A Letter from the Education Bureau of Dongguan

Dear parents,

Below is a letter from the Education Bureau of Dongguan. The letter is dated January 31st, 2020. The translation is provided by TLC International School on February 1st, 2020. The translation is for reference only. The original Chinese text takes precedence.

亲爱的家长们,

以下是东莞市教育局在2020年1月31日发给家长的一封信。翻译由TLC国际学校提供,翻译日期为2020年2月1日。译文仅供参考, 内容以中文为准。


各位家长:

今天是大年初七,在此先向您道一声新年好!

突如其来的新型冠状病毒疫情,打破了我们学习生活的节奏;占据各大新闻媒体头条的疫情消息,也时时牵动着我们的心。疫情发生以来,我们一直挂念全市的师生家长,特别是身处疫区和受到疫情影响的同学及家长。在此,我们衷心祝愿每一位师生家长平安健康、阖家幸福!

Dear parents,

Today is the seventh day of the Chinese New Year. Let us take the opportunity to wish you a happy New Year!

The sudden outbreak of the new coronavirus has disrupted the pace of our study and life. The news of the epidemic has dominated the headlines of all major media outlets as well as grabbed the attention of us all. Since the outbreak, we have been concerned about the teachers, students, and parents across the city, especially the students and parents in the affected areas of the epidemic. We sincerely wish all the teachers, students, and parents to remain safe and in good health.

我们也知道,很多家长在响应号召做好疫情防范的同时,对假期和新学期的学习生活也有着一些困惑和疑问:开学日期渐渐临近,东莞会不会延迟开学?如果延迟开学,孩子的学业怎么办?家长可以为孩子做些什么?可不可以让孩子去培训机构参加培训?从湖北返莞的家长同学该怎样做才最安全?……

We also know that many parents, while responding to the call of taking precautions against the outbreak, have some confusion and questions regarding the holiday and the study life of the new semester: Will the start of school be delayed in Dongguan as the start date is approaching? If school starts later, what happens to the child’s studies? What can parents do for their children? Can the child attend extra classes in a training institution? How to ensure the safety of students returning from Hubei as well as classmates who may come into contact with them? …

  1. 开学日期渐渐临近,东莞会不会延迟开学?School starting date is approaching, will Dongguan delay the start of the semester?

为阻断疫情向校园蔓延,确保师生生命安全和身体健康,教育部和广东省政府先后发布了关于2020年春季学期延期开学的通知,明确我省中小学、幼儿园2月17日前不开学。我们将根据疫情形势和防控情况,科学研判后再确定具体开学时间。为便于大家做好准备,正式开学时间会至少提前一周通知。所以,为防控疫情、减少外出,尚在外地的家长同学不用着急返莞。

In order to stop the spreading of the epidemic to campuses and ensure the welfare of teachers and students, the ministry of education and the Guangdong provincial government have issued a notice regarding the postponement of the start of the spring semester of 2020, making it clear that primary, middle, high schools, and kindergartens in our province will not start before February 17. We will determine the specific start time after scientific research and judgment according to the epidemic situation and prevention and control situation. To make it easier for everyone to get ready, the official start time will be announced at least one week in advance. Therefore, in order to prevent and control the epidemic, please limit going outside and only do so for essential reasons. Parents and students who are still in other places do not have to worry about returning to Dongguan hastily.

  1. 延迟开学期间,孩子的学习怎么办?How to deal with the children’s study during the school term postponement period?

请家长放心,教育部门和学校早已想在前面,做好了“停课不停教、停课不停学”的准备工作!不能面对面在课堂上课,我们就启动网络课堂,开展信息化教学,让孩子们在家也能学习。我们还为高三、初三毕业年级制定了专门的线上教学方案,即使是高三、初三的学生,也完全不必担心!网络课堂高三将于2月10日开启、初三2月17日开启。网络课堂学习的具体方式我们会尽快通过学校告知您的。

Please rest assured that the education department and the school are thinking ahead to prevent a scenario where no school means no learning for students. If it’s impossible to have a face-to-face class, we will start online classes, so that children are able to learn at home. We have also developed a special online teaching program for high school and middle school graduates. Even for high school and middle school graduating students, there is no need to worry! The online class will be instigated on February 10 for high school graduate students and February 17 for middle school graduate students. We will inform you as soon as possible about the specific learning methods in the online classroom.

 

*Please note that the information regarding online classes is a recommendation to local Chinese schools. TLC has its own plan and dates for online classes.

*请注意,信上提到的关于在线课程的信息是针对当地公立学校。TLC保留自己的在线课程计划与日期。

  1. 假期延长,家长可以为孩子做些什么?What can parents do for their children during the extended holiday?

为了防控新型冠状病毒感染的肺炎,不少家庭选择了“宅”在家。延迟开学,“宅”在家的时间就更长了。这段时间其实也是很多平时没有多少时间“陪娃”的家长培养孩子良好习惯、增进父母子女感情的好时机。建议家长好好利用这个假期,培养亲子关系,做好亲子学习、亲子阅读,引导孩子热爱祖国、关爱同胞、敬畏自然、关心家人、珍爱生命。防控疫情,也可以成为孩子成长的一堂人生教育课。 

In order to prevent and control the new coronavirus infection of pneumonia, many families have chosen to stay at home. We encourage you to take this unique opportunity to spend time with your children and strengthen the bond of family, whose importance is highlighted in light of the current situation. It is suggested that parents make good use of this holiday to cultivate the parent-child relationship, do a good job in parent-child learning and reading, and guide your children to love the motherland, care for compatriots, respect nature, care for their families and cherish life. Prevention and control of the epidemic can also become a life education lesson for the growth of children.

  1. 可不可以让孩子去培训机构参加培训?Can my child go to a training institution to attend extra classes?

为做好疫情防控工作,我市已要求各教育培训机构从2020年1月24日起全面停止各类线下聚集型的授课活动。为降低感染风险,在此我们呼吁大家为了健康安全,千万不要让孩子去培训机构参加培训。如发现有培训机构违规组织学生培训,也欢迎家长举报。

In order to be effective in epidemic prevention and control, the city has required all education and training institutions to stop all kinds of offline teaching activities from January 24, 2020. In order to reduce the risk of infection, we hereby appeal to you to avoid sending your children to training institutions for health and safety. Parents are also welcome to report any violations by training institutions.

 

  1. 从湖北返莞的家长同学该怎样做才最安全? What is the protocol for parents and students returning from Hubei province?

我们一直非常关注关心湖北特别是武汉的师生家长,希望大家都能平安返回东莞。日前,市疾病预防控制中心发出了《致湖北返莞或来莞朋友的倡议书》,根据疫情防控的要求,请从湖北返莞的家长同学本着对自己和他人生命健康负责的态度,一定要第一时间向所在社区报到、向班主任老师报告,并严格按照指引居家隔离,等确认安全后再返校。在这期间的学业问题,学校会有指引和安排,请家长放心!根据有关法律法规,如瞒报谎报有关信息、不按规定执行防控措施,造成疫情扩大或其他重大损失,您可能需承担法律责任。

We have been paying close attention to the teachers and parents in Hubei, especially in Wuhan. We hope everyone can return to Dongguan safely. A few days ago, the Dongguan Center for Disease Control and Prevention issued a statement regarding the returnees from Hubei province. According to the requirements of disease prevention and control, parents and students coming back from Hubei province must act with a sense of responsibility for their health and others around them. Hence, they must immediately report to the community, report to their core teacher, and conduct themselves in strict accordance with the guidelines of home quarantine.  They may return to school once they have been cleared because they are virus-free. During this period of academic problems, the school will have guidelines and arrangements, please rest assured! According to relevant laws and regulations, you may be liable for concealing relevant information or failing to implement prevention and control measures as required, resulting in the expansion of the epidemic or other major losses.

  1. 如果有问题咨询或情况反映,我可以联系谁?Who can I contact if I have any questions or feedback?

如果您有问题咨询或情况反映,请及时向班主任老师反映;若有心理健康方面的问题需要咨询,请联系学校心理健康老师,联系方式将由班主任老师告知大家。同时,为了打好疫情防控阻击战,为了您的孩子和同学们的健康,我们需要清楚掌握每位同学的状况。如果老师经常在家长群里要求您填表、报告,甚至拨打您的电话了解孩子的身体、学业和生活情况,请您一定要理解支持、主动配合。不管在前线,还是在后方,都有一群人在默默为大家保驾护航。

If you have any questions or feedback, please report to your core teacher. If you have any worries or anxieties, please contact the school counselor. Please remain in communication with your core teacher. At the same time, in order to fight the outbreak prevention and control and for the health of your children and classmates, we need to know the situation of each student. If teachers often ask you to fill in forms, reports, or even call you to learn about your child’s physical, academic and life conditions, please be sure to understand, support, and take the initiative to cooperate. A sense of collective responsibility to each other is paramount at this time, whether from those on the front lines, or those working behind the scenes to ensure this epidemic is overcome.

法律任与义务提醒

2020年1月20日,经国务院批准,将新型冠状病毒感染的肺炎纳入《中华人民共和国传染病防治法》规定的乙类传染病,并采取甲类传染病的预防、控制措施。

《中华人民共和国传染病防治法》第十二条规定,在中华人民共和国领域内的一切单位和个人,必须接受疾病预防控制机构、医疗机构有关传染病的调查、检验、采集样本、隔离治疗等预防、控制措施,如实提供有关情况。单位和个人违反本法规定,导致传染病传播、流行,给他人人身、财产造成损害的,应当依法承担民事责任。

《刑法》第三百三十条规定:违反传染病防治法的规定,拒绝执行疾病预防控制机构依照传染病防治法提出的预防、控制措施,引起甲类传染病传播或者有传播严重危险的,处三年以下有期徒刑或者拘役;后果特别严重的,处三年以上七年以下有期徒刑。

Reminder of Legal Responsibility and Obligations

 On January 20th, 2020, with the approval of the state council, pneumonia infected by the new coronavirus was classed as a B class infectious disease stipulated in the law of the People’s Republic of China on the Prevention and Treatment of Infectious Diseases and measures were taken to prevent and control this becoming an A class infectious disease.

Article 12 of the law of the People’s Republic of China on the Prevention and Treatment of Infectious Diseases stipulates that all units and individuals within the territory of the People’s Republic of China must accept such preventive and control measures as investigation, examination, sample collection, isolation and treatment of infectious diseases by Institutions for Disease Control and Prevention and medical institutions, and truthfully provide relevant information. Any unit or individual that, in violation of the provisions of this law, contributes to or causes the spread of infectious disease and causes damage to the person or property of another person shall bear civil liability according to the law.

Article 330 of the criminal law stipulates: whoever, in violation of the provisions of the Law on the Prevention and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, refuses to carry out the preventive or control measures proposed by the Institution for Disease Control and Prevention in accordance with the Law on the Prevention and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, thus causing the spread of A class infectious diseases or causing serious danger of transmission, shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not more than three years or criminal detention; If the consequences are especially serious, he or she shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not less than three years but no more than seven years.

 

请记住我是你坚强后盾!让我们团结一心,共克疫情!春暖花开之,我再相

东莞市教育局2020年1月31日

Please be assured that we are working in the best interests of the people. We ask for your co-operation and support as we combat this virus together. We look forward to the end of this dark season and the return of a harmonious life.

Dongguan Education Bureau

January 31, 2020


Stay safe and well-informed!

Best regards,

Ana Patenaude

Head of School

注意安全并知悉!

真诚的,

Ana Patenaude

总校长