A message from the Principal

Ms Nerina Pretlove

Once again, our students have found themselves working from home as the new Covid-19 strain is causing high concerns across the Greater Sydney Area. I am extremely proud of how quickly our staff have prepared learning materials for students especially as they had to contend with at the same time, the impact from the cyber attack on the Department of Education resources.

Our focus is on preparing fortnightly packages of learning which can be accessed through students’ Google classrooms and as printed copies, directly from the school. We are open for the collection and return of completed printed work from the school hall on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12noon to 2pm. For contact tracing and safety, we request that only one person from each household comes to the school to pick up student work and signs in and out with the QR code, wears a mask and practises safe distancing and enhanced personal hygiene.

If your child requires a loan of a laptop, they are also available from the school Hall on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12noon to 2pm. Please be aware that this requires the on-site completion of a borrowing form and a log on of the device, so make extra time to complete this. We have a limited number of data dongles if students require support in online access.

Of course, we are very concerned with the implications of the lock-down on our HSC students. Please be aware that the Department of Education, NESA and our school are all working very hard to limit that impact as much as possible. On Monday the 19th of July, NSEA will be holding an emergency meeting to address issues including school-based assessment, practical/performance exams, HSC written exams, marking etc. As soon as the updates are released next week, we will inform our HSC students through their Year 12 Google classroom and hold a Microsoft Teams meeting with them. Year 12 students have been provided with a link to the NESA Covid page to keep themselves well informed.

In the meantime we have moved the HSC Trial exam to Weeks 7 and 8 and all assessment tasks have been given two week extensions from their previously published due dates in the Student Assessment Book. Likewise, the Year 11 exams this term have been moved to Week 9. Please be aware that these are tentative dates as we do not know how long the lock down will continue and what advice we will be given by both NESA and the Department of Education next week.

Student and family well being is paramount at this time. We are aware that families are under considerable pressure. Whilst we want our students to engage with their work and with their teachers, we do not expect our students to be on their devices all day. They should be encouraged to take breaks, go outside where possible and engage in physical activity on a regular basis as they would at school. Our school counsellors are available for any student needing support. Please contact Year Advisers or ring the school to arrange a telephone meeting.

Congratulations to the 12 lucky students of the week who have received a family lunch package as part of the Evans Treats program! To go into the weekly draw, students who are completing their work online or working in their booklets will be nominated by their teachers. The lucky winners will be drawn at 12:00 noon each Thursday for a delivery on Friday. Keep an eye out on our Facebook and Instagram pages!

As you understand, we are in a fast-changing world and all the above information is current at the time of publishing this newsletter. We will endeavour to have information and updates distributed as soon as possible across our social media, website and through the Google classroom.

Please look after each other, keep safe and connected.

Nerina Pretlove

Principal

Learning from Home