Returning to full-time face-to-face learning

This guide provides advice for parents and carers.

This information has been updated as at Friday, 22 May 2020, until further notice.

 Schools are safe and open for full-time face-to-face learning.

All schools are returning to full-time face-to-face onsite learning from Monday, 25 May. All school activities and operations will be in-line with the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) and NSW Health guidelines, as applicable. We look forward to welcoming all students back to school for learning, with their classroom teacher and in their regular classroom.

In the latest AHPPC guidelines, students do not need to follow physical distancing guidelines in schools but should follow good hygiene practices like:

•     Regularly washing hands,

•     Avoiding sharing drinks or food,

•     Coughing or sneezing into their elbow, or a tissue, which should be discarded immediately, followed by washing their hands.

School attendance

All students are expected to be at school from Monday, 25 May, unless:

•     They have a medical certificate which states that they are unable to return to school due to an ongoing medical condition, or

•     They are currently unwell. Please notify the school office of your child’s absence due to illness. Please note: A medical certificate is required if the absence is longer than three days.

Students who have a medical certificate to stay at home will continue to be supported with their learning from home if they are well enough. These regular procedures are different from what was offered during the learning from home period. If you require work to be provided to your child while they are at home due to an underlying health condition, you should contact your child’s classroom teacher for assistance.

Please note: Students who live with a family member in one of the categories identified as being at increased risk by the AHPPC should attend school unless a medical practitioner advises otherwise in writing.

If your child is unwell, do not send them to school. If they are unwell at school, you or your nominated emergency contact will be asked to collect them as soon as possible. Please make sure your contact details are up-to-date. If a student is absent for more than three days, without a medical certificate, this will be recorded as an unauthorised absence and followed up by the school. If you need any support to get your child back to school, please contact your child’s teacher, an Assistant Principal or the Principal.
Reporting and assessment

Your child’s learning has been assessed before, and during the learning from home period. Students will also participate in additional assessments on their return to school. You will receive your child’s Semester 1 report before the end of Term 2; however, it will be a simplified version of the report you normally receive. We will not be grading students using the five-point A-E scale. The report will include an English, mathematics and general comment, as well as feedback regarding commitment to learning and attendance.

School activities

Teachers will continue to follow the same NESA approved school curriculum with the exception of some activities that can’t go ahead for now.

What children can do:

•       Use the school library,

•       Engage in non-contact sporting activities,

•       Order lunch from the Holbrook Bakery on Mondays and Fridays.

What students can’t do:

•       School assemblies (unless for critical information, and preferably outside in these instances),

•       School incursions and excursions, including school camps,

•       Inter-school activities (debating, inter-school sport),

•       In-school activities requiring parent or other volunteers (Special Religious Education, literacy groups etc.),

•       Drink from a water bubbler – it is essential to bring a water bottle each day.

School cleaning and hygiene supplies

Our school will continue to receive additional cleaning in line with the AHPPC guidelines and advice from NSW Health. Targeted areas include high-touch areas and other hard surfaces, door handles, light switches and handrails. There is also additional cleaning of toilets, playground areas and topping up of supplies like soap throughout the day. In classrooms, students and teachers are encouraged to use disinfectant wipes to clean their own learning spaces after each lesson or learning period. Our school has received ample supplies of soap, hand sanitiser, toilet paper, paper towels, disinfectant wipes and personal protective equipment.

School grounds

Visits to our school site by parents and other adults should be limited, unless essential. If required, you should attend the office foyer only, one family at a time. Please telephone or email the school where possible. Uniforms can still be purchased, preferably on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays. At school drop off and pick up times, parents/carers are requested to avoid entering school grounds. Wherever possible, P&C and parent/carer/teacher meetings should be conducted virtually or via the telephone. At this stage, community use of facilities agreements will not be recommencing.

Responding to COVID-19 cases

There is a clear plan in place for schools to respond to any suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 in our schools. We are working closely with NSW Health and will communicate with parents/carers if a situation should arise.

Regards

Nathan Fisher

Principal