Dear Parents,

Thank-you for your patience and support as we continue to work through this very challenging coronavirus situation. This letter is to update you on two important considerations this month: 1) the original Spring Break and, 2) the most recent announcement of resumption of classes in Macau.

1. Spring Break (March 30- April 4)
We had hoped to be back to school sometime this month and that was why we moved the Spring Break from the last week in March to the week of March 2nd. Now that we find the original date for Spring Break almost upon us and classes still suspended, the decision has been made that staff and families who choose to travel during the original Spring Break will be accommodated, but with considerations and conditions.

Please consider the following:

• travel to different countries is getting more difficult and there are many travel advisories, with many countries being labelled as high risk. For your safety and and the health of others, please do not travel to any of these destinations.
• airlines are cancelling service to and from countries based on the spread of the virus.
• quarantines are being implemented in Macau and other countries, depending on the spread.

If you choose to travel the following conditions apply:

• travellers take responsibility for any and all quarantines that may apply upon arrival to the destination country, or back to Macau.
• if notice is given that classes will start again, your travel does not interfere with your child’s ability to attend the classes.
• online teaching will continue that week, but teachers will adjust the learning in consideration for themselves and for families that may choose to travel.

As the global situation is changing daily, be sure to monitor and adjust your plans accordingly.

2. Resumption of Classes Announcement

As many of you may be aware, the government announced yesterday that non-tertiary classes will resume no later than April 20th, based on an assessment of the public health situation regarding disease control in Macao and neighbouring cities. If you have not seen the news, here is the link to the government announcement. In addition, there will be special arrangements for Form 6 (grade 12) students to allow them to return to school at the end of March on a voluntary basis, so they can prepare for university admission.

This is good news and we are excited about the potential of getting back to classes sooner rather than later.

To prepare for classes resuming by the suggested dates, it is important for all families to make the necessary plans so that your children will be able to start back. We will be sharing the actual start back dates for TIS Macao, by grade, before the end of March. This should give families enough time to return to Macau and take into consideration necessary quarantines. We are planning to implement a staggered start, beginning with the high school grades and then proceeding down to Kindergarten over a span of one week. More information will be provided to parents next week.

The government is allowing for students in Grade 12 courses to start back, voluntarily, as early as March 30th, but conditions will apply. The Administration is reviewing the criteria and will plan for this accommodation accordingly, for Diploma Exam courses and IB Exam courses. It will be designed as optional and tutorial, with no new information being presented, but as an opportunity to prepare and review. More specific information will be shared next week with our students enrolled in these courses.

Let’s continue to hope that all goes well and we are able to get back to normal routines in the very near future.

Sincerely,

Mark Lockwood
Head of School

新型冠狀病毒狀況更新 (COVID-19) – 復活節假期及復課安排

致親愛的家長：
先在此感謝家長們在這段時間的耐心及支持，學校承諾將繼續努力，克服這段因新型冠狀病毒情況而受影響的時期。學校祈透過此函向家長交待兩件重要事項：
1）原定的復活節假期安排；2）澳門教青局新宣佈的復課安排。

1. 原定的復活節假期（3月30至4月4日）

學校原設想能在這個月復課，為免有礙學生的學習情況，故此宣佈將原定於3月最後一週開始的復活節假期挪到3月2日那一週。然而，目前已接近原定的復活節假期日子，可惜仍處於停課階段。因此，原定在復活節假期內出遊的學生及教職員可在深思熟慮及具備條件的情況下，保有外遊計劃。

請務必深思以下幾點：

• 目前已有多個國家及地區發出旅遊警示或被列為高風險地區的情況下，出境外遊變得越來越困難。為保障自身及其他人的健康，請不要前往那些地區
• 由於病毒傳播的關係，航空公司取消了部份來往班機
• 根據疫情的不同，澳門及其他國家或地區正實施隔離措施

若堅持外遊，請遵從以下條件：

• 旅客必須在抵達目的地國家或返回澳門時，配合任何及所有檢疫措施
• 旅程並不影響子女出席課堂學習
• 該週將繼續進行線上學習。老師會根據外旅中的學生情況，調整學習內容
• 全球疫情情況持續變化，請務必監控及相應地調整外旅計劃。

2. 復課通知

誠如閣下所知，澳門社會文化司司長歐陽瑜昨日表示，考慮到本澳及鄰近地區的疫情發展，疫情防範工作由防內地輸入轉變為防外地輸入，本澳非高等教育學校預計不遲於4月20日復課，至於高三學生預計可在3月底回校，作升大準備。詳事請參考澳門特區政府新型冠狀病毒感染應變協調中心 — 抗疫專頁。

我們為這個好消息感到興奮，因為學校有望盡早復課。

為復課作準備，所有家庭必須做好計劃，讓孩子順利復課。學校將按年級在3月底前公佈確實的復課日期，好讓家庭在配合必要的隔離措施的同時，順利返回澳門。學校目前計劃逐步回校上課，從高中開始，然後在一星期的時間內慢慢恢復至幼稚園回校上課。下週將有更多消息向家長公佈。

澳門特區政府允許高中三年級學生在有條件的情況下，最早於3月30日自願返校，為考取大學作準備。學校管理層目前正審查標準，並就加拿大艾伯塔文憑試以及IB國際文憑考試作相應的安排。有可能以自由參與或補課的形式進行，授課內容以鞏固舊有知識為主，不教授新內容。下週將有更多消息向選修有關科目的學生公佈。

希望接下來一切順利，在不久的將來我們能夠回歸正常的生活。

祝安

Mark Lockwood
澳門國際學校負責人