Callaghan College Waratah Campus

Collaborating to empower learners

Telephone02 4968 1939

Emailwaratah-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Students return to full-time face to face learning from Monday 25 May 2020

Principal's Message in Text

Dear families,

Good afternoon everyone. No doubt you have heard that NSW public schools will return to face to face teaching for students on Monday 25 May. We are looking forward to resuming schooling as normal and continuing learning for all students.

I would personally like to thank our entire school community for the support they have given us during this very challenging time. I believe my staff here at Waratah have risen to the occasion and I have passed on the many emails of thanks that we have received from parents and carers. We are looking forward to seeing our students again and re-starting all the wonderful experiences of school life.

Below are some guidelines for operations on our return:

School attendance

All students should be at school 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 note that as per NSW Department of Education guidelines, if a student is absent without a medical reason for more than three days, this will be recorded as an unauthorised absence and will be followed up, as per our normal procedures.

School activities

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

What students can do:

  • Use the school library and borrow
  • Play sport at school as long it’s not a contact sport
  • School based apprenticeships and traineeships can recommence once the relevant workplaces are back in operation

What students can’t do:

  • School incursions and excursions including camps
  • Work experience
  • Inter-school activities (debating, inter-school sport)
  • In-school activities requiring parent or other volunteers

Reporting and assessment

Your child’s learning progress has been monitored during the learning from home period and will be closely examined on their return to school. You will receive your child’s Semester 1 report before the end of July (Week 2, Term 3). This will be a simplified version of the report you normally receive.

School grounds

  • The canteen will be open with a slightly reduced menu for safe food preparation. Students are encouraged to order their food before school to avoid disappointment.
  • We have reduced the number of students in the canteen space and have installed plastic screens at each cash register. Hand sanitiser will be available for students on entry.
  • There should be no visitors to school site unless they are essential. If school staff invite you in to school they will outline our health and safety procedures on your arrival.

School cleaning

There will be additional cleaning at school in line with the AHPPC guidelines and advice from NSW Health. Target areas include high-touch areas such as door handles, light switches and handrails in stairways and movement areas. There will also be additional cleaning of toilets and handles and topping up of supplies like soap.

Good Hygiene

According to advice we have received, students do not need to follow strict adult physical distancing guidelines, but should follow good hygiene practices like:

  • regularly washing hands
  • avoiding sharing drinks or food
  •  coughing or sneezing into your elbow, or a tissue which should be discarded immediately
  • maintaining physical distancing from teachers and school staff.

However, please remember, if your child is unwell, do not send them to school. If they are unwell at school, you or your nominated emergency contact will need to collect them immediately. Please ensure your child’s contact details are up to date.

Transport

According to Transport NSW and Department of Education advice, school students, where possible, will be given priority over other passengers. ASTP and dedicated school services will continue as normal.

For more information go to https://transportnsw.info/covid-19

We appreciate there has been significant change for all our students and our community over the past several weeks. We know that the wellbeing of your children may need further support on return and have put systems in place for this increased need. We are looking forward to welcoming everyone back on campus, and resuming lessons face to face next week.

Kind regards,

Hayley Macdonald