Guyra Central School Magazine

Important Information 

Stage 2 Artwork

Covid-19 Update

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 and the expected timeframe
  • they are currently unwell.

In accordance with advice from NSW HealthExternal link, parents and carers are reminded NOT to send children to school if they are unwell, even if they have the mildest flu-like symptoms.

NSW Health has requested that schools encourage anyone who is unwell or has even mild flu-like symptoms, to arrange to be tested through their local medical practitioner or one of the COVID-19 clinicsExternal link.

Students and staff with flu-like symptoms will need to be tested and provide a copy of a negative COVID-19 test result and be symptom-free before being permitted to return to school.

Students who do not undertake a COVID-19 test result will not be permitted to return to school for a 10 day period. Additionally, they must be symptom-free for at least 3 days prior to returning to school.

Students who have seasonal allergic rhinitis or another condition that presents similarly to flu-like symptoms are still required to get tested for COVID-19 and return a negative test result. Where their symptoms continue beyond 10 days, students should provide documentation from their GP confirming their symptoms are typical for their condition. If the student develops new or changed symptoms, they should get tested for COVID-19. Find more information about COVID-19 symptomsExternal link.

COVID-19 testing for students with complex health or disability may be challenging. In these situations, schools will ask the parent or carer to have their child assessed by their medical practitioner. Where a medical practitioner determines that a COVID-19 test is not required, documentation must be provided to the school to confirm that the student does not have symptoms that warrant a COVID-19 test. The certificate must also indicate that the student is able to return to school.

Schools are not required to conduct widespread temperature screening or mandate the wearing of a mask.

All schools will be vigilant when implementing infection control, physical distancing and personal hygiene protocols to protect the health and safety of students and staff. Schools will promote the need to follow good hygiene practices such as:

  • regularly washing hands
  • avoiding sharing drinks or food
  • coughing or sneezing into your elbow, or a tissue which should be discarded immediately
  • filling water bottles from bubblers rather than using the bubbler directly.

All students and staff who reside in or have visited Victoria must have a permit to enter NSWExternal link and are required to comply with health restrictions relevant to their permit which may include the need to complete the 14 day self-isolation period commencing the last day they were in Victoria.

 

School activities and school site usage

 

What’s changed

The following activities have been updated to recommence:

  • External providers delivering education services can recommence
  • School formals, dances, graduations and other end-of-year events can proceed with a COVID-19 Safety Plan
  • P&C meetings can be held on school sites after hours with restrictions
  • Parents and carers allowed on school site to purchase or pickup uniform from the uniform shop
  • Field trips, excursions and overnight camps (including to the ACT) with restrictions
  • Duke of Edinburgh can proceed.

The following activities are approved to proceed for Term 4:

  • Practicum teaching
     
  • Field trips, excursions and camps to the ACT.

From 12 November, the following activities can take place:

  • Year 7 transition to high school in Term 4
  • school planned end of year events can proceed in a COVID-safe way while adhering to relevant COVID-19 Safety Plans
  • P&C meetings may occur on the school sites with executives and invited guests. These meetings must occur outside of school hours and are limited to a maximum of 20 people. Physical distancing and hygiene measures must be adhered to at all times. All attendees must sign the visitor acknowledgement form upon arrival. P&C or other community social events or functions, fundraisers, fetes and barbecues are not permitted in Term 4.

School activities and school site usage without change:

NSW Health has published updated advice for schoolsExternal link as we commence Term 4. Schools will apply the following are guidelines to adhere to NSW Health advice:

  • Where possible, students will stay within their relevant cohort group (i.e. class, year group, or stage) for all learning activities within their school in order to limit close contacts to the relevant student cohort.
  • Interschool activities can continue to take place.
  • Kindergarten orientation can commence in Term 4. See the orientation and transition advice for further information.
  • External providers delivering educational services can proceed during Term 4 2020 with a COVID-19 Safety Plan in place.
  • Singing and musical activities must adhere to the Department’s guidelines for singing, musical activities and creative arts consistent with NSW Health advice for group singing and musical ensemble.
  • Activities involving musical instruments can proceed. Students playing non-reeded woodwind instruments such as flutes and recorders should be positioned so that they can maintain a physical distance of 1.5 metres from all persons (including other members of the musical group). They must also maintain a minimum 3 metres space between the direction of airflow from their instruments and other performers.
  • Singing and band rehearsals and performances should take place outside or in well ventilated indoor spaces.

Visiting NSW Schools

Parents and carers are not allowed on school sites or at offsite school events held during school hours except for the following purposes only:

  • essential parent and carer meetings with teachers and/or school executives
  • parents and carers who attend a school administration building or another defined location for the purpose of picking up their child if they are unwell or where they have been asked to arrange for a COVID-19 test after their child has displayed flu-like symptoms while at school
  • parents and carers who need to be on-site for canteen and uniform shop duties or to collect or purchase uniforms
  • parent or carer volunteers required as educational support roles for activities that are essential to the delivery of the curriculum such as reading groups, music and kitchen garden areas. Schools are required to have scheduled programs in place and remind parents and carers that they must not attend school unless it has been previously arranged
  • to attend special end of year events at the invitation of the school provided that these events can be hosted while maintaining a COVID-safe environment such as:
    • Graduations, award ceremonies and other presentation events
    • School performances, plays, productions and concerts.

Activities on hold

The following events will continue to be reconsidered in Term 4. For now, these events must remain on hold.

  • Interstate excursions to VIC, QLD and SA
  • International excursions (cancelled until further notice)
  • School activities that involve gathering of parent and community members such as parent functions, working bees, school barbecues, parent information evenings and on-site cultural events
  • Parent and carer attendance at assemblies and other school activities unless it’s an end of year school event as specified above and the venue can cater for the 4 square metre distancing ruleExternal link.

Certain large arts and sports events are cancelled or delayed because they require feeder activities and have long lead time organisational arrangements. Please speak to your schools if you would like to know more.

Formals, graduations and end-of-year activities

School Formals can proceed for all year groups from 12 November 2020. All events must have a COVID-19 Safety Plan for School FormalsExternal link in place.

 

School organised formals

Schools have guidelines in place for school organised formals which include the requirement of a COVID-19 Safety Plan.

Students and their parents and carers need to be aware of the following for school organised formals:

  • Attendance is limited to the student cohort and supervising staff only.
  • If the venue has the capacity, the school can decide to allow the attendance of external visitors such as partners, DJs, and photographers. The school will need to consider and follow the current safety guidelines which includes:
    • signing in with an external visitors form
    • ensuring the venue has the capacity to maintain the 4 square metre rule for each attendee.
  • Alcohol is not permitted.
  • Maximum of 30 attendees per table (updated Friday, 23 October 2020). We recommend having 10 – 12 attendees per table.
  • Students and/or guests will not be allowed to congregate or crowd in groups including when arriving or leaving the event.
  • Dance floors are allowed and should be held outside if possible. If a dance floor is indoors, ensure it is well ventilated. Additional advice includes:
    • Dancing with partners from outside the school community is allowed only if partners are from the same local community and have an established relationship and normally socialises with the student cohort.
    • There must be sufficient room for 1.5 metres physical distancing.

Graduation and award ceremonies, speech nights and other presentation events

From 12 November, schools can plan for graduation and award ceremonies, speech nights and other presentation events provided they follow the department’s guidelines and have a COVID-19 Safety PlanExternal link in place.

Graduations and award ceremonies within the school

Students and their parents and carers will need to be aware that graduation and award ceremonies will be conducted in accordance with a the COVID-19 Safety Plan for graduation ceremonies to ensure a COVID-Safe environment for all attendees. Requirements include:

  • Guests will be invited based on the total number of people (this includes staff, students, parents & carer or visitors) who are able to be accommodated under the 4 square metre rule.
  • Maintain a record of names and contact details for all attendees including school staff and contractors for at least 28 days after the event. This record will only be used for the purposes of contact tracing for COVID-19 infections and are stored confidentially and securely.
  • All attendees including students, staff and guests attending are well and free of any flu-like symptoms.
  • For seating arrangements, the school will need to:
    • Ensure there is enough space for distancing of 1.5 metres between non-household members.
    • Seated tables will be limited to a maximum of 30 attendees per table (updated Friday, 23 October 2020).
  • External visitors will need to remain seated as much as possible to minimise mingling outside of non-household groups or close friend groups.
  • Singing and musical activities at the event must adhere to the Department’s guidelines for singing, musical activities and creative arts consistent with NSW Health advice for group singing and musical ensemble.
  • Students will need to bring their own pens if they wish to sign yearbooks or other items.
  • External visitors will not be allowed access to areas outside of the designated event venue and should leave promptly at the conclusion of the event.
  • For graduations and award ceremonies held outside of the school site, the organisers will need to ensure they follow the venue’s COVID-19 Safety Plan along with NSW Health advice of the day.
  • Catering arrangements will comply with the COVID-19 Safety Plan requirements where appropriate.

Graduations and award ceremonies outside of the school site

For graduations held outside of the school site, the organisers will need to ensure they follow the venue’s COVID-19 Safety Plan along with NSW Health advice of the day.

End of year school performances, productions, plays and concerts

End of year school performances, productions, plays and concerts can proceed.

Schools must have in place and comply with the COVID-19 Safety Plan for Cinema, theatres, concert halls, drive in cinemasExternal link when planning and conducting these events. The following considerations for schools apply:

  • Ensure that all attendees, including students, staff and visitors, including parents and carers, are well and free of any flu-like symptoms.
  • When holding an event on school sites, schools must comply with the 4 square metre rule for all people participating. Schools will need to invite guests based on the total number of people (this includes staff, students, parents & carer or visitors) who are able to be accommodated under the 4 square metre rule.
  • For seating arrangements ensure there is enough space for distancing of 1.5 metres between non-household members.
  • Ensure people remain seated as much as possible to minimise mingling outside of household or close friend groups.
  • Catering arrangements will comply with the COVID-19 Safety Plan requirements where appropriate.
  • Special guests such as the Local Member of Parliament, one videographer or photographer may attend events. Special guests must be kept to a minimum and be included in the maximum number of participants for the 4 square metre rule.
  • Singing and musical activities at the event must adhere to the department’s guidelines for singing, musical activities and creative arts consistent with NSW Health advice for group singing and musical ensemble.
  • Ensure all visitors sign the external visitors form.
  • Schools are required to maintain a record of names and contact details for all attendees including school staff and visitors for at least 28 days after the event. This record must only be used for the purposes of contact tracing for COVID-19 infections and be stored confidentially and securely. If possible, create and maintain a record of the seating plan to support contact tracing.
  • External visitors should not be allowed access to areas outside of the designated event venue and should leave promptly at the conclusion of the event.
  • When holding events at external venues, all external venues and providers must have a COVID-19 Safety Plan to ensure health and safety measures are in place.

 

Other end of year events

Schools can proceed and plan for end of year performances, productions, plays and concerts provided they comply with the department’s guidelines and NSW Health requirements for COVID-safe events.

Carols by candle light events remain on hold

NSW Health is currently developing specific advice for carols events. Further advice will be made available once NSW Health advice is published.

Virtual celebrations toolkit

Schools will also have the option to have online gatherings through the Virtual Celebrations Toolkit. This toolkit has been developed to support schools in planning events and celebrations that do not require all participants, including parents and carers to be on the school site. These events can be planned now.

Schools will also have the option and are encouraged to live-stream these events held within the school to selected families and friends as a way of sharing their major milestone.

Schoolies Week

This year we are urging all Year 12 students to carefully consider their Schoolies Week travel plans to ensure they align with public health guidelines. We are also calling on principals, teachers, parents and carers to provide that advice to Year 12 students.

We strongly recommend students and their families understand and become familiar with the public health guidelines and restrictions before making any plans for the end of the school year.

From Monday 14 September 2020, changes to the public health order for restrictions on gathering and movement came into effect. Now, if there are more than 20 visitors at a home, every person will be held individually responsible for a breach of the public health order.Police will be out in force to investigate suspected breaches of any ministerial direction or behaviour which may impact on the health and safety of the community.Anyone who has information regarding individuals or businesses in contravention of a COVID-19-related ministerial direction is urged to contact Crime StoppersExternal link. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.

Opportunity Class test update

Opportunity class testings for 2021 has been rescheduled to 18 November 2020. Refer to the OC updates page for the latest information.

Physical distancing

Physical distancing of students in schools is not required under the AHPPC guidelines.

All teachers, support staff and parents must maintain physical distance from each other (1.5m).

Parents should ensure school pick up and drop off arrangements enable them to physically distance from one another and from staff.

A reminder:

All students are required to bring their own water bottle to use while they are at school.

 

 

Student Statement of Accounts

Any questions or enquiries relating to your account, please phone the main office on 02 67790844.

 

Guyra Central School can accept the following forms of payment:

  • cash
  • cheque
  • EFTPOS - in person or over the phone
  • POP payments through our website https://guyra-c.schools.nsw.gov.au/ then click on the    "Make a Payment" tab

You can pre-pay for any activity that incurs a fee, this would be receipted as a fee in advance and available to use for activities as they arise e.g. major excursions.

Keeping our students safe

Lights flash on the back of buses to warn motorists they're picking up or dropping off kids. Slow down to 40km/h and look out for children crossing.

Help keep our kids safe: bit.ly/busflashinglights    

Just a reminder, school zones are in operation around schools.

Double demerits apply for speeding & mobile phone offences in active school zones.

 

 

In accordance with the Department of Education Duty of  Care Policy, teacher supervision of students commences at 8.30am until the end of the school day. In the interests of child safety, no student is allowed at school before 8:30, as supervision is not provided.

 

If care for your child is required before 8:30 am, before and after school care is offered by the Guyra Preschool and by some Family Day Care providers in Guyra.