Associate Principal, Operations Report

It has been good to settle into the new term smoothly.  We are all, I think, conscious of our good fortune to this point with being outside “lock-down” areas.

Nonetheless, we need to be prepared for all eventualities and we have noted with interest the requirement of people in the metropolitan area to wear masks from this week.   The government has encouraged such use in non-metropolitan areas, in situations where people cannot effectively socially distance.

Accordingly, as Dr Hirst has noted, we have determined to strongly encourage the wearing of masks whilst on buses or when in the grounds at school. Wearing masks at other times is quite permissible too – the only restriction we have placed on mask-wearing is that the mask must not be defaced. 

Several staff have begun modelling this behaviour at school. There may be some local excursions which can proceed if masks are worn.  In many local junior sports, officials are wearing masks so the competition can occur. Arrangements for our boarders will be advised by Mr Monk.

Given the increasing need for these items, we ask all school families to arrange protective masks for their Senior School students and to encourage their use. 

Academic Assistance

To avoid confusion, I’d like to clarify the situation for students leaving Academic Assistance early.  We do want parental communication about this – ideally this should be in the Record Book (ie, please add a note detailing the time you wish to collect your son or daughter) – but it is also important to avoid unnecessary visits to the school grounds by parents in the current climate.  In a situation where family arrangements have changed late and there is no means of contacting a student, the parent is asked to come only as far as the Library entrance, to sanitise and to arrange then to meet their child outside and to then return immediately to the car.

We do not want parents to feel we are being difficult but this keeps us within the guidelines issued to schools and thereby helps to keep our community safe.

Thank you for your understanding as we negotiate this period.

Neil MacLean

Associate Principal, Operations