18 Aug 2020
17th August 2020
Dear Parents and Carers,
Today, the NSW Department of Education emailed all schools with updated advice regarding COVID-19 restrictions in schools that are to commence from Wednesday 19th August 2020.
Please note, that this is a constantly evolving situation. This advice may change in a few more days or weeks. As the advice significantly changes and affects the school community, we will keep you informed.
The key messages from the latest NSW Department of Education COVID-19 update are:
- If a student has been absent due to flu like illness or develops flu like symptoms while at school, they are not to return to school until they have a negative COVID-19 test and are symptom free. When communicating with the school that your child will be absent due to illness, if that illness involves any flu like symptoms, please inform the office of the symptoms. (E.g. Mark is absent from school today due to flu like symptoms / runny nose / temperature / cough etc).
- The negative COVID-19 test result must be sighted and received by the school for students before their return to school. The NSW Department of Education requires parents to provide documentation / evidence of a negative result. This may be in the form of a screen shot that is electronically supplied or printed out in hardcopy to the school or other documentation that supports a negative test result.
- If your child or a family member/close contact returns a positive COVID-19 test, please inform the school immediately. If calling, ask to speak to a Deputy Principal or myself.
- Where possible, students should stay within their relevant cohort group (i.e. class, year group, or stage) for all learning activities. This applies to all curriculum activities, extra-curricular activities (approved), arts activities and sport and physical activities. The mixing of students from different cohort groups should be avoided where possible in order to limit close contacts to the relevant student cohort.
This will have an impact on school sport for Years 9 & 10 from Tuesday 25th August. Students will be informed of any changes prior to the sport day.
- Choirs and performing arts - For the remainder of Term 3, all group singing (choirs) and/or other chanting activities, as well as the use of wind instruments in group settings, are not permitted. Stage 6 students can continue to sing solo or as a duet with a minimum distance of 3 metres from other performers and all other persons in the room (e.g. teacher, conductor audience).
- Graduations & Formals - schools may hold a Year 12 assembly to recognise the completion of school. This assembly does not allow for the attendance of parents. School formals, dances, graduation or other social events are not permitted.
I had only just met with Year 12 after roll call to provide them with an update of our current plans. The update I provided to Year 12 this morning has now been superseded with the latest advice. We are hopeful that by having the Year 12 Graduation and Formal later in the year that the restrictions at that time might be more supportive of Year 12 end of school celebrations. Further advice will be provided to Year 12 students and families the closer we get to these events.
Thanks for your ongoing understanding and support.
Yours Sincerely,
Mark McConville
Click here for a printable version of the latest update from Toronto High School.
Click here for a guide to NSW school students for Term 3 from the Department of Education.