Principal's Report

Dear Parents,

Return to School – Term Four, Level 3 School Operations

Students will return to face-to-face learning with NSW Health-approved COVID-safe settings on school sites in the following order:

From 25 Oct. 2021 - Kindergarten, Year 1
From 1 November 2021 - Years 2, 6
From 8 November 2021 - Years 3, 4, 5

We will be providing further advice as we develop our plan for a staged return.

Identified Local Government Areas (LGAs) and suburbs of concern operating under Level 4 restrictions will continue learning from home until we are advised otherwise by NSW Health.

Level 3 operations restrict parents and community members from entering school grounds when student return to school.

Parents will drop off students at school gates at or before 9.00am.

We will stagger the end of day dismissal.

2.30pm Years 3, 4 and 5

2.45pm Years 2 and 6

3.00pm Kindergarten and Year 1

Parents will meet students at designated school gates each afternoon.

All school staff working onsite are required to be fully vaccinated before students return to school. This includes teachers, office staff and all SASS support staff.

Students and staff will be required to wear masks inside and outside classrooms.

The staggered return to school is a requirement of NSW Department of Health and Department of Education. Some families may have a child returning to school while siblings remain learning from home. This may be difficult for families, but the staged return will enable our school to prepare for the return of all students while we establish COVID safe routines and procedures. Students should only return to school on the designated week for their grade.

End of year reports will be different to the usual report due to Learning from Home in Term 3. There will be no A-E assessment of work completed in terms 3 and 4.

End of year activities are being planned as usual. Online options may be required. We will complete the usual term 4 activities and inform parents of any adjustments required. This includes; Presentation Day assemblies, Year 6 farewell, class picnics and issuing of term 4 reports.

Our school enjoys great support from the community for our teachers and this has continued during Learning from Home this term. Students are progressing well and teachers have ensured continuity of learning during term 3.

My last day at Girraween PS will be Friday. I'd like to thank to all parents and P&C members for your assistance and support making this such a high achieving and positive school for students, staff and parents. I've enjoyed my time at Girraween. I hope that our school continues to grow and perform at a high level so all students reach their potential. Students will enjoy the cricket nets and all weather playing surface installed next to our double storey classrooms. This has been my pet project this year with funding from our P&C.

Mr McClifty will be relieving principal until my position is filled permanently.

All the best everyone. Stay strong, stay well.

Glenn Walker

Principal