07 May 2020
Dear families,
We are looking forward to moving into Phase 1 of the staged return next week and seeing some of our students back on site each day.
For those that missed my email last week, here is a copy of the Phase 1 Organisation Newsletter as well as advice from the DoE for pick up and drop off points at school. Some of the information in the latter document is not relevant to Secondary Schools but the general information is useful.
I have provided more answers to some frequently asked questions about next week's return to school below. In addition, I have recorded all this information in my assembly speech for Monday morning so students can hear it that morning before the return on Tuesday.
We understand that this is an anxious time for all students and parents and want to make sure your return is as smooth as possible.
Entry to school:
- parents are asked to stay in the car when they drop off their student/s and to be mindful of keeping appropriate distances between car spaces at pick up and drop off.
- students will enter through the school gate closest to their bus or drop off point.
- there will be no parents on school grounds during Phase 1. If you need to contact the school please do so via email or phone.
- students will move directly to their playground space listed on this information sheet. Year 7 will be in Harris Street playground, Year 8 in the canteen area, Year 9 in the main quad and Year 10 in the grassed quad.
- the expectation is that students will move to their area as they arrive at school and stay in this area until the morning bell.
- extra bathrooms will be opened and these will be communicated to students in my assembly speech and repeated at the start of each day.
When the bell goes at 8.45am:
- students will move to the outdoor covered learning area (COLA) and sit spaced out in their year groups. Reduced numbers on site will mean that students will have room to space themselves 1.5 metres away from each other.
- rolls will be marked in year groups and students who require a loan device will be taken to the library to have one issued. They will keep this device all day and the device will be cleaned overnight for use the next day.
- students will follow their normal timetable and will go to their normal rooms throughout the day. They will be in classes of no more than 10-12 students and will have their own classroom teacher to assist them with their learning. Hand sanitiser will be stationed in each classroom and students will be reminded about hand hygiene throughout the day.
- the canteen will not be open at recess or lunch and students will need to bring their own food and drink bottles during this phase.
- at the end of the day students will leave the school grounds through the gate closest to their pick up point or bus stop. The Deputy Principals and Head Teachers will be monitoring these gates to ensure students are leaving safely and respectfully. Parents are asked to stay in their cars at the end of the school day.
- Special education parents will receive separate communication outlining the procedures for these students.
Days of the week
- Monday will be a pupil free day on campus apart from students who need to attend school every day. This day will be spent consolidating learning online from the previous week, submitting tasks, catching up on any learning not completed and getting ready for the week ahead.
- Tuesday to Friday has a house group designated to each day. Please stick to your child's allocated day to assist us with numbers. If you have a special request please contact the school. If there are two family members in different houses you may choose to attend on the day of the youngest family member.
Please read the additional documents (hyperlinked above) and encourage your child to listen to my assembly speech on Monday. I hope this helps you discuss some of the finer details with your child to ensure they are as comfortable as possible for this return.
Take care, stay safe and we look forward to seeing your students next week.
Kind regards,
Hayley