CPPS NEWSLETTER
Week 6 Term 2 2020
Diary Dates
Date and Event
A note from the Principal's desk
Dear Families,
We are back in business and getting into the new 'normal'.Thank you for your cooperation this week. We are living in uncertain and imperfect times and while we would love to have things back to normal with parents on site, the rules and guidelines set down by the NSW Department of Education do not allow this to happen. This is a link to the Department advice to parents https://education.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/response-protocol.
The students have taken everything in their stride. We've been amazed by K-2 with almost all of them now happy to say goodbye at the gate and move onto the playground. We have lots of teachers around, so if they need anything, there is always an adult they can ask for help from.
To our families who have not yet returned, we encourage you to get your children back into school. They have now been away for longer than the summer break and are missing out on face to face teaching. Our teachers are missing them and I am sure they are missing their friends. If no medical certificate has been received for an exemption, our attendance procedures will be brought into effect and this could involve referral to the Home School Liaison Officer.
Morning Procedures
Can I just ask that you do a couple of things for us to make drop offs a little quicker.
1. Put your child's hat on before they get to the gate. I've noticed a number of students who attach their hats to they bag handle at the top, which makes for quick access and allows families to ensure they have their hats when they leave the house. What a great idea!
2. Give students their bags before they get to the gate, not at the gate. We have a bit of a bottleneck when people stop in front of the gate, this action will help to relieve this.
3. Kiss before your get to the gate, say goodbye at the gate and move on. This may sound a little harsh but we have 580 students to get into school and everyone seems to arrive at the same time.
Being at the gate every morning has been wonderful and I have been able to greet every child, every day. This has also meant I have noticed a few things I ask you to address.
1. Early Arrival - On Friday, we had 40 students arrive before 8:30. Under normal circumstances they would be unsupervised and when we return to normal this will again be the case. Please do not drop students off before 8:30 as they are still under your care until a teacher arrives on playground duty at 8:30.
2. Lateness - We had 30 students arriving late for school on Friday. You have a 25 minute time slot to get your children onto school grounds, please try and get them here between 8:30 and 8:55. This enables your child to have some time with friends before the start of the school day and does not make them feel self-conscious when they arrive late to class. Students who arrive late may miss out on vital information for the day and miss the start of literacy or numeracy lessons. If you need any help with morning routines, we are happy to support you. Please contact the office and let us know, we are here to help.
3. Uniform- Just a reminder that black school shoes are a uniform requirement on days when there is no sport. Please ensure your child has appropriate footwear and remember you are the boss and decide what your children put on their feet. Students should be in school jumpers and school hats as the uniform shop has now reopened.
Pick-ups
Thank you for working with us at pick-up time. There was never going to be a solution that suited everyone, so our strategy was to work out what was safest for our students, dismissing them from gates where we had the greatest visibility. We don't know how long this will last and we will advise you as soon as we know. To help this process, please ensure you are socially distanced outside the gate and stand off the path to allow people to get through.
Thank you to families who have either decided to walk from home or have found a safe parking spot and walked to get their children from the gate. Please note that parking at the top of Augusta Street is a BUS ZONE and you could get booked if you park there.
Reports
Reports will come out at the end of Week 8. They will be a simplified report which will focus on literacy, numeracy and a general comment. We are unable to hold learning conversations this semester, but we will certainly have them in Semester 2. If you would like to speak to a teacher about the report or have any questions, please ring the office to arrange an appointment.
Cold and Flu Symptoms
Thank you to families who are keeping their children home if they have cold and flu symptoms. We suggest you seek medical advice for any cold or flu symptoms and where possible (and if recommended) get your children tested. If your child goes for a test, please advise us of the test date and the outcome. All staff within the NSW Department of Education, who feel they have the mildest cold and flu symptoms, are being tested as a matter of routine. We want to try our best to keep colds and the flu out of school.
The newsletter will go back to their normal time frame with 3 per term, so watch out for the next one in week 10. Enjoy the long weekend and see you all again next week.
Sian Websdale and CPPS Staff
Gates and surnames
NSW Department of Education A guide for parents cand carers
This guide is for parents and carers
Information has been updated as at 19 May 2020, until further notice.
Schools are safe and open for full time face-to-face learning.
All schools are returning to full on-campus learning from Monday 25 May. All school activities and operations will be in line with Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) and NSW Health guidelines as applicable.
School students do not need to follow physical distancing guidelines, but should follow good hygiene practices like:
· Regularly washing hands
· Avoiding sharing drinks or food
· Coughing or sneezing into your elbow, or a tissue which should be discarded immediately.
School attendance
All students should be at school unless:
· They have a medical certificate which states that they are unable to return to school due to an ongoing medical condition
· They are currently unwell.
Students who have a medical certificate to stay at home will be supported to learn from home in line with regular procedures if they are able to. These regular procedures are different to what was offered during the learning from home period. If you require work to be provided to your child whilst they are at home due to an underlying health condition, you should contact the school for assistance.
Please note, students who live with a family member in one of the categories identified as being at increased risk by the AHPPC, should attend school unless a medical practitioner advises otherwise in writing.
If your child is unwell, do not send them to school. If they are unwell at school you or your nominated emergency contact will need to collect them immediately. Please make sure your contact details are up to date.
If a student is absent without a medical reason for more than three days, this will be recorded as an unauthorised absence and followed up by the school.
If you need any support to get your child back to school, please contact your school.
Reporting and assessment
This will be a simplified version of the report you normally receive. Schools are encouraged to discuss your child’s progress with you before the written report is issued. You will receive your child’s semester 1 report by the end of term (at CPPS).
School activities
What schools can’t do:
· School assemblies
· School incursions and excursions including camps
· Inter-school activities (debating, inter-school sport)
· In-school activities requiring parent or other volunteers
· Drink from a water bubbler – bring a water bottle instead
· Allow parents to enter the school grounds at pick up and drop off times
School cleaning and hygiene supplies
Your school will receive additional cleaning in line with the AHPPC guidelines and advice from NSW Health. Targeted areas include high-touch areas and other hard surfaces, door handles, lockers, light switches and handrails in stairways and movement areas. There will also be additional cleaning of toilets and bubblers and topping up of supplies like soap.
Your school has received supplies of soap, hand sanitiser, toilet paper, paper towels, disinfectant wipes and personal protective equipment. The school is able to order more as needed.
School grounds
There should be no visitors to school sites unless they are essential. Your school can provide guidance as to who is considered essential.
Your school will provide advice on drop off and pick up procedures.
Canteens and uniform shops can open at the discretion of the principal.
Community use of school facilities will recommence only for uses that are necessary for continuation of education and with principal’s approval.
Responding to COVID-19 cases
There is a clear plan in place for schools to respond to any suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 in our schools. We are working closely with NSW Health and will communicate with parents if a situation was to arise
KIds Helpline
OTHER USEFUL SUPPORT SERVICES
Lifeline: https://www.lifeline.org.au/ Phone 131114
BeyondBlue: https://www.beyondblue.org.au/ Phone: 1300 22 4636
MensLine: https://mensline.org.au/ Phone: 1300 78 99 78
ParentLine: http://www.parentline.org.au/ Phone: 1300130052
Condell Park Public School
Email: condellpk-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au
Website: http://www.condellpk-p.schools.nsw.edu.au/
Location: Augusta Street, Condell Park, New South Wales, Australia
Phone: 02 97967998
Twitter: @PsCondell