15 Oct 2021
Return to school roadmap - Message from the Department of Education
The best learning environment for students is in the classroom and we are looking forward to welcoming back our staff and students to their classrooms in next week. We know that while there will be excitement, there will also be some uncertainty about being back together at school.
We have worked with NSW Health on our COVID-safe plan to return to school sites and have put in place effective practices: vaccinations for all staff on site, mask wearing, reduced mingling of staff and student groups, ventilation in classrooms and continued good hygiene and cleaning. We are confident that this, in combination with support from our school community, will minimise risk and help to keep students learning face-to-face next to their peers.
Dear Parent / Carer,
I hope you are all back into the swing of learning from home during Term 4. This term will see a lot of changes as we gradually transition back to face-to-face learning as the Premier announced in the adjusted return to school plan. Below are the key dates and details to help prepare you and your family for the return.
Return to school roadmap
During Term 4, students will return to school in a staged approach, with no mingling or on-site activities.
In schools like ours where we have been learning from home for extended periods of time, students will return to face-to-face learning with NSW Health-approved COVID-safe settings on school sites in the following order:
· from 18 October – department preschools, Kindergarten, Year 1
· from 25 October – all remaining year groups.
The return to school roadmap is subject to change depending on advice from NSW Health. You can stay up to date with the most recent information on our Advice for families page.
For those families who have siblings across year groups I know it will be difficult to keep some at home while others are back at school. But to re-iterate the message above – we need this time to prepare our school and staff for having all our students back, so it’s essential that you only send your children to school in line with our set plan. There will still be minimal staff on site for Years 2-6 in Week 3.
Mask requirements
When students and staff return to school the following requirements are in place:
· masks are required for all staff indoors and outdoors (unless exercising or eating).
· masks are strongly recommended for primary students indoors and outdoors (unless exercising or eating).
Wellbeing resources for students and families
Please take some time to check out our wellbeing resources for students and families. You’ll find useful tools for mental health and wellbeing. Please do not hesitate to reach out if we can do anything to help you and your children to prepare for the return to face-to-face learning or if you have any concerns about the return to school.
During Term 4 many school-based activities will remain on hold until NSW Health advise otherwise. This includes large celebrations like assemblies, presentation days and graduations, arts and sports events. If NSW Health advice changes, then we will let you know about changes as soon as possible.
Onsite orientations and transition programs are not currently allowed in person on school sites until we are advised differently by NSW Health.
Thank you again for your continued support during what has already been a fast moving school term.