Menu
Term 2 2020 for Years K-12
As COVID-19 continues to have an impact on our society, maintaining the health and wellbeing of our students, staff and School community continues to be a priority for Newcastle Grammar School.
We know that parents, students and staff are keen to return to school. Coming to school is important for students’ social, emotional and academic wellbeing. Whilst our online learning model has been successful, it is no substitute for the classroom and school experience. We are also committed to socially responsible action to help stop the spread of COVID-19.
On the advice and guidance provided by the NSW Government and the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPCC), we have devised a plan to manage the safe return to School for students and staff throughout Term 2.
The School’s position is that school is safe and we would like as many students as possible to return to face to face teaching and learning and follow the plan below. We will continue to manage the risks with the safety procedures we have in place and have extended.
A Phased Return to School for Years K-4
Week Commencing 27 April: Online learning will continue for K-6. The School will be open for students who need or want to attend. Supervision and support will be provided throughout the school day. All Year 5 and 6 students who are attending school should go to Park Campus.
Week Commencing 4 May: Online learning continues for Years K-6 and as in Week 1, parents have the option to send their son or daughter to school and be supervised in the online programme. All K-6 students who are attending school should go to Park Campus.
Week Commencing 11 May: Days for coming to school for each grade are in the table below. Students who need supervision on days different to their designated grade day, will be supervised in the online programme at Park Campus. The online programme occurs for each grade on days where there is no face to face teaching.
Week Commencing 18 May: Days for coming to school for each grade are in the table below. Students who need supervision on days different to their designated grade day, will be supervised in the online programme at Park Campus. The online programme occurs for each grade on days where there is no face to face teaching.
Week Commencing 25 May: The Primary staff will then see if this is working well and if so, the week commencing 25 May will see a full return to school for K-6. Parents will be informed as we approach this date.
A Phased Return to School for Years 5 -12
Week Commencing 27 April: Online learning will continue for all students. The School will be open for students who need or want to attend. Supervision and support will be provided throughout the school day. Year 5 and 6 students who are attending school should go to Park Campus.
Week Commencing 4 May: Face-to-face teaching commences full-time for Year 12 students and this will remain for the rest of the term. Online learning continues for Years 7-11 and as in Week 1, parents have the option to send their son or daughter to school and be supervised in the online programme. Year 5 and 6 students who are attending school should go to Park Campus.
Week Commencing 11 May: Face-to-face teaching commences for two days per week for students in Years 5 – 11, with online learning on other days. Supervision and support for online learning will be provided throughout the school day on Hill Campus for students in Years 5-11 who need to attend on a day that is not a designated day for their year group.
Week Commencing 18 May: Face-to-face teaching increases to three days per week for students in Years 5 – 11, with online learning on other days. Supervision and support for online learning will be provided throughout the school day for students in Years 5-11 who need to attend on a day that is not a designated for their year group.
Week Commencing 25 May: Students in Years 7 – 10 complete their Half-Yearly Examinations online at home. Students in these year groups who need to come to school can do so but we are hopeful most will do their exams from home.
Students in Years 5, 6, 11 and 12 attend school every day
Week Commencing 1 June: – School resumes full-time face-to-face teaching for all students K-12.
Our Model of Learning
Throughout Term 2, a mixed model of learning will continue to operate, including both online and face-to-face lessons. The 4-period day for Years 7- 12 will also be maintained throughout Term 2.
We acknowledge that some students will continue to learn from home throughout Term 2. To facilitate equity in learning for all students, all face-to-face lessons will be broadcast using Microsoft Teams 7-12 or Zoom for Years K-6, providing all students with the same learning experience. The Primary team will send out more details to parents about the delivery at school and online for K-6.
We are investigating options to support teaching and learning in practical subjects such as Music, Visual Arts, Food Technology, Drama, Languages and Design and Technology for secondary students. For Year 5 and 6 some specialist lessons will resume from Week 5 (May 25).
Assessment tasks and exams for 7-12 will be structured to ensure integrity and equity for all students is assured.
Health and Safety
The advice from the Chief Medical Officer continues to be that schools are safe places for students, teachers and staff. New research prepared by the National Centre for Immunization Research and Surveillance released on 26 April supports this.
Newcastle Grammar School will continue to implement good hygiene measures to make our school as safe, clean and secure as we can. This includes:
It is critical that any student or member of staff who feels unwell does not attend school. This is particularly important if they have cold or flu-like symptoms. Please continue to follow the health advice and keep your child at home if they are unwell.
Vulnerable People
Parents of children with complex medical needs are encouraged to seek medical advice from their health care provider to make an informed decision about a return to school.
Protecting vulnerable staff is also a key priority for us. Therefore, staff who are at greater risk of more serious illness if they are infected may continue to work from home.
School Services
Uniform: As we return to school, students can wear either summer or winter uniform. We will make a decision as we usually do once the weather gets colder to transition to winter uniform. Families will be given plenty of notice. The Uniform Shop has resumed normal operating hours and appointments can be made.
OOSH on Park Campus: OOSH continues to operate as normal for both before and after school care for our families at Park Campus this term.
Canteen: The Canteen will resume from Week 6 on both Campuses. Ordering will only be through Flexischools.
Transport: Bus services will resume from Week 3 (11 May). This will include all morning services and ONE afternoon service after school at 3:05. Please note that the late buses (after 5pm) will not be running at this stage.
Library: The Hill Campus Tyrrell Library will be open until 5:30pm to supervise students who are unable to go home immediately after school. The Library will close at 5.30pm. The Learning Centre will not be operating at this stage. Year 5 and 6 and any student needing supervision after school please go to the Library. Any Year 5 -8 student in the Library will be escorted to the Tyrrell Street gateat 5.30pm and must be collected at this time.
Co-Curricular: Some selected co-curricular activities may resume following the return of all students in Week 6. More details will be provided over the coming weeks when we have clearer details on facilities and providers.
Parent Teacher Evenings: will be held online in Term 2.
Private Music lessons: will continue online until further notice.
Hardship Support
Following the School’s Board meeting of the 21 April the School has put in a financial hardship support package, recognizing that many in our community are facing unprecedented business and or income impact, beyond their control. Should your family be experiencing financial hardship at this time, please make contact with the School’s Business office via 02 4929 5811 to discuss your family’s circumstances. The School is keen to work with families where possible to assist them navigate and transition through the current impact.
At this time the School does not intend to issue a blanket Tuition fee remission, but if events in the Activity Levy are cancelled, we will refund parents. We will let you know when we have more details from providers as to whether activities will go ahead in 2020.
Review
This plan is based on information available as of 27 April. Whilst it is our hope that School will resume as normal for all students by 1 June, it is likely that the situation will continue to evolve, and advice to schools may change. We will keep you updated regularly throughout Term 2. We also recommend that you stay up-to-date with communications from the School, including SchoolBox News, Facebook and our Newsletter.
A message from the Head of School
Kind Regards
Mrs Erica Thomas
Hill CampusCnr of Church & Newcomen St. PO Box 680 Phone. +61 2 4929 5811 Park CampusCnr of Union St & Parkway Ave PO Box 680 Phone. +61 2 4925 2121
Connect with us on
Newcastle Grammar School is committed to providing a child safe environment and implementing the child safe standards. Acknowledgement of Country We acknowledge and pay respects to the traditional Aboriginal custodians of the land on which Newcastle Grammar School is built, the Awabakal and Worimi people and their Elders, past, present, and emerging. |