello and waved goodbye to our Grade 5 - 10 students as they departed for bonding camps. Starting the year off with bonding camp allows our students and teachers to get to know each other outside of the classroom, before the academic year begins, making friends and catching up after the long school holiday, welcoming all our new family members and having fun. For the first time our Grade 10 bonding camp included an outreach programme, giving back and committing their time, sweat and love at the Refilwe Lanseria Community and the Woodrock Animal Rescue Centre.
Our Grade 11 & 12 students started the year off with an academic programme, before the Grade 11’s went to paint and clean-up at St Laurence Children’s Home and the Grade 12’s finished the week on a highlight with teambuilding and a group braai.
As our sport goes from strength to strength and we build on our past successes and plan ahead for 2023, we welcome Mr Peter Jacobs to the school’s management team as Sport Coordinator. We are very excited for what this will bring in terms of sports development.
We have been informed that there is a measles outbreak, and the wonderful Berario clinic has offered to provide the immunisation at school at no charge. Please take note of the measles information pamphlet and should you want to have your child to receive the immunisation injection, please download and complete the consent form. You may send this concent form back to your child’s register teacher, and we will let you know when the immunisation will take place.
We are looking forward to busy week two of 2023, please take note of the calendar and class news being sent out to keep you up to date with what is happening!
Yours sincerely
Mrs Leandri Fick
Head of Campus
Please see the following interesting information and new law that has come into effect on WHATSAPP.
Safeguarding the well-being for all on our campus is a priority. Please ensure you familiarise your family and friends with the information below:
The maximum speed in our car park is 20km/hour.
We operate a oneway loop in all car parks, please do not drive against the traffic.
Please refrain from parking in reserved bays, in front of fire hydrants or in no-stop zones.
If you experience any incidents or near misses, please let us know.
If your car has no tag, you will need to sign in at security.
Uber/Lift and any other e-hailing company cannot enter the premises and must wait outside. Please ensure you contact the school to advise that your child may use these services with your permission.
No child may exit the school premises without a permission slip.
Our Car Tag Order Form and EXEAT permission and other forms are available on our school app - please ensure you have this downloaded and refer to it regularly to view updates, etc.
PARENT COVID REMINDER
Below is a summary of information we have found useful for all to refer to (links will be at the bottom of this email):
High Risk Exposure:
High-risk exposure means you have had direct, close contact for more than 15 minutes with someone who tests positive for COVID-19, and you did not wear protective cloth face masks or you had physical contact, were not in a well ventilated area and/or took other risks that could have exposed you to the COVID-19 virus.
What’s the difference between self-isolation and self-quarantine?
Both self-isolation and self-quarantine mean separating ourselves from others by staying home (not going out to the shops, visiting others, or being in any other situation where we encounter other people). Within our homes, it means we make every effort to stay away from others in the household that have tested positive for COVID-19 and avoid using common areas. During this time, we wear masks at all times while interacting with others in the home, frequently wash our hands with soap and water or with alcohol based hand sanitisers if soap and water is not available as well as cleaning and disinfecting all frequently touched objects and commonly used spaces. The difference in how long you need to separate yourself is based on the medical guidelines announced by the health department.
Self-Isolation:
Self-isolation is what is required if you develop symptoms and/or a test shows you have tested positive for the disease, or are asymptomatic but have a positive test. We self-isolate to stay away from others and avoid passing the disease on to them. You can self-isolate at home in a private area not shared by others in the household, or in a dedicated self-isolation facility if you are not very sick. The isolation is for 10 days, starting on the day you received your positive test result.
Self-quarantine:
Self-quarantine is required when we have had a high risk exposure to COVID-19. In this case, self-quarantine is recommended for 14 days starting from last contact you had with a person who tested positive for COVID-19. We separate ourselves from others in the same way as when isolating. During this time, you should monitor for symptoms of COVID 19.
We are aware that not everyone can isolate separately (in a private area that is not communal) to the rest of those living in the same household, therefore households with small children, or with those that cannot remain separated from the rest of the household for their isolation, need to keep the following in mind: Once the positive COVID-19 person has completed their isolation at home with other household members, those members who were unable to isolate from the COVID-19 positive person separately, will begin their self-quarantine.
How to advise the school:
As mentioned, we request parents to keep children at home that display any of the COVID-19 symptoms, and to advise the school as soon as they are aware of any high risk exposure / or those that have tested positive for COVID-19. To assist with this, we are requesting that parents email the head of that particular phase.
The school maintains contact with all families while they go through their isolation and quarantine periods on a case by case basis.
We rely on our parents for accurate, timeous and honest communication with this regard, so we can minimise the risk to others. Please ensure you familiarise those in your household with the above information.
We are aware that this pandemic has changed and touched many of us here at school and in our community. We thank you for all your continued support and our “door” is always open to those who would like to discuss any concerns.
Have a great weekend and stay safe.
Useful references:
https://www.discovery.co.za/corporate/covid19-latest-guidelines-quarantine-and-isolation