What COVID level setting is in place for WCCS?

COVID level settings determine the restrictions in place for school operations.

• Currently, schools in our (the Liverpool) LGA are classified as Level 4

• Upon the return of student from the 18th October, our school will be classified as Level 3+

The information on this site is based on Level 3+ guidelines.

When are students returning to face to face lessons?

● 18th October onwards - Prep, Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 12

● 25th October onwards - Years 2 - 6 and Years 7 - 11

What are the attendance requirements after these dates?

● Students are expected to attend school onsite from these dates onwards.

● The flexible attendance allowances for the ‘stay-at-home’ requirements of the PHO will no longer be applicable.

● Students who do not attend school will be marked absent. Those without a valid reason will have this absence recorded as ‘unexplained’.

Can I send my child earlier than these dates?

No.

Prior to the dates above, the only students who can access onsite learning are those who cannot be supervised at home as their parents/carers are authorised workers and are working away from home.

To access onsite learning, the following request form needs to be completed. Students attending school prior to the dates above will access the same learning program as those at home.

Will the school support vulnerable students to learn from home after these dates?

Yes.

In line with current health advice, students with compromised immune systems are considered vulnerable and will be supported to continue working from home.

Important reminder

Students must not attend school if unwell, even with mild symptoms of COVID-19. Any person with any COVID-19 symptoms will be sent home and not return to school unless:

● they have isolated for 10 days, when no medical certificate is available

● they have a negative COVID-19 test result and are symptom free.

In circumstances where children have other medical reasons for recurrent symptoms, a letter from their GP is sufficient to negate the requirement for a negative test.

Anyone who is unwell with COVID-19 symptoms is strongly encouraged to get tested and self-isolate until a negative result is received.

What about COVID-19 vaccinations?

Receiving a COVID-19 vaccine has been identified as one of the suite of measures for maintaining individual and community health.

The school is required to meet the current Public Health Order in relation to the mandatory vaccination of workers in educational settings. From 8th November, all workers onsite will be required to have received two doses of an approved COVID-19 vaccine.

Bookings for COVID-19 vaccination appointments for 12 year olds and over are available at a wide range of locations.

Parents and carers may wish to discuss options for vaccinations with their GP.

What is the school doing about maintaining good ventilation and cleaning?

Open and well-ventilated spaces reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19.

● Outdoor settings will be used whenever possible.

● The school already ensures that airconditioning systems are well maintained. This maintenance program will continue. Warmer weather will allow for windows and doors to be open to improve ventilation.

● Areas where such measures cannot be utilised, additional measures will be taken to reduce the potential spread of COVID-19.

● Current cleaning regimes will continue at the school. This includes targeting high touch areas. Enhanced cleaning is delivered as part of the daily cleaning of the school.

What are the mask requirements?

● While on school site, masks are to be worn indoors and are recommended outdoors by all staff and all students Year 7 and above.

● Masks are strongly recommended indoors and outdoors for primary students.

● Students are required to supply their own face masks. Ensure students carry spares each day. Label student masks to avoid sharing masks.

● All visitors (including parents /carers at dropoff and pickup) are required to wear a face mask or covering in accordance with the Public Health Order.

● Some exemptions apply. Refer to NSW Government face mask rules.

● Once offsite (ie using bus transport) NSW face mask rules apply to students as for members of the public.

Can visitors (including parents) come to the school?

● Parents/carers are not permitted to attend the school site other than as part of the scheduled pickup.

● All essential visitors are required to sign in using the school’s Service NSW QR code.

● All visitors are required to wear a face mask or covering in accordance with the Public Health Order.

● Services providing student support should be delivered online where possible. Essential support may occur onsite on a case by case basis.

How will student ‘drop off’ and ‘pickups’ be organised?

School bell times will remain as per normal.

Parents and carers should:

● Ensure physical distancing is maintained and avoid gathering with others

● Adhere to mask-wearing requirements in accordance with the Public Health Order

● Sign in using the Service NSW QR code if entering the school administration area for an essential reason

Dropoff in the morning

● Students may be brought to school between 8.00 and 8.35am. Lessons start at 8.40am.

● Use the established kiss and drop zones in the school carpark.

● Staff will be on hand for students requiring support.

● Late arrivals will need to be signed in through the front Administration Office.

Pickup in the afternoon

● Specific information regarding the pickup process for carlines will be provided in the coming week.

● Pickup from the back gate will continue as per earlier in the year

● Primary students will be available for carlines and back gate pickup from 3.00pm

● If arriving at school prior to this time, ensure you remain in your vehicle until 2.50pm.

● The areas around the Administration block and A block toilets are no longer available as a waiting point.

How will break times be organised?

Playground areas will be organised to prevent mixing between year groups by separate Year/Stage groups.

To provide access to different school ground resources, Primary Year/Stage groups will be rotated through the different areas on a roster basis. This roster will be published to students.

What are the School uniform expectations?

Students are required to wear the correct school uniform (as per Term 1, 2021) when attending school.

● While on school site, masks are to be worn indoors and outdoors by all staff. Children in Prep are not required to wear masks.

● Students will maintain strict personal hygiene routines throughout their day.

● The Prep day will continue to run as per usual. The Prep classes will maintain their routines as a group year group, staying within the Prep grounds.

● The children may be collected from Prep between 2.30 and 3.15 as usual, or earlier than this if it suits family arrangements with travel. Parents will need to follow the Covid Safe guidelines set out by the Prep Staff.

● Masks are strongly recommended for all students, at all times, indoors and outdoors.

● Each year group will be allocated a learning space, completing all lessons and breaks with their allocated year group.

● Playground, library and canteen access will be separated by year/stage.

● Students should maintain strict personal hygiene and physical distancing wherever possible.

● MS Teams meetings and remote learning videos will be discontinued when each year group returns to on-site learning. Seesaw and Google classrooms will continue to be used as teaching and learning resources as they were prior to the commencement of remote learning.

● Students who are unable to return to school (due to vulnerabilities) will continue to receive work in line with current guidelines, delivered via online learning or learning from home packs.

● Students accessing learning support should return in line with their year group and according to the needs of each student.

High School students will adopt a year-based year grouping model from the outset, which will determine their playground, library and canteen access.

● Within each year group, students should maintain strict personal hygiene and physical distancing.

● Masks must be worn by all students indoors and are recommended outdoors.

● These measures will enable secondary school students and teachers to return to their normal timetable.

● MS Teams meetings will be discontinued when each year group returns to on-site learning. General lesson plans and learning material will continue to be posted on Google Classroom as they were prior to the commencement of remote learning.

● Students who are unable to return to school will continue to be supported to learn from home in line with current guidelines.

What are the School’s plans for our 2021 HSC students?

● A schedule (weeks 1-5) for Year 12 (2021) exam preparation including flexible timetable options has been provided to students.

● HSC examinations are scheduled to commence on 9th November.

● COVID-safe exam procedures are in place and will be communicated to students.

● Students accessing learning support should return in line with their year group and according to the needs of each student.

High School Return to School Letter

High School Playground Map

Will school bus routes be running?

Regular school bus routes will recommence from the 18th October.

Will the uniform shop be open?

Our uniform shop will operate using an online ordering system through Munch Monitor, with an outside school hours pickup system. Details regarding this process and the returns/exchange process will be provided to families soon.

Information about how to register for a Munch Monitor account has been emailed to families on 8th October 2021.

How will access to the Canteen be organised?

Lunch orders for all year groups can be made for each day using Munch Monitor (this can also be accessed via the portal menu on the School website).

There will not be any counter service for students at any time throughout the day.

Information about how to register for a Munch Monitor account has been emailed to families on 8th October 2021.

How will access to the Library be organised?

The library will only be available to Years 11 and 12 in the High School.

Timetabled Primary Library lessons will continue but the Library will not be open to Primary students at lunch.

Is OOSH operating?

Yes.

OOSH will operate as it has for the past term in alignment with its COVID-safe plan.

Will after-school library programs be running?

Homework Club (Years 7-10) and the Senior Study Centre (Years 11-12) will not run in Weeks 1-4. Plans for Week 5 onwards are yet to be finalised.

What is happening with Sport?

● Sport (other than in PDHPE classes) is currently on hold as per NSW Department of Education guidelines. Alternative COVID-safe activities will be scheduled for this time.

● Interschool sporting competitions (eg MISA, IPSSO) will not be running.

● Year 11 students may sign out from school on Tuesday afternoons as per school sign out procedures. Extension classes during this time will still run.

What about music tutors and Carey Dance and Drama Academies?

Music tutors and dance and drama classes will not be running face-to-face.

What are the plans for Term 4 events (information evenings, assemblies etc)?

The school Term 4 calendar usually includes many different events. The feasibility and structure of these events will be determined by the conditions at the time they are to run. The School will communicate with families with as much notice as possible.