¡Hola estudiantes!
Please read the updates below, regarding our availability of face-to-face lessons due to COVID restrictions.
Latest update 25/10/21
The Victorian government has made a recent announcement in regards to the easing of restrictions for adult education.
From the announcement, the potential time for returning to classrooms will be on the last week of November. At that stage, indoors density limits will no longer apply and face masks will not be required indoors, except for a few sensitive settings.
November 25 has been mentioned as the tentative date for the changes above to occur. However, that date might change as it is subject to vaccination rates.
We will definitely keep you updated once we have a concrete date as we approach the end of November.
Finally, positions are constantly changing and there is no clear indication at this point as to what people who are not fully vaccinated by that time may be able to do. If you are in that situation, we can discuss this issue further closer to the date.
We will make every effort to provide the best possible services within the restrictions at that time.
Update 7/7/21
Great news! Face mask restrictions for classroom have been lifted again and now we are able to resume our face-to-face lessons!
All courses originally running in person will resume in this format. All online courses will continue via Zoom.
Update 25/5/21
Due to the latest COVID outbreak, face mask requirements in indoor spaces have been temporarily reinstated.
This means our face-to-face classes are temporarily suspended. Classes will continue online via Zoom.
We will switch back to face-to-face learning as soon as the restrictions are eased. Please check your email for updates and thank you for your understanding.
Update 12/2/21
Great news! Face mask restrictions have been lifted again and now we are able to resume our face-to-face lessons!
All courses originally running in person will resume in this format. All online courses will continue via Zoom.
Previous updates:
Update 12/2/21
Unfortunately, the new COVID outbreak still seems to be an ongoing issue, so it is likely that face masks requirements indoors will be with us for a while.
As you know, our position is that learning a language with face masks on is likely not a very enjoyable experience. For this reason, face-to-face lessons will remain suspended until this restriction is lifted.
All our groups will continue online via Zoom from next week. However, we will immediately switch back to face-to-face classes as soon as we are allowed to go back in the classrooms without face masks.
Update 5/2/21
Due to last Thursday’s COVID outbreak, face mask requirements in indoor spaces have been temporarily reinstated.
This means our face-to-face classes are temporarily suspended. Some groups will continue online via Zoom, while others will be suspended until next week.
Please check your email for updates regarding the continuation of your course.
Update 20/01/2021:
From last Sunday 17/1/2021 all requirements regarding wearing masks indoors in classroom settings have been removed. This means that most of our courses will run face-to-face in term 1 2021!
Some courses will still run online as requested by continuing participants from last year.
Information about the format of your preferred course is available in our enrolment page. Alternatively, please contact us for more information.
For more information about current restrictions regarding face masks, please visit: https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/face-masks
Previous updates:
As you know, Melbourne has come a long way this year and we are doing a great job in keeping COVID-19 cases under control.
We know you have missed seeing your classmates in person, so we are happy to announce that we are planning to go back to face-to-face classes in our beloved school in South Yarra in 2021!
To ensure everyone’s safety, we are closely following the COVID safe guidelines from the Victoria government.
On January 5 2021, restrictions regarding face masks changed and it became again mandatory wearing them in classrooms settings. Since wearing a face mask in a language course is very impractical and uncomfortable, we will not be able to return to our classrooms for our summer intensive courses as planned. These courses will run online.
However, because we are optimistic and the current outbreak appears to be under control, we are still aiming to run face-to-face lessons in term 1, from February 1. This would of course depend on restrictions easing back to COVID Summer safe levels, in other words, what we had during the last weeks of December and before the current outbreak.
Here is a summary of the considerations in the COVID Summer safe guidelines that will apply to our face-to-face classes:
– We will keep our classes small as usual (6 students average), even though there is no density quotient cap in classroom settings for adult education according to government guidelines.
– Face masks are recommended in the classroom but not mandatory.
– Social distancing of 1.5m is encouraged when possible.
– Students should not come to class if they feel ill or show any symptoms
– Classrooms and facilities will be sanitised before and after each class and hand sanitiser will be provided for the students and teachers.
– Students must sign in when they enter the school to facilitate record keeping and tracing if necessary.
– Farolito Spanish will implement a COVIDSafe plan as per government requirements.
Our number one priority is our students and teachers’ safety, so we will closely follow government directions regarding COVID-19 restrictions & updates. If you would like more information, visit Victoria Public Health webpage and refer to the latest COVID Safe Summer advice.
¡Muchas gracias y hasta pronto!
