Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Thanks to all who attended our assembly last week and brought flowers for the memorial to Great Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare. The display was transferred to the foyer of the Clubhouse over the weekend. Thanks to Mrs Moning, Mrs Tukata and Mrs Kinkinteng for their assistance with the memorial.

Term 1 Early School Closure

Following the directive from the PNG Pandemic Controller and the New Ireland Provincial Education Authority, Lihir International School will be closed from Monday the 22rd March for the last two weeks of Term 1. This is in response to a recent increase in cases of Covid-19. Updates will be posted on the school’s Facebook page and emailed to parents. It is expected that the school will re-open after the Easter holidays on Monday the 19th April for Term 2. Education packs for work at home will be provided to students. As this work at home is only for a short period, we will not be facilitating online sessions and teachers can be contacted via email, mobile and WhatsApp etc.  

Please click on the link below for the full parent letter regarding the early closure of the school for Term 1.

It is imperative that all students attend school tomorrow Friday the 19th March.

Covid-19 Safe Practices

Parents and carers are reminded to adhere to Covid-safe practices when entering the school. Please see below highlighted in red in the "Keeping our Children Safe in 2021"  section, some relevant reminders. Parents will not be able to attend tomorrow's Friday Assembly.

School Review

On the 22nd and 23rd of April, officers from the QLD Department of Education, Education Improvement Branch (EIB) will conduct a virtual review of LIS. This process involves interviews with teachers, parents, students and community members. Myself, Ms Langusch and Mr. Collins will also present to the reviewers our pedagogical framework and other curriculum documents. A variety of parents, teachers and students will also be asked to complete and online survey in preparation for the review. If any parent / carer is interested in participating in the survey, please contact me.

Regards,

Parents will be advised when afternoon activities recommence. We thank you for your understanding.

Mr McKeiver's Soccer program will be postponed until Term 2. More information to follow after the Easter holidays.

In line with company policy, increased hygiene and social distancing practices will continue to be implemented in the school during Term 1 2021. Please read the points below carefully. Thank you to all members of the STM/LIS community for your patience and commitment in ensuring that we keep our children and island safe.

1. It is imperative that parents and carers do not send their children to school if they are sick or showing any symptoms of a cold or flu. If your child is sick, please keep your child home and seek appropriate medical attention. Children who display any signs of sickness will be isolated under supervision in the school's sick bay and parents called to come and collect them.

2. Entrance to school for students and parents / carers will be via the Aginas Oval gate only, which will open at 7.45am. Students who arrive before this (which is discouraged) are to wait in the carpark undercover area until 7.45am. Students should be at school by 8.00am, ready to start the day at 8.10am.

3. All students  are to wear a face mask and will be greeted at the gate by a teacher and temperature tested. They are to wash their hands at the wash station and then proceed to the undercover area. Parents will be permitted to escort their children to the undercover area / classroom and pick them up at the end of the day. Parents will need to wear a face mask and wash their hands after entering school. If parents need to go to the office or see a teacher, they are permitted to proceed to the wash station and are then to make their way straight to the school office for temperature test and then to the relevant classroom.

4.  Students will be required to wash their hands in the mornings, before school and before and after recess/lunch.

5. All desks, door handles, playground equipment and other high contact equipment will be sanitised twice daily or after use by cleaning staff.

6. Social distancing measure of 1.5 metres will be employed in classrooms through desk arrangements. Social distancing markings have been painted on cement areas where students line up and in the undercover area for recess/lunch eating times. The school will implement staggered lunch and recess breaks between the primary and high school to reduce the number of children in the eating area at one time.

7. Students will each be issued with a reusable washable mask. Students will be required to use these masks for travel to and from school and during specific identified activities at school.

8. The school canteen will be closed for the duration on term 1 due to renovation. Students will need to bring a packed recess and lunch each day - there is to be no dropping off of lunches by parents, siblings or haus meris. Students are also asked to bring a water bottle to school that they will refill instead of drinking from the bubblers. 

10. In Term 1 on Mondays, separate primary and high school assemblies will be held in the basketball court, employing social distancing measures. On Fridays, there will be a whole school assembly on the basketball court that parents are welcome to attend. Masks and social distancing measures will be  employed.

Wednesday 3 February to Thursday 1 April

Monday 19 April to Thursday 17 June

Monday 12 July to Wednesday 15 September

Tuesday 5 October to Thursday 2 December

Term 1 Parent/Teacher interviews

These will be held early term 2. Parents will be advised at the start of next term.

Calendars and photos

Our 2021 calendars have finally arrived and have been distributed today to every student. New families to the school have also received a copy of the 2019 yearbook. Because of COVID and the cancellation of Independence Day celebrations last year, we did a ‘2020 yearbook’ calendar instead. We hope you enjoy it!

The 2020 class and individual photos will be able to be collected next Wednesday, when parents collect work packs.

Kind regards,

Ms Langusch             

Despite closures to Lihir International School, in accordance with Provincial instructions, the School to Mine Campus will remain open as usual.

The Work Ready Program continues to roll along with students showing great improvement across all 9 attributes of the Outcome Person. These students will complete the 8 week program on Thursday 1 April. 

The new cohort for Year 9 FODE has been confirmed and these students have commenced work and continue to attend STMC each week to submit assessment, collect resources and receive support. Last year's Year 9 FODE students will continue their Year 9 Exams on Saturday and Monday in the coming weeks. 

STMC is continuing to work closely with local education authorities with many Lihirian teachers now enrolled in the DWU Bachelor of Primary Education. This program may now be postponed due to COVID closures but should proceed in June this year. 

Regards, 

Mr. Kevin Collins