The St Joseph’s plan for the return of students to school centres around these essential areas:

Supporting student wellbeing after remote learning

Supporting student learning after remote learning

Faith Connection

COVID-19 safety measures and procedures

Order of return

from 18 October - Kindergarten and Year 1
from 25 October - All other Grades

Level 3 and Level 3+ restrictions

During the staged return (18 October - 29 October 2021), schools will follow the Level 3 and Level 3 Plus restrictions. From 25 October 2021, all year groups will be learning at school and schools will follow the Level 3 restrictions. A decision will be made at that time whether Level 3 Plus restrictions will continue to apply.

Faith Connection

Students will participate in and celebrate liturgy, prayer, mediation, and reconnect with their Catholic community, St Josephs. Students will engage in Advent and Christmas units of work in Religious education.

Positive Behaviours for Learning (PB4L)

PB4L at St Joseph’s has contributed to making our school safe and supportive. It has provided students with predictable environments leading to improved academic and behavioural outcomes. It has provided staff with clear systems and procedures, ensuring a consistent and agreed approach.

The COVID-19 crisis will have caused an element of stress in our students. Our students will need school to be a safe, supportive and predictable environment in order for them to feel socially and emotionally safe and therefore be ready for academic learning.

Re-building respectful, responsible and safe behavious for learning will include:

Focusing on teaching, practising, and acknowledging expected behaviours, with the understanding that some students may need more teaching, practice, and acknowledgement, after having been away from the classroom for some time. Keeping classroom routines as usual and predictable where possible.
Re-teaching, reminding and acknowledging behaviour expectations based on the school rules.
Providing opportunities for students to engage with SJB class and non classroom expectations.
Revisiting playground expectations before going out to recess/lunch and during play. Rewarding students with house tokens.
Reminding students about COVID 19 hygiene procedures.

SUPPORTING STUDENT WELLBEING AFTER REMOTE LEARNING

The wellbeing plan aims to create a safe and supportive environment and will include opportunities for student connection, growing a sense of belonging, and the building of social and emotional skills. PB4L is an essential component and will focus on re-establishing predictable school routines and rituals so that students feel safe and secure.

Teachers are planning the following to support student wellbeing.

MORNING CHECK-IN

Teachers will check in with students each morning. Some examples of how they might do this include:

Faces Chart Check In
Feelings Meter
Feeling Pegs Card
Journaling
Thumbs up/side/down
Worry Meter

SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING (SEL) to develop:

Self Awareness

Self Management

Social Awareness

Relationship skills

Social Decision Making

REVISITING OUR FRIENDLY SCHOOLS PLUS PROGRAM

Students engaged in the program earlier in the year. The teachers will revisit elements of the program and include:

Use of scenarios
Video
Story Book
Habits of Mind Connections

BRAIN BREAKS from learning

MINDFULNESS

Colouring
Guided Meditation
Breathing

LOOKING AFTER MYSELF

Good hygiene practices
- washing hands,
- covering coughs
- using hand sanitiser
Physical distancing where possible
Eating well
Physical activity

RECONNECTION and TEAM BUILDING

Group challenges and tasks
Making connections with others tasks

GRATITUDE FOCUS / CELEBRATION OF ACHIEVEMENTS & SUCCESSES

Celebrating success and reflecting on the positive each day will be important for each student in maintaining a positive mindset.

Example activities could include:

Journaling
Gratitude Circle
Affirmation Cards
Check/Reflect Sheet
A Peek At My Day Reflection
Awards and affirmation

STUDENT LEARNING AFTER REMOTE LEARNING

On return to school, teachers will work to assess where students are at and provide the next steps in their learning. It is important that we provide opportunities for academic success in order to rebuild students' confidence in their learning. This will be a priority over the delivery of lots of content to 'catch up' students which can run the very real risk of superficial learning that is not deep, well understood and applied.

K-2 learning will be focussed on the Key Learning Areas of:

Religious Education

Assessment of Term 3 units
Continuation current unit
Advent and Christmas Units

English will include:

Phonics - revisit/review taught phonemes and introduction of new phonemes
Reading assessment and Guided Reading Instruction
Writing assessment, small group writing and whole class writing
Home Learning follow up / consolidation of Term 3 content
Home reading will resume
Additional content later in the term

Mathematics will include:

Number Sense
Numeracy assessment
Consolidation of Home Learning content
New content and consolidation of learning
Targeted small group instruction
Additional content later in the term

PDHPE will include:

Wellbeing, relationship building and connection activities
Regular brain breaks and wellbeing time throughout the day.
Daily social-emotional skill building (Friendly Schools Plus programme)
PE x 2 lessons per week (non contact PE Lessons)

OTHER possible inclusions:

Creative Arts will be taught while class teachers are planning in their usual scheduled time.

History or Geography, and Science may be included in learning where possible.

Years 3-6 learning will be focussed on the Key Learning Areas of:

Religious Education

Assessment of Term 3 units
Continuation of current unit
Advent and Christmas Units

English will include:

Reading assessment
Small group reading- Guided Reading Instruction
Writing Assessment
Small group and whole class writing
Home Learning consolidation of Term 3 content.
Home reading will resume
Spelling- Words Their Way program
Small group and whole class writing
Home learning follow up with targeted small group instruction.
Reading comprehension routines
Speech writing and public speaking (Year 5)

Mathematics will include:

Number Sense
Consolidation of Home Learning content
Assessment
New content focus and consolidation of learning
Home learning follow up - targeted small group instruction.

PDHPE will include:

Wellbeing, relationship building and connection activities
Regular brain breaks and wellbeing time throughout the day.
Daily social-emotional skill building (Friendly Schools Plus programme activities)
PE x 2 lessons per week (non contact PE Lessons)

OTHER possible inclusions:

Creative Arts will be taught while class teachers are planning in their usual scheduled time.

History or Geography, and Science may be included in learning where possible.

PROCEDURES AND RESTRICTIONS

Buses

The normal school buses to and from school will continue to operate. Teachers will supervise students travelling home by bus in the usual way. Students should wear a mask on the bus.

Morning drop-off from

Students arrive at school between 8:30 am and 8:50 am. Parents are asked not to enter the school grounds.
The Hall gate on Park Road gate will be open each morning for student entry only. A staff member will be at this gate to welcome students as they arrive at school. Please use this gate if your child needs support to return to school.
The Rowan St gate and Hutton Ave gate will be open each morning for student entry only.
Students should hand sanitise on arrival at school. Sanitiser is available for student use.
A teacher will be located at the Park Road gate near the hall should your child be anxious about coming into school and need a little extra help.
On arrival at school students will be directed to their class/cohort group to avoid mixing among student cohorts.
To avoid overcrowding and mixing of grade cohorts, class teachers will collect students from the concrete area at 8:40am and take them to class. Students do not need to be at school by 8:40am and may continue to arrive up until 8:50am.

Afternoon Dismissal

Week 3, 18 October- Kindergarten, Year 1 and students who need to be at school

Kindergarten, Year 1, parents, and students who need to be at school should follow the drop off procedures above.

A teacher will be located at the Park Road gate near the hall should your child be anxious about coming into school and need a little extra help.
Dismissal for all students will be at 2:55pm by class cohort to avoid mixing of student cohorts.
Walkers will be able to leave the school via the basketball court area, Rowan St gate or Hutton Ave gate. Parents picking up children may opt to meet their children near these gates but are asked not to gather at the gate and remain socially distanced and wear masks.
Please ensure your child knows from which gate they need to exit the school at dismissal. It is suggested that your child has a bag tag indicating which gate your child needs to exit from at dismissal. Children who are not sure will be dismissed from the basketball court area on Park Road.

Afternoon Dismissal

Week 4 from Week 4, 25 October - All classes

Afternoon dismissal will be staggered.
- 2:40pm for students in Green and Gold Houses.
- 2:50pm for students in Blue and Red Houses.
- Students will be dismissed by cohort/class to avoid mixing among student cohorts.
- Parents are asked not to enter the school grounds.
Parents picking up their children may collect their children on the basketball court, practising social distancing measures and mask wearing.
Walkers will be dismissed at the times above according to their house colour. Walkers will be able to leave the school via the basketball court area, Rowan St gate or Hutton Ave gate. Parents picking up children may opt to meet their children near these gates but are asked not to gather at the gate and remain socially distanced and wear masks. Please ensure your child knows from which gate they need to exit the school at dismissal.
Bicycle riders will be supervised and dismissed by staff from the basketball court area at the times above according to house colour.
OSHC students will meet after school care staff as normal.

Reducing the Risk of COVID-19 Transmission

Student Cohorts

Students will be separated by grade cohort on arrival to school.
Morning assembly and prayer will be held via Zoom to each classroom.
Throughout the day students will stay in grade cohort groupings.
Whole school assemblies will be conducted via Zoom on a Friday.
Cohorts will not be mixed in the school hall, library or other common areas.

Break times

Week 3: 18 October - Kindergarten and Year 1 only

Class cohorts play separately this week (Level 3+).

Class cohorts will line up separately after breaks to re-enter classrooms.

Students to practise safe distancing when lining up.

Students eat lunch in classrooms during Break 2 in extremely hot weather.

Week 4: 25 October - All students

Recess and lunch breaks will be at the usual times.

All grade cohorts will play on separate play areas to avoid mixing (Level 3 unless level 3+ is extended)

Grade cohorts will line up separately after breaks to re-enter classrooms.

Students to practise safe distancing when lining up.

Students eat lunch in classrooms during Break 2 in extremely hot weather.

Playground Equipment/Washing of Equipment

Playground equipment is available to students using the two grass areas and concrete: e.g. hoops, skipping ropes, balls, stilts.

Climbing frames and tunnels are available for student use.

Playground equipment will be washed after each break.

Face Masks

Masks will be worn by teachers and staff at all times, indoors and outdoors.

Masks are strongly recommended to be worn by all students, at all times, indoors and outdoors. This is not mandatory.

Some exemptions apply. Please see the Level 3 / Level 3 Plus restrictions for more detail about face masks.

Personal Hygiene

Students will be required, and reminded, to hand sanitise before entering the classroom at any time. Hand washing will be required before eating and after going to the toilet.

Physical Distancing

Where possible, students will distance themselves from each other in the classroom. Students will not be sitting on the floor close together as a whole group and where possible desks should be separated. Students will also physically distance themselves from each other to eat and line up.

Physical distancing can be very challenging with young children and teachers will need to provide ongoing reminders.

Cleaning

Enhanced daily COVID-19 cleaning arrangements (with a focus on high-touch surfaces) will remain in place until further notice.

Responding to a positive case of COVID-19

The school has a plan in place and CEDoW has an established process for responding when a member of a school community tests positive for COVID-19. In the event this occurs, we will work closely with the Catholic Education Office and the Public Health Unit to rapidly inform impacted families and ensure we complete all required steps to safely reopen.

While under Level 3 restrictions, parents and carers must:

follow the physical distancing advice and avoid gathering outside school gates
adhere to mask-wearing requirements in accordance with the Public Health Order
remain outside school grounds (some exceptions apply for vulnerable students or students with a disability)
When an exception allows a parent or carer to enter school grounds, they must sign in using both the Service NSW QR code and the CEDoW Quick Sign-In iPad

Vaccination requirements

Staff: From 18 October 2021, only staff who have received two doses of an approved COVID-19 vaccine or have a medical contraindication certificate will be permitted on school grounds. Please click here for more information regarding the application of the Public Health (COVID-19 Vaccination of Education and Care Workers) Order 2021 in Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong schools.

It is anticipated that nearly all staff will be vaccinated prior to students returning to school. The requirement for staff vaccination was 8 November and has now been brought forward in line with student return to school. While we welcome the return of students back to school earlier than anticipated, it has impacted staff vaccination timelines. At this stage, only one class will be impacted and it is likely to only be for one week. Those parents will be notified this week if the class teacher is unable to be on site because of changed vaccination requirements.

Students: There is no requirement for students to be vaccinated before returning to face-to-face learning.

If your child has a medical vulnerability that you believe will prevent them from returning to school according to the staged return timeline, please contact the school as soon as possible to discuss your circumstances.

NSW Health strongly urges all students aged 12-15 years to receive two doses of either Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines as soon as possible.

There is currently a sufficient supply of the Moderna vaccine to community pharmacies and the Pfizer vaccine to General Practitioners. Bookings can be made via the Vaccine Clinic Finder. Depending on location, bookings are available within the next few days.
COVID-19 vaccination is the best protection against severe illness and also reduces the risk of spreading COVID-19 to others. Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 now will help to protect both you, your family and your school community

The following fact sheets regarding the Moderna vaccine and young people are available:

Commonwealth Government fact sheet
Children aged 12-15 years require parental or guardian consent to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. For more information, see the COVID-19 vaccination FAQs for parents and guardians.

Ventilation

St Joseph’s has been supported by the Catholic Education Office to complete a school ventilation review. The results—including any identified adjustments—will be addressed in line with advice from NSW Health and the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS).

The advice from NSW Health and the NCIRS when it comes to ventilation of classrooms is that simple measures are the most effective. Opening windows and doors, and using ceiling fans to direct outdoor air in, improve the ventilation of classrooms and learning spaces.

Ventilation is just one of a series of COVID-safe measures in place at our school, which also include:

Service NSW and CEDoW check-in systems
Vaccination of staff and adults in the community
Face masks
Staggered timetables, pick up and drop off
Restricting access of visitors, including parents/carers, to essential personnel only
Use of outdoor spaces
Good personal hygiene and social distancing
Staying at home if unwell and getting tested with even the mildest of symptoms

These are all measures to help keep schools safe and we seek your support with the implementation of these measures to assist in keeping our school and the wider community safe.

Further updates

Thank you for your patience during this time of uncertainty and transition. We understand that new changes cause additional stress at an already difficult time. Please be assured that we are doing all we can to ensure a smooth and stable return to face-to-face learning and to minimise disruption not only for students but also for families and our broader school community.

As new information becomes available to us, we will provide updates to keep you informed. If you would like to raise any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the school.

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