/Volumes/adm$/MARKETING/Proof reading/2020/Term 1/COVID school Closure Parents.doc

Olive Branch Campus: Indonesian Affiliated Schools: 860 Derrimut Road Al-Taqwa College Tarneit, Victoria 3029, Australia (Yayasan Islamic Schools of Indonesia) Phone: 61 3 9749 0811 Kampung Hambalang RT 005/02 Fax: 61 3 9749 0822 Citerup, Bogor INDONESIA Email: adminoffice@wicv.net Website: www.al-taqwa.vic.edu.au/index.php/our-campuses/olive-branch

ABN 32 079 146 958 Main Campus: 201 Sayers Road Truganina Victoria 3029 AUSTRALIA Phone: 61 3 9269 5000 Fax: 61 3 9269 5070 Email: adminoffice@wicv.net Website: www.al-taqwa.vic.edu.au

Quality Education for Quality Life

16 March 2020 Assalamu alaikum Parents/Guardians

RE: ANNOUNCEMENT OF COLLEGE CLOSURE AS A PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE

The College has decided to close as of Friday 20 March due to the current COVID-19 situation, parents and students will be required to follow the process below. This closure will only apply to students, with staff continuing to work during this period. This will ensure that all students can continue their education online. Friday 20 and Monday 23 March will be considered as curriculum days and the following information must take affect as of Tuesday 24 March for all students. 1. Al-Taqwa College will close as a precautionary measure, on Friday 20 March. At this stage,

the College will reopen on Tuesday 14 April 2020 after official Term 1 school holidays. 2. However, the College will confirm the school opening in the last days of school holidays

through SMS, the College website, social media and Schoolbox announcements. So please ensure you check the College’s announcements before sending your child back to school in Term 2-2020.

3. We want to emphasise that as of today, no staff nor students of Al-Taqwa College

have been taken ill due to the COVID-19 virus. We have made this decision as a precautionary measure to protect the well-being of our staff and students and also to support our nation-wide initiative of self-quarantine to contain the possible spread of this virus. Our College community as of now, remains safe, Alhumdillillah.

4. To ensure our students’ learning continues early, the College will deliver e-Learning

through Schoolbox, the College online learning management system as of Tuesday 24 March.

5. To ensure students can access Schoolbox from home, we require parents/guardians

immediate attention to ensure the following.

• Your child knows and has their Schoolbox log-in details. If your child forgets their log-in details or has problems accessing Schoolbox, you must ask your child to inform their Homeroom Teacher for immediate resolution. For younger students, parents can write in their child’s diaries to request for homeroom teachers to immediately follow-up with IT for a resolution.

• Your children’s laptops are in working order for use at home. If your child’s laptop requires maintenance, you must ensure that your child sends their laptop to the IT Department at the College for a resolution as soon as possible. We would expect that parents have a back-up computer at home just in case.

• Teachers of students from Foundation to Year 3 will provide notes to parents in student diaries detailing each student’s Schoolbox login details and all related IT resources and information.

/Volumes/adm$/MARKETING/Proof reading/2020/Term 1/COVID school Closure Parents.doc

Olive Branch Campus: Indonesian Affiliated Schools: 860 Derrimut Road Al-Taqwa College Tarneit, Victoria 3029, Australia (Yayasan Islamic Schools of Indonesia) Phone: 61 3 9749 0811 Kampung Hambalang RT 005/02 Fax: 61 3 9749 0822 Citerup, Bogor INDONESIA Email: adminoffice@wicv.net Website: www.al-taqwa.vic.edu.au/index.php/our-campuses/olive-branch

6. If you require IT assistance during the closure period, you may use the links below. These

links will not be required for you to use during the official school holiday period (28 March to 13 April).

itstudentsupport@wicv.net https://schoolbox.wicv.net/feedback

7. To facilitate learning through Schoolbox, the College will set-up and brief students of its

e-Learning protocols, structure and expectations. (A letter to students is attached.) The College will also provide parents and students with self-help videos uploaded in Schoolbox and the College website to ensure students and parents know what to expect when ATC students go online to learn. InshaAllah.

8. When students are at home and log onto Schoolbox to start their e-Learning they will be

guided by a weekly learning itinerary. This will provide students with an overview of lessons and contents they are expected to learn in each Learning Area. This will also include the tasks students are expected to complete with deadlines and discussions or collaboration activities they are expected to participate in. Teachers will be monitoring student completion of tasks and participation in assigned activities. Parents will be notified via Schoolbox if their children are not attending their virtual classes or with any other learning issues arising.

9. The College staff may also call parents where necessary to ensure prompt follow-up with

student issues to ensure their well-being during periods of extended College closure is attended to.

10. After this first communication, subsequent communications will be delivered mainly

through Schoolbox via notifications and announcements and also through the College website.

11. We look forward to parents/guardians full support and understanding on this matter.

InshaAllah, we will get through this challenging time together and emerge stronger.

Kind regards

Mohammad Hallak Vice Principal

Attachments 1 Schoolbox Support 2 Schoolbox Parent Log In Guide 3 Advice to Students for eLearning 4 Parent Advice and Information Sheet for eLearning

ATTACHMENT 1

SCHOOLBOXSUPPORTPleasego to theSchoolboxpage (https://schoolbox.wicv.net/),andclickSupportandFeedbackat thebottomofthepage.Theninputthename,email,typeofenquiryandthedetailsoftheissue.(Wemightneedyoutoprovideyourphonenumberifyouneedustocallyou).

ITHOTLINESitstudentsupport@wicv.net

https://schoolbox.wicv.net/feedback

Parent Log-In Guide (ATC)

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

What is Schoolbox?

Schoolbox is a virtual learning environment (VLE) for K–12 schools. It’s a unique all-in-one learning management

system (LMS), portal and intranet. Schoolbox is self or cloud hosted, integrated, flexible and secure. Share, teach and

learn online with Schoolbox.

Accessing Schoolbox as a Parent

Web Address: http://schoolbox.wicv.net

Username: (the same as your Synergetic username, as provided by the school)

Password: (the same as your Synergetic password, as provided by the school)

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

General Navigation

When you first log in to Schoolbox, you will see your dashboard. This is customised for your role as a parent, by the

school.

Once you have logged in, the two main areas you will see are:

The left-hand side menu, with links to important documents.

The top-of-screen menu, where you can find information on your students’ assessment, and can access the

school calendar. In the right-hand corner of this menu are the notifications – this will be red in colour if you have

pending, unread notifications from the school.

Seeking Assistance

If you have any trouble logging into your account, please contact the IT Helpdesk.

IT HOTLINESitstudentsupport@wicv.nethttps://schoolbox.wicv.net/feedback

ATTACHMENT 2

/Volumes/adm$/MARKETING/Proof reading/2020/Term 1/COVID School Closure Students Att3.docx

ATTACHMENT3

ADVICETOSTUDENTSFORE-LEARNING

17 March 2020 Assalamu alaikum Students

RE: STUDENT E-LEARNING PROTOCOL AND EXPECTATIONS FOR COLLEGE CLOSURE

1. Given the current global and national situation with the COVID-19 virus, the College has

made the decision to close on Friday 20 March for all students only.

2. This is to ensure the safety of our College community and to support Australia’s self-quarantine initiative to prevent the spread of this virus.

3. To ensure you can continue with your learning and not be disadvantaged, especially those

preparing for national exams such as VCE, the College will conduct e-Learning during these closures.

4. To prepare yourself for this, you need to ensure that you are prepared and familiar with the following: • You have a working schoolbox log-in • Your laptop is in working condition • You know how to get into schoolbox from home, navigate schoolbox, access your class

pages and know how to ‘attend class’, complete assigned tasks and submit your homework in schoolbox

• You know how to get help whether you are at school or home if the College closes, if you encounter any issues with schoolbox, your laptop or with any IT issues in general

• You are aware of College protocols and expectations for e-Learning during a College closure

5. If you have any issues accessing schoolbox and/or with your laptop, please inform your Homeroom Teacher before Thursday 19 March and follow set protocols to send your laptop to IT for maintenance as soon as possible while the College is still operating.

6. If you have issues accessing schoolbox or with your laptop during the College closure, please follow the help protocols the College has established. Your parents/guardians are also expected to provide you with an alternative machine to do your e-Learning while your laptop is being maintained by IT Support members.

7. In addition, to ensure you are clear of e-Learning protocols and expectations and to provide

you with a platform to ask questions, College Heads will run level assemblies this week (Term 1 Week 8) while following state emergency group assembly guidelines to ensure your safety.

/Volumes/adm$/MARKETING/Proof reading/2020/Term 1/COVID School Closure Students Att3.docx

8. The following are College expectations of you during e-Learning if the College closes.

• You are expected to log onto Schoolbox on a daily basis from Tuesday 24 March,

to attend live sessions scheduled or to complete assigned tasks for the day as per your e-Learning class time-table on Schoolbox.

• Familiarise yourself with your e-Learning class time-table for the week and ensure you are logged at the prescribed time during the live sessions scheduled for you. This is applicable to students from Years 7-12 only.

• In general, you are recommended to log-in by 9am and to complete all your assignments for the day before maghrib, to ensure good management of your learning time.

• Do take short breaks between assignments and remember to break for lunch and prayers.

• If you are scheduled for a ‘live’ session where you can be visually seen by others in your class, you are expected to attend in your College Uniform as per College Uniform Policy.

• Your parents will be called if you are ‘absent’ during live sessions with no valid reasons as teachers are taking attendance during these live sessions.

• Any misbehaviour during e-Learning (such as posting inappropriate remarks on social streams during class discussions or ‘bullying’) will be dealt with by your teachers and where appropriate by your level coordinators and Student-Wellbeing members as per the College policies. Just as we expect our students to respect and follow College policies when they are attending school, we expect the same during e-learning in schoolbox.

• If you miss deadlines, do not submit assignments or are absent during live sessions, your teachers will prompt you via Schoolbox notifications. If you miss deadlines for two or more days and is absent from live sessions without a valid reason your parents will be notified and called by your Year Level Coordinator (YLC).

9. Your education is important to us, e-Learning is an opportunity for you to cultivate healthy habits, self-discipline, and develop self-management and organisational skills as independent learners. These are life-long skills that will contribute to your success in the future. Stay positive and do your part to ensure you participate actively in e-Learning. Although the College has decided to close, our learning should continue. Your teachers and the College are here to support you.

10. During the period of the College closure, while you are at home, you will be of tremendous help to your parents by: managing yourself, participating as you should in your e-Learning and giving them a hand with chores around the house. Your parents/guardians are your pathways to Jannah.

11. InshaAllah with good intentions, doa and diligence, your stay-home periods and e-Learning

will go smoothly.

12. During the two week Term 1 holidays have a good rest. The College will keep you and the community updated with College news through Schoolbox and the College website. “So verily with every difficulty there is relief” Surah Al-Inshirah 94, Verse 5 & 6

Mohammad Hallak Vice Principal

IT HOTLINES itstudentsupport@wicv.net

https://schoolbox.wicv.net/feedback

ATTACHMENT 4

/Volumes/adm$/MARKETING/Proof reading/2020/Term 1/COVID-19 School Closure Primary Parent Att4.docx

PARENTADVICE&INFORMATIONSHEETFORE-LEARNING17 March 2020

RE: Supporting our children for e-Learning & College Protocols and Expectations Assalamu alaikum Parents/Guardians 1. The College has decided to close from Friday 20 March, the College expects every student

at Al-Taqwa College to participate in e-Learning via schoolbox. Friday 20 and Monday 23 March will be considered curriculum days, Tuesday 24 to Friday 27 March will be e-Learning days.

2. This will ensure learning continues and no student is disadvantaged due to the school closure, especially our VCE students who will be sitting for national examinations at the end of this academic school year, inshaAllah.

3. The above is a shared responsibility. We do appreciate and understand the added challenges this will pose to every household. This is why we have prepared this “Parent Advice-Information Sheet for e-Learning” to support parents. Especially for parents who have children in Years Foundation to 3, who will need your supervision and support even more during e-Learning.

4. In our student briefings and in our ‘Student Advice & Information Sheet for e-Learning’ we

have advised students of e-Learning preparation, protocols and expectations. As parents/ guardians supporting your child, we expect you to know them too so you can reinforce the same with your child during e-Learning sessions at home.

5. By supporting the College in engaging your child in e-Learning, you are also helping your

children to become independent, self-directed learners and cultivating healthy habits at home.

6. The following are College expectations of your child, during e-Learning from Tuesday 24

to Friday 27 March, that has been shared with your child at school this week. o Students are expected to login to Schoolbox on a daily basis to attend ‘live’ sessions

(Year 7 to 12 only) and to complete assigned tasks for the day (Foundation to 12) as per their e-Learning class time-table on Schoolbox.

o Students must familiarise themselves with their e-Learning class time-table for the week and ensure they are logged at the prescribed times during the live sessions scheduled for them. This is applicable to students from Years 7 to 12 only.

o In general, students are recommended to log-in by 9am and to complete all their assignments for the day before maghrib to ensure good management of their learning time.

o For parents with children in Years Foundation to 3, please refer to instructions on Schoolbox from your child’s class teachers for specific deadlines and time-frames for completion of assigned tasks.

o Students have been advised to take short breaks between assignments and to break for lunch and prayers.

o For students going on scheduled ‘live’ sessions where they can be visually seen by others in their class, they are expected to attend in their College Uniform as per College Uniform Policy.

ATTACHMENT 4

/Volumes/adm$/MARKETING/Proof reading/2020/Term 1/COVID-19 School Closure Primary Parent Att4.docx

o Parents will be notified/called if their child is ‘absent’ during live sessions with no valid reasons as teachers are required by the College to take attendance during these live sessions.

o Any misbehaviour during e-Learning (such as posting inappropriate remarks on social streams during class discussions or ‘bullying’) will be dealt with by your child’s teachers and where appropriate by the Year Level Coordinators (YLCs) and Student-Wellbeing (SWB) members as per College policies.

o Just as we expect our students to respect and follow College policies when they are attending school, we expect the same during e-learning in Schoolbox.

o Students have been advised that if they miss deadlines, do not submit assignments or are absent during live sessions, their teachers will prompt them via Schoolbox notifications.

o If students missed deadlines for two or more days and is absent from live sessions without a valid reason, parents will be notified and called by relevant YLCs for timely intervention to ensure well-being of students.

7. Our students’ education is important to us. Through e-Learning, your children can develop

life-long skills that will contribute to their success in the future. So by supporting us in ensuring your child completes all e-Learning tasks and by working with the College in resolving teething e-Learning issues and problems arising during the College closure, we are working for our children’s success. Ameen.

8. InshaAllah with good intentions, doa and diligence, we can turn the College closure into learning opportunities for ourselves and our children.

9. e-Learning will not take place during official Term Holidays (28 March to 13 April). This is

to ensure work-life balance for our staff and school-home balance for our students.

So verily with every difficulty there is relief: Surah Al-Inshirah 94, Verse 5 & 6 Allah will reward those with patience with a threefold reward: blessings, mercy and guidance. “Be sure we shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods or lives or the fruits of your toil, but give good tidings to those who patiently persevere: Surah Al-Baqarah 2, Verse 155-157 Mohammad Hallak Vice-Principal