COVID - 19 No new UPDATE 

St Joseph's continues to maintain a COVID-safe environment, with a range of health and safety measures remaining in place, including increased daily cleaning, additional hygiene measures, physical distancing requirements for adults, and strict infection control procedures.

It is important that we continue to work together and remain vigilant in our response to this virus. Your ongoing support has been very much appreciated. The safety of our community remains a priority.

The complete list of directives in place at all Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong schools is available at www.dow.catholic.edu.au/covid-19.

Stay up to date with public health alerts https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/latest-news-and-updates

7 March 2021

COVID-19 Update 

As of Monday 8 March 2021, our COVID-safe practices have been updated in line with new guidelines from Catholic Schools NSW. This update is intended to provide you with a summary of the major changes. The complete list of directives in place at all Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong (CEDoW) schools is available at www.dow.catholic.edu.au/covid19.

Major changes to CEDoW COVID-19 protocols:

• Parents/carers are welcome in the school and at activities off site subject to following the COVID-19 requirements for visitors—including signing in and out, practising good hygiene and maintaining physical distancing.
• Parents/carers can enter school grounds to pick up and drop off their children without needing to sign in. However, we ask that you limit your time on school grounds to the minimum duration necessary to drop off and pick up your child. Physical distancing requirements remain in place.
• Parents and spectators may attend school or external venue sporting events in accordance with the school’s event COVID-19 Safety Plan. Please note that some venues may have capacity limits and additional safety requirements.
• Students may attend Mass during school hours, however interaction with members of the public will be minimised and the diocese’s parish directives will be followed.

Morning drop off from Monday 8 March

• Parents and carers may enter the school via the gates on Park Road (hall gate), Rowan Street and Hutton Avenue gates.
• Use the hand sanitiser stations when entering the school.
• Limit your time on school grounds to the minimum duration necessary to drop off.
• Abide by physical distancing requirements.

Afternoon Dismissal From Monday 8 March

Parents and carers can enter the school from 2:50pm. The staggered pick up will no longer be in place and the bell for dismissal will be at 2:55pm. 

Procedure:

• Park your car in accordance with parking regulations and in consideration of our neighbours.
• Never park in the park across from the church. This is very dangerous and puts children at high risk.
• Parents and carers may enter the school from the basketball court gate, the Rowan Street or the Hutton Avenue gates.
• Please wait on the south side of the concrete area (the convent side) or on the basketball court for dismissal at 2:55pm. (Students will need the northern side of the concrete area to move to the grass area. Please keep that area clear.)
• Students will be dismissed from the grass area after the bell.
• Limit your time on school grounds to the minimum duration necessary to pick up.
• Abide by physical distancing requirements.

Students walking or riding a bike will depart school from 2:55pm. Students travelling by bus will continue to line up in the hall.

Parent attendance at other school events

We are very much looking forward to having parents and carers back in the school for learning or school events and will communicate this as soon as possible.

Traffic NSW – School, Student and Parent Update

Information regarding student travel, COVID safety, and reminder to parents around school zones.

COVID-19 Catholic Education Information Centre

Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong has a COVID-19 Information Centre on its website. It is the best place to find the latest information about CEDoW's systemic response to COVID-19.

We will continue to provide you with updates if the situation changes and as soon as new information becomes available.