Dear Parents and Care Givers

The NSW Department of Education has daily contact with NSW Health and updated information is regularly provided to principals on the COVID-19 virus for the school to action.

I will continue to post new information via the Flexischools app for families as it becomes available.

The Department of Education is working on a phased social distancing strategy and quality hygiene practices. The following activities have been postponed to date are:

• Scripture classes.
• Commonwealth Bank student school banking.
• School assemblies.
• Sport state-wide knock out competitions, sporting trials, carnivals and championships.
• The school cross country carnival.
• School band practice and performances, dance troupe and choir. Individual tutoring with Mrs. Lewis-Hughes will continue.
• Today I have been advised by the Honorary Secretary Alstonville Sub Branch of the RSL that the Alstonville RSL sub-branch with great regret, will not undertake or participate in any ANZAC Day Commemorations or activity, either leading up to, on, or after ANZAC Day.
• The school has been notified by suppliers that canteen stocks of some food items may become unavailable. Should this be the case, our canteen manager will substitute the ordered item with another appropriate item.
• All staff conferences and professional development outside of the school grounds have also been cancelled.
• The Education Council agreed today, the 20 March, that NAPLAN 2020 will not proceed due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 virus. This decision inclues the cancellation of -
  • NAPLAN Online practice testing, 23 March - 9 April 2020
  • NAPLAN Online tests, 12 May - 22 May 2020
  • NAPLAN Paper tests, 12 May - 15 May 2020

Enhanced cleaning is taking place in all schools. The Department of Education continues to be in regular contact with all principals to understand current levels of supplies of soap and hygiene products. All schools will receive additional provisions of soap and hygiene supplies, such as hand sanitiser. Alstonville Public School has sufficient supplied at present.

Further actions we can take to help manage the spread of the virus include:

1. Wash your hands thoroughly and regularly.

2. Sneeze into your elbow or a tissue, disposing of that tissue straight away then washing your hands

3. Stay home if you are unwell and in schools, staff or students will be sent home who show any signs of being unwell.

Kate Moore

PRINCIPAL

Kindy Sweden hard at work in all areas of classroom learning, including learning with Stage 3 buddies who are regular visitors to the class.

Year 1 New Zealand have been working on the properties of materials and experimenting with the results of mixing liquids with solids. Our latest project is recycling paper and turning it into useful items - seedling pods, paper and paper clay. The students are also practicing their skills of recording data and observations.

Year 6 students look pretty happy with their new Year 6 uniforms!

Week 8 - Bikes

Week 9 - Hall/Assembly

This week we have had to deal with lots of news that hasn't felt at all positive. We have had some of our exciting sporting events and fundraising plans cancelled because of Covid-19.

This can feel very upsetting but it is important that we look after each other whilst at school and at the moment, that means some of these events get put on hold. While in school, we have to keep healthy and washing our hands without being silly about it.

We had school photos this week and I'm sure all our parents are looking forward to seeing our good photos.

In Parliament last week it was decided that we will look at having 10c water bottle collection bins. This will be to raise money for the school. So keep your eyes out and bottles ready!

We hope you all enjoy your weekend and stay healthy and safe!

Ballina Coast High School has been looking forward to meeting our future year 7 students 2021 and their parents.

We look forward to meeting families and answering all their questions about their future with us.

Unfortunately, due to concerns regarding the COVID-19 virus and to support the health and wellbeing of students, parents and staff, we have had to postpone our transition evening scheduled on the 19/3/20 at 4 pm.

We hope that families understand the decision to postpone the event and will inform students, parents and schools when we are able to reschedule the evening.

In the mean time we wish everyone well and look forward to building our new relationships as we prepare for high school in 2021.

Weekly

Tuesdays - Junior Band sectional practice, please bring your own instrument

Wednesdays - Senior Band sectional practice, please bring your own instrument

Special notes - cancellations and postponements

Dance, Junior Band, Senior Band and Choir will not run for the remainder of the Term. Updates will be posted.

Woodlawn Chess Tournament has been cancelled.

Far North Coast Dance Festival postponed. New date at the end of the year TBA.