From the Principal
Welcome to Term 4. As predicted, we have already undergone several changes to the COVID recovery track we outlined last term. A separate email will be sent early next week containing the revised Return to School Roadmap.
We face an uncertain term in many respects, but it will be wonderful to welcome back all our students. You have all done extremely well for over a term now with home learning, and I thank you for your support of us as we worked together to keep students learning. While we are not there yet, we are now on a pathway back to some form of normality.
Some parents have been contacting us about vaccinations for students, anxious that we will allow students to give permission for vaccinations without parents knowing. This is not our usual practice, and we have no plans to become a vaccination hub even if that is offered to schools. If you want your child to be vaccinated, you need to arrange that yourselves.
Once students begin returning in numbers, the question in some parents’ minds may be the vaccination status of our teachers. A current Public Health Order requires that from 8 November, all school staff must be double vaccinated to be on site at any time. If for whatever reason (and there are many reasons), a staff member is not double vaccinated by then, they will work from home while we wait to see what the longer term requirement is for school staff or for them to get their second vaccination. The change to the return to school timetable has complicated this issue for many staff.
So, it is possible that when your child is back, they may have a teacher who is still teaching from home via MS TEAMS. We will ensure the children are properly supervised at school during this time. We have only a small number of teachers who may find themselves in this situation.
Let me remind you that it is really important to us as a school that we treat each other with consideration and kindness through this next period. None of us should judge another’s position or assume that we know all the facts of their situation. We all have good reasons for our position on the vaccination issue and we need to simply respect each person’s individual right to hold a different view. I remind you of our Position Paper on this matter which is available on our website. This also applies to students who need to have a good example set by us in this.
As Year 12 approach their delayed HSC Examinations, remember them in prayer – this has been a very challenging two years for them. We are very hopeful that a Graduation can take place at the end of term and their School Formal so that we can celebrate with them the end of this challenging season.
It will be some time before you will be able to freely come onto the school site, but we look forward to the day when we can meet face to face again, unmasked!
Phillip Nash
Principal