Dear Parents and Carers,

I hope you had a welcome change of pace over the holiday break and some time together without having to balance learning from home with other demands. Thank you for being patient with the ever-changing guidelines to the roadmap to return to school. We ask that you continue to hold to these guidelines for one more week, depending on when your child is due to return to school.

What you need to know about our return to school in Term 4

We're excited about our return to face-to-face learning and welcoming students back onsite where we know the best learning happens. Our school has successfully transitioned from home learning back to face-to-face teaching before thus our confidence in our school's systems, structures and processes that will ensure a smooth transition again.

Key dates

Students will return to face-to-face learning in the following order:

Monday 18 October 2021 - Kindergarten and Year 1

Monday 25 October 2021 - All remaining grades.

Our school's COVID-safe operations

The school's COVID-safe return to school includes numerous effective practices to support the health and wellbeing of our students and staff. These practices include vaccinations, mask wearing, reduced mingling of student groups and staff, ventilation in classrooms and continued good hygiene and cleaning.

The school is cleaned in the morning, at lunchtime and in the afternoon. This includes all high touch-points across the school, toilets, classrooms, outdoor seating and play equipment.

We have installed hand sanitizer units outside each classroom, the library and in the office. There is ample hand sanitizer bottles available across the school along with soap in the boys and girls toilets.

Mask wearing for students and staff

Masks will be worn by staff indoors and outdoors unless exercising or eating. The NSW Department of Education and NSW Health are strongly recommending all students wear masks. We will share specific information with all families prior to students returning to school.

Vaccinations

All staff required on site supporting the return to school will be fully vaccinated from 18 October. Then from 8 November all staff, contractors and volunteers on a school site will need to be fully vaccinated.

All students are expected to be at school regardless of their parents' vaccination status.

Ventilation

Having open or well-ventilated spaces reduces the risk of transmission of COVID-19 because infectious particles are more quickly diffused in the open air. We are lucky all our classrooms have windows that open along both sides of the building thus allowing good ventilation. Teachers' will also be using our outdoor spaces wherever practical.

Covid communication

Parents and carers will be notified if a decision is made to close the school due to a confirmed case of COVID-19. Therefore, it's important all parents and carers have installed the school's ENEWS app.

Orientation and transition to school

Onsite orientation and transition programs are not allowed in person until we are advised differently by NSW Health. Please see the "Kindergarten 2022" section in this newsletter for the scheduled Kindy 2022 Parent Zoom session.

P&C Meeting

The next P&C meeting will be held on Tuesday 19 October at 6:30pm via Zoom. All parents and carers are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Kindergarten 2022 Online Parent Information Session

The online parent information session has been scheduled for Wednesday 13 October at 6:30pm. Please join via Zoom, families are encouraged to join at 6:25pm for 6:30pm start. The ZOOM joining details are:

Meeting ID: 740 512 5381

Meeting Passcode: misschap

Should you have any questions please contact the office on 02 42 951 852 or alternatively please check the Kindergarten 2022 SeeSaw classroom.

Thank you again for your understanding and support during what is going to be both an exciting, but also an anxious time over the coming Term.

Stay well & stay safe

Mrs Kocovska

Principal

Aboriginal Education