Released 22/03/2020
A case of COVID-19 has been identified in the ACT as connected to Lyneham High School.
Lyneham High School will be closed from tomorrow, Monday 23 March, for all students and staff.
This temporary closure will enable the school and health officials to work through a contact and containment strategy. This includes identifying and notifying any person who has been in recent contact with the affected person and for a thorough clean of the school.
Lyneham High School staff, students, parents and carers are not required to self-quarantine at home unless they have already been contacted directly by ACT Health. Anyone who is unwell should stay at home.
The Education Directorate is working with ACT Health to ensure the impacted members of the school community receive appropriate medical support.
The safety of students, staff and the school community is our priority.
All other schools will be open tomorrow, however pupil-free days will begin from Tuesday 24 March through to the school holidays for all schools, government and non-government.
This will provide schools and teachers with time to prepare for a range of learning delivery options, including online, similar to how distance education is provided in remote areas.
The ACT Education Directorate will provide options for school-age children whose parents and carers need to continue delivering essential services for Canberra during this period.
Schools are not closing.
The ACT school system is prepared to transition to alternative teaching models from term 2. Government schools are well placed for this shift, having invested significantly in devices for students and digital capability over recent years.
I have every confidence in the professionalism of our teaching staff and their ability to provide a quality education to our students during this period.
We want to make sure teachers, students and parents know what to expect as alternative delivery models are implemented to ensure we manage expectations and make this as seamless as possible.
I’d like to acknowledge the strength of our school communities, in particular, our teachers and school staff who have been keeping our children and young people calm, happy and learning during these extraordinary circumstances.
I’d also like to acknowledge this has been a challenging period for our families and students, and I thank you for your continued support.
- Statement ends -
Yvette Berry, MLA | Media Releases