COVID - 19 No new UPDATE 

St Joseph's continues to maintain a COVID-safe environment, with a range of health and safety measures remaining in place, including increased daily cleaning, additional hygiene measures, physical distancing requirements, and strict infection control procedures.

It is important that we continue to work together and remain vigilant in our response to this virus. Your ongoing support has been very much appreciated. The safety of our community remains a priority with the following still in place.

The complete list of directives in place at all Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong schools is available at www.dow.catholic.edu.au/covid-19.

Stay up to date with public health alerts https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/latest-news-and-updates

25 January

COVID-19 Update 

Our COVID-safe practices have been updated in line with new guidelines from NSW Health and this newsletter is intended to provide you with a summary of the major changes. The complete list of directives in place at all Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong (CEDoW) schools is available at www.dow.catholic.edu.au/covid19.

Major changes to CEDoW COVID-19 protocols:

• Parents and carers of Year 1 and Year 2 students will be allowed on the school site to drop off their children on the first few days of school provided they follow COVID-safe physical distancing and hygiene measures. Parents are asked to drop children off at their designated class lines. The first few days will include Thursday 28 and Friday 29 January, and Monday 1 February. From Tuesday 2 February, children should be dropped off at the school gate, and parents and carers are asked not to enter school grounds.
   
• Parents and carers of Kindergarten students will be allowed on the school site to drop off their children on their first few days of school provided they follow COVID-safe physical distancing and hygiene measures. Parents are asked to bring children to the verandah outside the Kindergarten classrooms from 8:30am to 9:00am. The first few days will include Thursday 4 and Friday 5 February, Monday 8 February. From Tuesday 9 February, children should be dropped off at the school gate, and parents and carers are asked not to enter school grounds. Kindergarten teachers and staff will be present at the Park Road gate to greet the children from Tuesday 9 February to Friday 10 February.
   
• Parents and carers of students in Year 3 to 6 should remain off-site during drop off and pick up.
   
• Staggered dismissal and pick up will remain as it was in 2020 on the basketball court with all adults observing COVID-safe physical distancing and hygiene measures: (Kindergarten parents will be advised of house colours as soon as possible)
  • 2:40 pm students in green and gold house dismissal
  • 2:55 pm students in red and blue house dismissal 
     
• Parents and carers will also be allowed on the school site or at off-site school events held during school hours for the following purposes:
  • Essential parent and carer meetings with teachers and/or school executives with a scheduled appointment.
  • Attending 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.
  • Volunteering for canteen and uniform shop duties, or collecting and purchasing uniforms.
  • Volunteering in educational support roles for activities essential to the delivery of the curriculum such as reading groups. Please note that scheduled programs will be in place and parents and carers must not attend school unless it has been previously arranged.
  • Attending parent orientation meetings and ‘meet the teacher’ meetings with school staff for all year/stage groups.
     
• Staff and students are not required to wear masks at school, but may choose to wear one. When travelling to and from school on public transport or by chartered transport services, and during external activities, staff and students over the age of 12 must comply with current Public Health Order(s) related to mask wearing.
   
• School performances, productions, concerts, speech nights and award ceremonies can proceed on school grounds and external venues.
   
• Swimming carnivals are permitted. 
   
• Schools can conduct field trips, excursions and overnight activities within NSW and in the ACT only. International excursions and travel to other states is suspended.
   
• Afterhours outdoor activities that involve parent/community gatherings, such as parent functions and working bees can proceed, with up to 30 people outdoors for schools within Greater Sydney and Wollongong or 100 people outdoors for schools in other locations.

Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong has always been committed to making decisions in accordance with the advice of health authorities. The rigorous hygiene, cleaning and social distancing measures we established last year will remain in place, to ensure our school continues to be “COVID-safe”.

We are incredibly grateful to you and our entire school community for the support and generosity you provided throughout the shared challenges we faced last year. As we enter 2021, we do so with anticipation and hope for a less disruptive year. However, as demonstrated by the recent outbreaks in NSW and other parts of the country, the pandemic is still a present reality.

On 1 January 2021, in his annual message for the World Day of Peace, Pope Francis reflected on the COVID-19 pandemic and encouraged Catholics and all people of goodwill to “strive daily, in concrete and practical ways, to form a community composed of brothers and sisters who accept and care for one another”.

With this in mind, some of the concrete and practical ways you can help keep our students and school community safe include:

• Regularly reviewing the latest COVID-19 case locations
• Keeping your child home when they are unwell, even with very mild symptoms.
• Informing the school immediately if your child is self-isolating or undergoing testing, and informing us of the result as soon as possible.
• Following sickness with flu-like symptoms, ensuring your child is free of symptoms and can present a negative COVID-19 test, before they return to school.

Thank you for your ongoing support. We will continue to provide you with timely updates regarding future changes to our COVID-safe practices and you will receive direct communication regarding any events or activities that you or your child is involved in.

Sincerely,     

Support Families Experiencing Significant Financial Impact

Please download the letter below and feel free to contact the school with any financial matters you wish to discuss if in financial hardship. https://www.dow.catholic.edu.au/for-parents/school-fees/

Note:  St Joseph's Catholic Parish Primary School does not offer Direct Debit payment option

COVID-19 Catholic Education Information Centre

Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong has a COVID-19 Information Centre on its website. It is the best place to find the latest information about CEDoW's systemic response to COVID-19.

We will continue to provide you with updates if the situation changes and as soon as new information becomes available.