From the Assistant Principal – Mr Grana

Welcome Back to Term 2

As we transition back from remote online learning to learning at school. It is great to see students returning to school with smiles on their faces and happy to see their teachers and enthusiastically engage in learning back in the classroom.

Phased Return Reminder for Years 7, 8, 9 and 10

We already have Year 11, 12 and CIEC back for full time learning. A reminder of the following phased return dates as per previous messages via Compass and email to learning at school for our remaining year groups that are still learning via remote online mode:

Monday 18th May – Years 7 and 10 (every day)

Monday 25th May – Years 8 and 9 (every day)

Therefore, by Monday 25th May, our whole College community will return back to learning at school.

Cleaning and Safety Around the College

To ensure the ongoing safety of everyone in the College, the following processes will continue or have been enhanced from last term:

The addition of a cleaner during the school day to ensure ongoing sanitation of surfaces such as doorknobs, table tops, canteen railings, stair railings, benches, toilets and other touch point surfaces
Continuing the employment of an extra cleaner after school to continue cleaning all table tops, doorknobs, benches, canteen railings, tops of chairs, and other touch point surfaces around the College
Continuing the deep cleaning and sanitisation of student services and sick bay
The addition of hand sanitiser stations particularly in the front reception office, front foyer, canteen and other key locations around the College.
The allocation of a hand sanitiser bottle for each teacher
Ensuring that the Water Bubblers are not operational at the moment to ensure ongoing safety and hygiene
Ensuring the Water Stations remain operational, however students are asked not to allow the lid of their bottle to make contact with the Water Station tap
Continuing to minimise visitors onsite including parents/carers where possible
Ensuring sporting activities, excursions, incursions, large group gatherings (assemblies) remain cancelled
Converting the College Hall to a Study Centre for students who attend school but are still learning via remote online mode

Importance of Social Distancing and Good Hygiene Practices by Students

We remind all members of our community, especially our students to continue to follow the social distancing requirements (1.5m), particularly before school, recess, lunch time and after school.

In regards to good hygiene practices we remind all students of the following:

Use the hand sanitiser station as you walk into the College before school and when you leave after school
Bring your own hand sanitiser if you wish to use it throughout the day
Continue to wash your hands before eating, after eating and after using the toilet at all times
Follow the correct hand washing procedures and advice from NSW Health (see below)
If students are felling unwell please follow these procedures:
- Stay at home until you are better
- Call the school to let us know
- Seek medical attention if you’re feeling sick.
- If you or a member of your family is getting tested for COVID-19 OR tests positive for COVID-19, let us know by contacting the College office on 9725-4322

COVID-19 Advice from NSW Health and Sydney Catholic Schools

NSW Health have produced a series of easy to understand posters/messages (click on the image to view a higher resolution version of the poster) that provide advice related to the following areas:

Hygiene

Source: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/covid-19/Pages/resources.aspx#hands

If You are Feeling Sick with the Following Symptoms:

Source: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Pages/default.aspx

Source: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/diseases/Documents/who-to-call.pdf

For more information, please visit:

Term 2 Uniform Reminders

As students phase back to learning at school, we remind our community of our College Winter Uniform and Grooming Regulations. These are highlighted to ensure that our high expectations continue to be made very clear to all members of our great College community.

The winter uniform has the following Expectations:

All students must own a College blazer and MUST wear it to and from the College
Regulation grey stockings are to be worn at all times.
Any clothing worn under the College shirt must not be visible. All undergarments should be neutral in colour.
High-collared skivvies, hoodies, beanies and other non-school attire must NOT be worn.
The College Jumper can only be worn in winter under the College Blazer when travelling to and from school.
College Scarves are optional. If a scarf is worn, it must be the College scarf or a plain maroon scarf. Scarves with extra fringing or of another colour will not be permitted.
College Skirts must cover the bottom of the knee-cap (ie covering the whole knee).
Year 12 will be permitted to wear their Graduation jackets during Week 2 and 3 of Term 2.

We ask parents/carers to ensure that before your daughter(s) returns to learning at school that she has access to the correct uniform and she is groomed as per our College expectations. If any student is NOT in the correct winter uniform on the first return day for their year group, she will be sent home to have the problem rectified. Please ensure you refer to the College Dress Code in the College Diary.

A reminder regarding specific uniform regulations that all students must follow throughout the whole year:

What is allowed	What is NOT allowed
One (1) watch	Bracelets or rings
One (1) Gold or silver necklace with a Christian symbol (not seen under the blouse)	Anklets, chokers, leather bracelets, tribal or other types of necklaces
One pair of earrings in different lower earlobes only.	Multiple Earrings (will be confiscated). Other piercings such as nose, tongue and students refusing to remove piercings. (will be sent home). Bandaids or plastic studs to cover piercings.
One (1) natural looking hair colour tied back, with a pink/light blue/maroon ribbon/headband	Dyed, coloured, multi-coloured, bleached, streaked hair, including balayage and ombre styles (will be sent home)
Knee Length Skirt (bottom of the knee-cap, must cover the WHOLE knee)	Skirts above the knee (must be taken down or purchase a longer one)
Black, leather, low heeled and lace up shoes on a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Friday	Open top (Mary Jane style) shoes that present a WHS risk. Black leather converse shoes (these are sneakers not school shoes)
The jumper is an optional part of the winter uniform and must be worn under the blazer to and from the College.	Coloured Nails (students will be asked to remove the nail polish) Acrylic/Shellac Nails (students will be sent home)
Sports Jacket on a Thursday only	Sports Jacket on a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Friday.

Canteen has Re-opened with Modified Service and Enhanced COVID-19 Hygiene Practices

The College has been working with the canteen operator to deliver a limited and modified food service to students and staff. The following safety measures have been put in place:

A Hand Sanitiser Station has been placed at the entrance to the canteen
Students must sanitise their hands before entering the Canteen
Only students who are purchasing an item from the canteen are permitted in the canteen area
Students must follow the markings on the ground to ensure a social distancing measures are observed at all times
Students are to avoid touching the canteen bench
Only one window will be used with limited staff serving in the canteen
Food hygiene and wrapping procedures have been enhanced
Hygiene procedures by canteen staff have been enhanced
Students are able to use hand sanitiser as they exit the canteen

Thursday Sport Arrangements

As per previous communication, during Thursday Sport time between 1.00pm to 3.00pm there will be no Sport program, due to ongoing Coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions in place, until further notice. This includes:

As per Sydney Catholic Colleges (SCC) Sports Association, all competition sports continue to be cancelled, until further notice
All externally conducted College based sports continue to be postponed until further notice
All internal sports continue to be postponed until further notice

During Thursday Sport time, students in Years 11 and 12 will have the following options:

Leave the school at 12.20 pm to go home (pick up arrangements must be organised by parents/carers as there will be no school buses available at this time)
Remain at school and partake in:
- Individual Silent Study (Year 11 and 12)
- Collaborative Study (Year 12 only)
- Ongoing engagement in HSC Major Works (Year 12 only)

Students in Year 11 and 12 will continue to inform the College on a weekly basis through the respective Year Coordinator of their intentions.

Students in Years 7 to 10 will remain at school and be involved in alternate activities during 1.00pm and 3.00pm every Thursday.

This is a temporary arrangement and is subject to change based on the latest advice received from Federal and State Governments and Sydney Catholic Schools. We will continue to inform parents of any changes to this arrangement.

Online Safety Advice – Office of the eSafety Commissioner

As some of our students continue with remote online learning the following site has some expert advice for parents to keep students healthy and safe whilst online. For further information, please visit the following link:

https://www.esafety.gov.au/key-issues/covid-19