Leadership

Return to School from Lockdown

Monday 18th - Friday 22nd.

We are returning to school from lockdown in a staggered operation. So it is fantastic that we have received approval DET for our Year 1's and Year 3's  to return with the Foundation and Year 2 students. 

Year 1's & 3's Return to School 

We have received approval from DET to have the Years 1's and Year 3's on site as of Monday. This is fantastic news for the kids, families and teachers.

Location of Grades

Monday - Wednesday

F/1 students will assemble on the basketball court. They will then be taken to their classroom by their teacher. We must ask that parents observe the 15 minute rule - drop your child and leave. We ask that parents do not hang around in social groups inside the school grounds, but leave after handover has been completed.

Thursday & Friday

2/3 students will be collected from the basketball court. They will then return to their classrooms. Please observe the above request.

Monday - Friday

Supervised students

2-6 in the quadrangle. Their supervising teacher will then take them to the 4-6 classrooms.

Student - Masks

As we have been approved to have both the 2's and 3's on site, this has presented a unique situation around students wearing masks. We have decided that all students from Year 2 through to Year 6 will be wearing masks indoors and outdoors.  Students in Foundation & Year 1 are encouraged to wear masks where possible.

We realise this action will be of some concern to a few parents, but the measure is to protect and reduce student and staff exposure to Covid, and is the direction of the Department of Health. I realise the Year 2's  are a local decision, but we feel this is in the best interest of all students.

Mask wearing information from DET

• Face masks will now be mandatory for all school students in Grade 3 and above when indoors including at Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) programs unless a lawful exception applies. Face masks can be removed while outdoors at primary schools.
• Face masks are strongly recommended for Prep to Grade 2 students.
• For composite classes that include students in and above Grade 3 and below Grade 3, those below Grade 3 are strongly encouraged to wear masks.
• For students with a disability, parents and carers should speak to the child’s doctor or regular health professional and with their school about the best methods to encourage mask wearing. Students and parents can also contact the Disability Liaison Officer program for more information.
• Students with a medical condition that prevents mask use will not be required to wear a mask.
• Face masks are required for students in Grade 3 to Grade 6 unless an exception applies. Exceptions include students with a physical or mental disability where their disability means it would not be suitable. Parent/carers of a student/s who meet the criteria for an exception must provide their approval in writing for their child/ren to not wear a mask to the school.

Staff

1. Staff may need to remove their masks when working with students when teaching or with additional needs students, including those students with hearing impairments.
2. Staff vaccination is now public knowledge as part of the road map. Staff must be fully vaccinated by 29/11/2021. Staff who have not been vaccinated by this date will be stood down at the direction by DET.

Essential Workers

Students of essential worker families who are not in any of the grade levels returning on specific days, will continue to access student supervision. They will be accommodated in the 4-6 building.

Parents & Visitors

Access to school buildings will be by appointment only. If parents need to drop off or collect their child inside school hours they must arranged by phone before accessing the building.

Ventilators

Schools are required to increase fresh air flow into indoor spaces (including shared spaces, staff areas, and thoroughfares) whenever possible. Staff and students should maximise the use of outdoor learning areas or environments wherever possible, including as an alternative to staff areas.   

Natural ventilation

At NPS we will:

• keep all windows, doors, and vents open as much as possible during the day and when unoccupied, if practicable
• keep these openings clear of any obstruction to airflow.
• use door stops to keep doors open.
• aim to open windows and vents that are higher or towards the ceiling during poor or windy weather.

Use of fans

• Fans are only to be used with other natural and mechanical methods in place.
• Fans should not be used if a person with respiratory symptoms is in the room.
• If used, ceiling fans can be operated in the winter setting (where the air is drawn upwards) and at the lowest speed.

Maximise the use of outdoor learning areas or environments

Schools are encouraged to maximise the use of outdoor learning areas and environments. Teachers will access outdoor space over an indoor space as much as is practicable.

Air purifiers

The Department is delivering air purifier units (model Samsung AX7500) to schools. 

Air purifiers are advised to be prioritised for higher-risk areas. These areas include where there are high levels of mixing of staff and reduced mask use when eating, higher levels of exertion and increased aerosol projection, and areas of lower ventilation and possible exposure to illness. For example, sick bays, staff rooms, school receptions, and music rooms. 

At this point in time we have not been advised when the delivery of the ventilators will occur for us.

Parent Information

A more comprehensive document has been uploaded to SENTRAL, today Friday 15/10/2021.

Further arrangements

As Newlands returns to on-site learning we will continue to update our community of any revision or change of arrangements as they become available from DET.

Thank you

Ross Dudgeon

Principal