St. Mary’s Primary School is a BARR school. That means we are listed on the 'Bushfire At-Risk Register', a list maintained by the Department of Education of the schools and early childhood services most at risk from bushfires. These schools are categorized based on their bushfire risk and are required to have bushfire preparedness plans in place. 

The way schools in Victoria respond to bushfires is being constantly revised. Fire danger ratings and warnings are used in Victoria to provide clear direction on the safest options for preserving life.

School Procedures for the Fire Season

Schools identified as being at highest bushfire risk and included on the Bushfire At-Risk Register will be closed on days determined by fire authorities to be Catastrophic.

Where possible, we will provide parents with up to three days’ notice of a planned closure following the issue of a Catastrophic Fire Danger Rating (FDR) warning by the CFA.  We will contact you directly by email or letter sent home with your child and SMS message with advice on planned closures. We will confirm the decision to close, where possible, by 12 noon the day before the planned closure.

Once confirmed, the decision to close will not change, regardless of improvements in the weather forecast. This is to avoid confusion and help your family plan alternative care arrangements for your child.

• No staff will be onsite on days when the school is closed due to the risk of fire.

• School camps will be cancelled if the area where the camp is taking place is at risk.

• There may also be changes to school bus routes. Depending on routes, this may also occur on days when the school is not closed.

• Victoria is divided into nine Fire Weather Districts based on council boundaries; staffing of St. Mary’s Primary School may be affected by a Catastrophic FDR declared in neighboring fire districts.

• On these Catastrophic FDR days families are encouraged to enact their Bushfire Survival Plan. On such days, children should never be left at home unattended or in the care of older children.

For those of us living in a bushfire or grassfire-prone area, the safest option when a Catastrophic day is declared may be to leave the night before, or early in the morning of the Catastrophic day.

On non-catastrophic days in the event of a bushfire or grassfire or elevated risk, St. Mary’s Primary School will maintain a heightened state of readiness and continuously monitor the situational bushfire or grassfire risk by ensuring open lines of communication with local emergency services. The school will be prepared and on standby to enact the school’s EMP (Emergency Management Plan) by relocating students and staff to a nominated ‘shelter-in-place’ within the school or at Donald’s Neighbourhood Safer Place (Donald Showgrounds), if it is deemed necessary that we evacuate the school grounds.

What can parents & families do?

• Make sure your family’s Bushfire Survival Plan is up-to-date and includes alternative care arrangements for your children in the event that our school is closed.

• Ensure we have your current contact details, including your mobile phone numbers.  Keep in touch with us by reading our newsletters, by checking our website and by talking to your child’s teacher or any other member of the teaching staff about our emergency plans.

• Most importantly during this time of year (bushfire season, typically October-April), if you’re planning a holiday or short stay in the bush or in a coastal area, you should check warnings in advance of travel and remain vigilant during your stay.

• If your child is old enough, talk to them about bushfires and your family’s Bushfire Survival Plan.

For up-to-date information on this year’s fire season and Bushfire Survival Planning, visit the CFA website at www.cfa.vic.gov.au 

or call the 24-hour Victorian Bushfires Information Line on 1800 240 667.