Dear Parents and Carers,

I have today received further advice from the Department of Education in relation to COVID-19 guidelines for Term 3. I have summarised the main points below and I will be in touch soon regarding specific changes to our school routines, as further advice becomes available.

https://education.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/advice-for-families

Safety and Hygiene

• Vigilance in ensuring that staff and students do not attend school or work if they are unwell

• Students absent or sent home due to flu like symptoms need to be tested

• Staff and students must not return to school or work until they return a negative COVID-19 result and are symptoms free

• Schools must sight the negative COVID-19 test result prior to allowing students and staff to return to school

• Schools should limit activities to year groups whenever possible.

  School Activities

• Schools must not travel outside of their local community area or zone for all interschool activities
• Some group activities such as choirs, chanting and the use of wind instruments in a group setting are not permitted
• Dance activities will require risk assessments and a COVID-19 Safety Plan

Community Users and Visitors to School

• Community use of school facilities may continue. The organiser remains responsible for compliance with distancing and hygiene requirements aligned with the health advice of the day. All community user groups must have a COVID-19 Safety Plan in place.

• Non-essential adults are still not permitted on school grounds or at school events. This includes parents and carers except for face-to-face parent/teacher meetings that are essential (e.g. to discuss disciplinary or other welfare matters).

• Schools should ensure school pick up and drop off arrangements enable parents to physically distance from one another and from staff. Schools should consider strategies to avoid large congregations during school pick up and drop offs.

• Construction and maintenance providers may attend schools for asset-related activities.

• SRE/SEE volunteers may attend. No singing or chanting is allowed.

• P&C meetings should continue on-line only. P&C social events or functions are not permitted.

Kind regards,

Lisa Lupton