As we move through the first third of Term 4, with the weather warming and the forecast for a long hot and dry summer, we must all be well prepared and ‘bushfire ready’ both here at school and home, especially if living in a higher risk area.

We have recently updated our school’s bushfire response plan for 2023/4, which forms part of our local emergency management procedures.

The bushfire response plan ensures what action we need to take on days of increased fire danger or in the event of a potential or actual bushfire threat. The bushfire response plan also assists the Department’s Security and Emergency Management (SEM) unit in providing emergency services key information regarding the location of students and staff during a bushfire emergency.

It is important that families are familiar with our school’s response in preparation of a bushfire emergency. You can help us prepare for the fire danger season by:

1. familiarising yourself with the following information relevant to our school, which is rated as a R2 site.
2. talking to your child/ren about what will happen if a bushfire occurs when they are at school.
3. making sure your emergency contact details are updated and made available to us before the start of the fire danger season.
4. having your own bushfire survival plan in place for days of catastrophic fire danger or in the event of a bushfire threat.

Our school’s procedures for Fire Danger Days rated as Catastrophic and Extreme

‘Catastrophic’ Fire Danger Days – declared in advance

In the event of the Country Fire Service (CFS) declaring in advance (the day before), a ‘Catastrophic’ fire danger rating for the Mt Lofty Ranges, the school will receive confirmation from relevant department personnel (Education Director / Department’s Emergency Management team) regarding the closure of the School and Out of School Hours Care Service.

If and when this situation arises, no staff, students, volunteers or contractors will be able to attend Coromandel Valley Primary School or OSHC service.

Parents and carers will be informed via SMS and email – as listed on our school’s database.

The following forms of communication will also be used, and can be accessed:

• Letters handed out to all students on the days if the alert is received prior to school dismissal
• Information posted on the school website www.coromandps.sa.edu.au / Schoolzine email, Seesaw notification and the Coromandel Valley PS Facebook Page
• Department for Education – Emergency Information Hotline on 1800 000 279
• CFS Website: http://www.cfs.sa.gov.au/
• Radio: tune into ABC Radio 89.7
• Information provided by the evening television and radio news services

****Reminder this is for the Mt Lofty Ranges District****

Parents / carers should make provision for the care of their child/ren on days declared in advance, as per their family’s bushfire survival plan.

‘Catastrophic’ Fire Danger Days – declared on the day

Although the CFS will generally declare the fire danger rating prior to the relevant day, it is possible for a Catastrophic Day’ to be declared or escalated on the relevant day. In these instances, the department’s specific procedures for ‘catastrophic’ fire danger days change substantially.

In the event of this occurring in the Mt Lofty Ranges, Coromandel Valley Primary School will remain open unless otherwise directed by an authorised representative of the emergency services.

If we receive information of a bushfire approaching the school:

• we will enact our school’s Bushfire Response Plan.
• all people on site will be instructed to move to the Bushfire Refuge, being our school gym/hall.
• families will be notified by SMS.
• our OSHC service and any after-hour school sports will be cancelled.
• we ask that families do not attempt to collect students until the all-clear is given as it is important that Main Road does not become congested, restricting access to emergency services vehicles entering the school grounds.

‘Extreme’ Fire Danger Days

On days where the fire danger rating is ‘Extreme’ we will enact our school’s Bushfire Response Plan, where in the event of a bushfire approaching the school, all people on site will be instructed to move to the Bushfire Refuge, being our school gym/hall.

Families are encouraged to read the Bushfire and your child’s school or preschool brochure on our school website.

Student Free Day – Friday 10^th November

A reminder that next Friday, 10^th November is our final Student Free Day. Staff are very much looking forward to working with Sam Leane, focusing on ‘The Big Ideas in Number – Trusting the Count ’. This work aligns with our site improvement planning and will further enhance our teaching practice in Maths over the next few years.

World Teachers Day - Thank you

Last Friday, October 27th, marked World Teachers’ Day in Australia, a day dedicated to celebrating the remarkable contributions of teachers worldwide. We are very fortunate to have such a dedicated team of teachers at Coro who come to school every day to make a difference in the lives of the young people they teach.

Our teachers consistently go above and beyond, especially in the face of the unique challenges presented over the past few years.

Their unwavering dedication, resilience, and commitment to our students make an immeasurable difference in our school community. They not only impart knowledge but also provide support and care, adapting their teaching methods to meet the needs of our students.

Thank you to students and families who acknowledged our teachers last Friday as part of celebrating World Teachers Day. Messages and small tokens of appreciation were gratefully received. Thank you.

Pathway Rectification Project

The Pathway Rectification project is nearing completion with the week beginning the 13^th of November being clean up week. The final concrete pour is imminent, with the pre-constructed handrailing to be added soon after. It will be great to have some extra parking and easier access available in the coming weeks.