Dear Students, Parents and Teachers,

As the Government announced on Wednesday 17 February, the 5 day ‘circuit breaker’ lockdown has finished as no new cases have been recorded.

Hence all Victorian, schools, universities and TAFE are back at work. 

In relation to the classes of the Victorian School of Languages, we will resume the Centre classes this Saturday 20 February (and relevant dates mid-week).

All students over the age of 12 and all teachers are required to carry a mask with them, and to wear them if safe distancing cannot be maintained.

Teachers should continue to wear face masks when not teaching.

Let's hope that we have seen the last of the lockdowns.

• All Distance Education classes will operate as normal during school hours Monday to Friday.
• For enquiries for distance education courses for 2021 contact the VSL Enrolment Officer on (03) 9474 0500 – enrolments are open at: https://www.vsl.vic.edu.au/enrol/
• It is planned to have Distance Education student seminars either at the Thornbury site or at the city location commencing in March 2021.

Distance Education Health Measures

• Distance Education staff are required to maintain social distancing and OHS measures and the COVID Safe Plan.
• Distance Education teachers are not required to wear face masks or coverings while teaching but should wear them at other times.
• Distance Education teachers are required to sign in when coming into the building or use their mobile phone to scan the code of the ‘Service Victoria’ app.

Our school is very excited about our return to more regular program delivery in 2021.

Thank you to all students, teachers and parents for your co-operation and understanding during the challenging 2020 school year.

We must, however, continue to maintain our social distancing and hygiene practices and wear masks when travelling on public transport or in crowded place. We certainly do not want to experience Stage 3 of the coronavirus restrictions again.

Best wishes to everyone for a safe holiday period and a smooth start to the 2021 school year.

• All Centre classes from Foundation to Year 12 (VCE) resume for on-site learning at the respective Centres across Victoria on Saturday 6 February (and equivalent dates for mid-week classes).
• VCE courses will be delivered according to the published schedules and timelines of the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (check VCAA webpage) – our school will meet all of the timelines.
• If students or parents need clarification about the session dates they may check them on our web site at: https://www.vsl.vic.edu.au/SessionsMidWeek.aspx

• Student enrolments for 2021 are open and will need to be completed online.

• The enrolments will continue to be open until the places in the individual classes are filled.

Health Measures

• The VSL will implement the latest health measures as determined by the Department of Education and Training.
• Face masks must always be carried by students over the age of 12 and also by all teaching and non-teaching staff.
• Face masks are not required in schools when people distance from others, however, they are strongly recommended indoors for staff and secondary school students in school environments when physical distancing of 1.5 metres cannot be maintained. This may include classrooms, corridors and communal areas.
• Existing exemptions continue, including masks not being required when teaching.
• Face masks continue to be mandatory on public transport and school buses.
• All teachers and students are required to maintain appropriate social distancing, and students need to use hand sanitiser as they enter a classroom.
• Until canteens reopen, students need to bring a drink bottle of water and, if they require it, their own recess snacks – food must not be shared.
• Parents are requested to maintain social distancing when they drop off and pick up their children at their respective Centres.

 Our school is very excited about our return to face-to-face teaching in 2021.

 Thank you to all students, teachers and parents for your co-operation and understanding during the challenging 2020 school year when we transitioned to remote teaching and learning.

 We must, however, continue to maintain our social distancing and hygiene practices and wear masks when travelling on public transport or in crowded place. We certainly do not want to experience Stage 3 of the coronavirus restrictions again.

Best wishes to everyone for a safe holiday period and a smooth start to the 2021 school year.

The VSL is pleased to announce that 2021 classes and programs for new students are open for enrolment. To match your language and location go to the VSL web site and use the Language Quickfinder.

For detailed information about languages, levels and mode of learning see Courses and  to enrol choose Request Enrolment.

Through its Distance Education Section, the VSL has developed new online courses for VCE Hindi, Punjabi and Vietnamese (Second Language), aimed at students who cannot otherwise study the language in a classroom setting.

These courses will be delivered through the VSL’s specially designed learning platform, which allows students to access a rich variety of digital resources to practise reading, writing, listening and speaking.

 For 2021 students can enrol to study online:

• Hindi VCE Units 1-4 
• Punjabi VCE Units 1&2 (with VCE Units 1-4 available in 2022) 
• Vietnamese (SL) VCE Units 1&2 (with VCE Units 1-4 available in 2022

For more information see Courses/Overview/Distance Education on our website or call 9474 0500.