Message from 

the Deputy Principal 

We are very much looking forward to seeing all students return to campus on Monday. It has been an uncertain period and we are extremely proud of our students for embracing the educational changes that have taken place. It has not been easy but they have adapted to remote learning with impressive flexibility and for that we are very grateful. Please take note of the important updates below regarding our return to full on campus teaching and learning next week.

A reminder that the campus remains closed to anyone other than students and KWS staff timetabled / rostered to attend campus. Parents are only allowed on campus to drop off / pick up their children.

Please find below updates on the School’s protocols and guidance regarding COVID-19.

If your child is unwell

If your child is sick, they must not come to school. It is important that you keep them at home and away from others.  

Any student feeling unwell or showing any symptoms of the virus (e.g. fever, sore throat, cough, diarrhoea or ‘cold’ type symptoms) should not attend school and arrange to have a prompt medical review. This can be undertaken by phoning your GP or presenting to Hospital to determine if they should be tested for COVID-19. A negative test and being free of symptoms is the best way to decide when it is safe for the student to return to School. Medical authorities have informed the School that the criteria in Australia for testing has now been increased so that anyone who presents with symptoms can be tested. They are then advised to remain quarantined until the result is available, usually in 24–48 hours. Testing large numbers of people (while continuing with hygiene and distancing measures) is the best way for our community to keep this virus under control and avoid a return of strict lockdown measures.

Timetable amends for the Senior School

Please see below the times for lessons from Week 5 onward.

Small differences from the Term 1 Timetable are that there will be no Assembly on Wednesday mornings and Wellbeing will happen every day after lunch. Students will be able to access their Edval version of this Timetable with their rooms by the end of Friday 22 May. Mrs Collett will send out student’s codes again so they are able to access their personalised timetable and rooms.

KWS Learning Lesson Times:

Early departure

Day Students will not be able to depart early from Week 5 onward if they have study periods. The School timetable has changed and all students are expected to be on campus for the day.

Year group areas for the Senior School

Year Groups will be based in the following areas before School, at recess and at lunch. Students will be reminded to remain in these areas during these times and these are in place to protect all of the community.

• Year 7 - Year 7 Quad
• Year 8 - Maths / Bennett Quad
• Year 9 - In front of DPA / Amphitheatre
• Year 10 - Between Bennett / Science and Music area
• Year 11 - Wolaroi Courtyard / Quad
• Year 12 - The area between the Canteen and Health Centre, above the oval

We will rotate for Weeks 6-9.

Wellbeing

In Week 5, Wellbeing will be every day from 1.20-1.40pm. Students may have a different room for Wellbeing so should check their timetables carefully. The focus will be on spending time reconnecting and reflecting on what’s been learnt during the period of remote learning and isolation.

Co-curricular

For the time being, we will not be offering any formal group co-curricular activities. This will apply to Sport, Performing Arts ensembles, and the Cadet program. We are carefully following official advice around the resumption of sporting and recreation activities. We strongly encourage students to maintain a fitness regime as they return to School. At this stage, sporting or fitness sessions that are undertaken on campus must adhere to the guidelines below:

• The activity must be conducted solo or in pairs where at least 1.5m can always be maintained between participants.
• Strength and sport-specific training is permitted if no equipment is required, or if you have access to your own equipment.
• No sharing of exercise equipment or communal facilities.
• Apply personal hygiene measures - you must practice hand hygiene (hand sanitisers) pre and post training and regularly during training.
• Do not share drink bottles or towels.

We are hoping for an announcement regarding changes to these restrictions in the coming days. We will keep you informed of any changes made and how they will apply to our context.

Absences from school

Absences from School are to be reported to Main Reception on the day of the absence by 9am.  

Parents are encouraged to email this notification using reception@kws.nsw.edu.au or phone Main Reception on 02 6392 0300. Please ensure to include your child’s name, House and Year and reason for absence in your email or voice message. The Reception team will then contact your child’s Head of House to inform them of the absence. If any assessment is missed through illness, a medical certificate must be provided.  

Leave for pupils for external appointments during School hours can be obtained from Main Reception. Parents must advise Main Reception by phone or email 48 hours before the appointment. All pupils must sign out at main reception. Parents and pupils must be aware of assessments prior to making external appointments.  

Applications for leave from the School for more than two consecutive days during term time must be made in writing to the Deputy Principal’s PA, hosspa@kws.nsw.edu.au and should be at least one week in advance. The Deputy Principal will reply to all correspondence regarding a pupil’s departure from School when it is for a period greater than two days and not as a result of illness. Most will be recorded as Approved Leave, however, some requests will be recorded as Unapproved Leave. Whilst this has no direct impact on any pupil’s good standing in the School, it is used to record the School’s disappointment at the nature of the absence. The absence impacts not only on the pupils involved with regard to their academic rhythm but also upon others who depend upon them for their School sporting team fixture on the Saturday; invariably missed on such occasions. Boarding parents will also need to ensure that the appropriate leave requests are made via Boardingware to the relevant Head of House.  

Extended travel during term time can only be approved by the Principal and there is documentation that needs to be completed as part of the application. This form can be obtained by contacting hosspa@kws.nsw.edu.au. Except in very particular circumstances, leave for this purpose is unlikely to be approved, in accordance with government guidelines on School attendance.

Mr James Boyd 

Deputy Principal