22 Oct 2021
Dear Parents/Caregivers and Students
As this is our last Letter to the Community, I hope you are all looking forward to the return to school and making the necessary preparations for a smooth transition. Here at The Jannali High School we recognise that all students and staff have been away from school for at least 4 months and therefore we will need to take time to re-adjust to school life as we know it.
While it’s important that all students in Years 7-11 are prepared for their return to school on Monday, 25 October with correct uniform and equipment, we all need to reconnect with one another and re-establish those positive relationships. It is important that our CARE Values and Expectations are followed at all times along with our COVID-safe guidelines which are displayed in all classrooms.
Below is some key information and updates to help prepare students for their return to school. Parents can stay up to date with the most recent information on our Advice for families page.
Virtual Assembly – PowerPoint Presentation
To prepare our students for their return to face-to-face learning, we held virtual assemblies today for Years 7-11. The presentation will be uploaded to our school website and is attached to the email accompanying this letter.
Semester 2 Assessment and Reporting
Semester 2 Reports are based on assessment completed in Terms 3 and 4 of the school year for students in Years 7-9. Year 10, however, work towards their Record of School Achievement (RoSA) which is the culmination of assessments conducted throughout the entire school year. Therefore, Year 10 will receive a Yearly Report based on their Yearly Assessment Schedule. Revised and amended Years 7-10 Assessment Schedules can be found here.
Years 7-9: Assessment tasks that have already been completed and marked as part of the Semester 2 Assessment Schedule will be included in creating the Semester 2 Reports. Other assessments that were unable to be completed due to the learning from home period have been revised and therefore will not have an associated mark. Classroom teachers will make consistent and professional judgement on student achievement of course outcomes and learning profiles based on completed assessment tasks to date as well as the completion of online work. The Semester 2 Reports will have a modified form to reflect this.
Years 10: Assessment tasks that have already been completed and marked as part of the Yearly Assessment Schedule will be included in creating the Yearly Report as well the Year 10 RoSA Grade. Other assessments that were unable to be completed due to the learning from home period have been revised and therefore will not have an associated mark. Classroom teachers will make consistent and professional judgement on student achievement of course outcomes and learning profiles based on completed assessment tasks to date as well as the completion of online work. The final reports for Years 7-10 will have a modified format to reflect this.
Thursday Afternoon Sport
Due to the current restrictions being placed on schools regarding sporting activities not being permitted (except for PE, Dance and Drama classes etc.) our school will not be running Thursday Afternoon Sport for Years 7-10 until further notice. This means students will be released from school at 12:10pm on Thursdays to make their own way home.
There will be minimal supervision for students who need to stay at school until 2:30pm because of supervision issues after school or because they need to catch a bus.
Updated mask requirements
To reflect the changes in community settings, mask wearing requirements have been updated for schools.
When students and staff return to school, the following requirements are in place:
- masks are required for all staff and students in Year 7 and above in all indoor settings
Masks are mandatory on public transport. This applies to students aged 12 years and over, and staff when travelling to and from school and during school excursions by public transport or by chartered or private transport services.
Information about close contacts, self-isolating and COVID-19 cases at school
The department has updated its pages with detailed guidance for parents and carers about what will happen should there be a confirmed case of COVID-19 at school and students are identified as a close or casual contact.
All schools have COVID-safe plans and are taking precautions to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission on-site. This includes enhanced cleaning two times a day in all schools in line with the latest advice from NSW Health and SafeWork Australia.
It is important to note that medical advice suggests transmission among children is lower and when they do catch COVID they generally only have mild symptoms.
Contact tracing
NSW Health will notify the school if there is a positive COVID-19 case who has been infectious while at school and we will in turn notify parents and carers. Contact tracing will be undertaken as it is in all other venues. The action we take will in relation to the operation of the school will depend on how many people the person has been in contact with. In some cases, this may mean that the school may need to be made temporarily non-operational. Some staff and students may be asked to self-isolate as a precaution while contact tracing is completed.
Self-isolation
NSW Health have made changes to self-isolation requirements for people who are identified as close contacts who are fully vaccinated.
- Close contacts who are fully vaccinated must self-isolate for 7 days (and limit their movements for the next 7 days). Close contacts who are not vaccinated must isolate for 14 days.
- Casual contacts need to get tested and self-isolate until they get a negative test result - even if they are vaccinated.
A reminder that anyone who has the mildest of COVID-19 symptoms must get tested immediately and self-isolate until they get a negative result - even if they are vaccinated.
Please visit the COVID-19 response protocols page for factsheets on close and casual contacts, isolation guidelines for children and to answer your questions.
Ventilation in schools
Ventilation is an important layer of support under COVID-safe operations alongside vaccinations, mask wearing, reducing mingling across year groups and good cleaning and hygiene. The department’s ventilation recommendations have been informed by NSW Health advice, expert advice from the Doherty Institute and the World Health Organisation.
This advice tells us that maximising natural ventilation in our learning spaces is the most effective method for minimising the spread of COVID-19 as it is a very effective way to disperse particles in the air. This can be best achieved by opening doors and windows.
To maximise our school’s readiness for the return of students and staff, the department also conducted a statewide review of all windows, fans and ventilation systems to ensure schools can operate them as intended.
The audit confirms the majority of spaces in schools can be adequately ventilated through natural and mechanically assisted ventilation. We are taking action and working with our local Asset Management Team to make sure classes can go ahead within the advice received on ventilation for our school. The intent of the individual school ventilation audit reports is to enable our local Asset Management teams to work with schools to discuss our individual spaces and confirm settings on our sites.
Any necessary repair works identified by the review, such as easing and adjusting windows to ensure they operate as intended, will be completed before the full return to face-to-face learning from 25 October.
If you’d like more information, refer to the department’s Ventilation page.
Students aged 12 years and over eligible for the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines
NSW Health are urging all students 12 and over to get vaccinated with the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible before returning to school.
There is currently sufficient supply of the Moderna vaccine to community pharmacies and the Pfizer vaccine to General Practitioners. Bookings can be made via the Vaccine Clinic Finder. Depending on location, bookings are available within the next few days.
Wellbeing resources for students and families
Please take some time to check out our wellbeing resources for students and families. You’ll find useful tools for mental health and wellbeing. Please do not hesitate to reach out if we can do anything to help you and your children to prepare for the return to face-to-face learning or if you have any concerns about the return to school.
Thank you again for your continued support during what has already been a fast-moving school term.
Yours sincerely
Rick Coleman, Principal