25 Jan 2022
Tuesday 1st February - Years 7, 11 and 12
Wednesday 2nd February - Years 8, 9, 10
Dear Parents & Carers
Just some advance notice :
Students will begin school as advertised Year 7, 11 and 12 on Tuesday 1st February.
Teachers will prepare lessons so that at a moment’s notice, we can change from face to face learning to online learning as required.
The Department have worked up some lessons for Years 7-10 which are on the Learning from Home hub and students and parents are invited to use these. I would suggest first to check the school’s Google classroom for each subject as teachers will be preparing work and posting it so that we can continue in either delivery-that is: face to face learning or online learning.
Swimming Carnival
The Swimming Carnival is now a competitors only event which means that students can attend if they are competing. Otherwise students are expected to attend school and continue learning in the classroom. It is expected that only a small number of students will attend to compete in the Swimming Carnival in preparation for the Zone Swimming Carnivals.
COVID Protocols
All staff vaccinated
Rapid Antigen testing for all staff and students twice weekly.
Staff and students to wear masks in the classroom, corridors.
Please note cloth masks are deemed to be ineffective. Masks must be surgical masks, N95, KN95 or P2 masks.
Students will be kept in cohort groups
There will be no mixing of years on school premises.
Students will be assigned a playground area for each year.
Canteen will have minimum numbers in the canteen area
Cohort Lines will be outside awaiting their time at canteen. We have new providers in the Canteen and I know that many parents and students will be happy about this.
Some extra curricular activities will continue but only in cohort groups. Stay tuned for meeting times for individual years.
Students and staff to use hand sanitiser on the way in and way out of the classroom.
Desks sanitised at the beginning and end of lessons.
Students cannot play contact sports at break time.
No visitors onsite.
Parents onsite for any specific purpose must be vaccinated.
I know this sounds very prescriptive but we are doing everything we can to minimise risk.
Rapid Antigen Test Kits
Students will need to have had a Rapid Antigen Test before attending school on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Parents will be given Rapid Antigen Test kits which will be available for collection on Friday and Monday.
The office staff and Senior Exec will all be assisting with this distribution.
Please note, the front carpark will be closed to all cars on Friday and Monday with the exception of parents who can collect the RAT kits via a drive through process which starts at the top gate onto school premises ( near the drop off Zone). Staff will be on hand to direct parents. Our aim is to make this a quick and painless collection for parents. There will also be one walk up collection point for those people who do not have private transport. Once again staff will be there to assist.
We are asking parents of students in years 7, 11 and 12 to collect tests on Friday 28th January. 8.30 AM - 2.30 PM.
Parents of students in Years 8, 9, 10 to collect on Monday 31st January 8.30 AM - 2.30 PM.
If parents have students in multiple years , they will only need to do one collection. Parents are asked to inform the staff member of the names of the students in their family.
I do hope that you have managed to have a relaxing break and have spent quality time with your loved ones. I know Covid has cast a shadow, but we will work together to make the best of the situation.
Looking forward to seeing all our students’ bright smiling faces on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Tuesday 1st February - Years 7, 11 and 12
Wednesday 2nd February - Years 8, 9, 10
Regards
Narelle Vazquez
Principal
Northmead CAPA