For days of extreme fire risk
The School’s Bushfire Procedures information is sent home at the beginning of each year. This details the steps the school and parents should take under these circumstances. Attendance at school is recommended by CFS but is ultimately a parental decision. Children may be picked up at any time during the day by parents or adults authorised on the Bushfire Information form held in the Front Office. Some strategies that may assist the school and emergency services in case of wildfire may be:
- Avoid traffic congestion on the roads.
- Be aware that emergency vehicles have right of way.
- Please do not ring the school unnecessarily, as we need to keep the telephone line clear.
- If fires are burning in the district at the end of school day, students will be kept at school until collected by parents or authorised adults.
Catastrophic Fire Danger – School Closed
Belair Primary School has been determined by the Department for Education and the CFS (Country Fire Service) as a HIGH (R-2) potential bushfire risk site. On days when weather conditions are declared as Catastrophic for the Mount Lofty Ranges the school and OSHC service will be closed. The school will inform you by email and SMS. When closed no person is permitted to be on site. This means that all services, including Vacation Care, Out of School Hours Care, and any scheduled activities by private user groups will also be cancelled. The CFS now provides a 4-day advance forecast, we would encourage you to check these forecasts to enable you to make decisions and plan ahead. Parents are asked to be ready and alert for the possibility of a school closure. All school closures are coordinated by the Department for Education Security and Emergency Management (SEM) Unit. For more information on days of ‘catastrophic’ fire danger ratings, including school closures contact – The Department for Education Emergency Information Hotline on 1800 000 279. It is important that each family has their own personal bushfire survival plan in place for days of catastrophic fire danger or in the event of a bushfire threat. We recommend families follow the links below and download a copy of the “Bushfires and Your Child’s School or Preschool brochure” which provides parents with advice on how to prepare for the fire danger season, and what to do if a bushfire is burning near your child’s school.