blog

COVID-19 - 19 March 2020

19 Mar 2020

Thank you for your support as we navigate these extraordinary times together. Your words of encouragement and gratitude are affirming as we continue to put in place plans and measures to ensure the health and safety of students, staff and the School community, whilst also maintaining the continuity of the NGS experience for those students who are absent. 

We know you have a lot of questions about the future, and we will continue to keep you updated. Currently, the advice from NSW Health, the Government and our professional organisation, the Association of Independent Schools (AISNSW) is that it is safe and important for schools to remain open. We agree with this, particularly given the high number of our School community who work in the Healthcare sector. Indeed, we feel a particular responsibility to support the frontline workers in this current climate. We feel strongly that we can put in place the appropriate precautionary measures to mitigate the spread of the virus. 

Here is an update on what we are doing across both campuses:

Classrooms and Learning Spaces 

  • All classrooms and learning spaces are cleaned daily with medical grade antiviral disinfectant that remains active for four days. 
  • Common areas, high-traffic zones and hard surfaces are cleaned regularly throughout the day.
  • Social distancing measures have been put into place, including increased ventilation, the provision of hand sanitizer and signage reminding students about appropriate hygiene practices. 
  • A new Assessment Policy has been developed and implemented in the Secondary School to ensure integrity in this area of learning.

Large Gatherings 

  • Assemblies and Chapels have been cancelled

Music 

  • Some Music programmes have been suspended
  • Social distancing and increased hygiene measures have been implemented for all ensembles 
  • Private music lessons are continuing as scheduled with precautionary measures in place

Playground

  • All students are hand sanitizing upon entry to the School
  • Hand sanitizer is available in prominent positions around the School
  • Staggered lunch times have been implemented on Hill Campus 
  • Corridor congestion is being managed with staggered bell times 
  • Bubblers have been closed and students have been asked to bring a drink bottle
  • Signs are in many places around both campuses reminding students of hygiene
  • We ask parents to limit the time they spend on the Campus as they drop off and pick up their children. Please refrain from using the play equipment in the afternoon at Park Campus and assist us by leaving the playground area with your children once they are in your care.

Canteen

With the increasing difficulty of sourcing supplies, as of next week, the canteen will only take orders for recess and lunch made through Flexi Schools. 

Students will be able to collect their orders from designated locations. 

Library and After School Care

  • The Library on Hill Campus has been closed to students during recess and lunch
  • The Learning Centre and Homework Centre continue to operate after school with hygiene and social distancing measures put in place
  • OOSH also continues to operate with some alternative arrangements put in place for pick up

While we encourage any student who can, to go home directly after school, we do understand that this is not possible for some families. Please be assured that these important services will remain open for as long as possible. 

Co-Curricular Activities and School Events

Co-Curricular activities are an important part of the School’s philosophy. This programme provides students with an opportunity to engage in enjoyable activities, particularly important in the current context. Therefore, where possible we want this programme to continue for our students.

  • We are seeking and following advice from organisations and relevant governing bodies regarding sports and other activities. 
  • We are regularly reviewing all activities on a case-by-case basis. 
  • All other School events, including Parent/Teacher evenings, Wicked and Term 2 events are being reviewed. Decisions will be communicated with families. 

Parents and students will be notified of any changes to Co-Curricular activities and School Events. 

As you can imagine, this is taking a long time as we work with both providers and venues to sort these out and make new plans and re-schedule events. 

Visitors 

  • We are limiting access to both campuses to essential visitors only. All visitors to the School are required to follow our hygiene and social distancing procedures. 
  • Next week, at this stage, we will run our scholarship tests with limited access to the campus for our prospective students sitting the examination, and tight hygiene and social distancing practices in place. Current NGS students will complete the examination in a different part of the School – with the same hygiene and social distancing procedures in place. 

Online Learning

Whilst we are committed to keeping the School open for as long as possible, following NSW Health and Government advice and direction, we are planning for the possibility that we may need to move to an online learning environment. 

We are currently using SchoolBox to deliver lessons for students who aren’t able to attend school in Years 7-12. K-6 families have been sent age appropriate work, mixed with activities on Schoolbox for our older primary students. 

We are also trialing a full online learning platform for our Secondary students. Mrs Peterson, our Director of Learning and Teaching will keep you updated on this.  

Self-Isolation and Quarantine

  • If your child is sick or at an increased risk of contracting COVID-19, please keep them at home.
  • We ask you to observe the NSW Health guidance for close contacts and recently returned travelers and notify the School. If a member of your family has returned from overseas in the last 14 days, please notify the School. 
  • Similarly, if a member of your family may have been in contact with a person who has COVID-19, or contracts the virus, please notify the School. 
  • In the event that a member of NGS community is diagnosed with COVID-19 the School will follow the directions of NSW Health. 

Communication 

During a time like this, we know you want to be kept updated regularly and you are concerned for the health, wellbeing and learning of your children. We will continue to keep you apprised of our response to the evolving situation. 

We also ask that you direct your communication to the appropriate person:

Primary: 

Wellbeing, Co-Curricular, Travel Notifications: Mr Daniel Wearne – Daniel.Wearne@ngs.nsw.edu.au

Teaching and Learning: Amy Falconer – Amy.Falconer@ngs.nsw.edu.au

Secondary:

Wellbeing, Co-Curricular, Travel Notifications: Alan Parsons – Alan.Parsons@ngs.nsw.edu.au

Teaching and Learning: Lisa Peterson – Lisa.Peterson@ngs.nsw.edu.au

HSC Assessment: Philip Fielden – Philip.Fielden@ngsw.nsw.edu.au

The teaching staff are doing an amazing job to ensure the continuity of learning is maintained, delivering lessons for the classroom and SchoolBox as well as planning lessons for the possibility of moving to online learning. Never before have staff had to manage three different modes of delivery in one day and I sincerely thank them for their professional dedication and understanding of the difficult position we are in. Please respect our staff during this time and trust that they will provide work for your child. We ask that you refrain from emailing teachers directly and increasing the burden on them. To streamline communications, please use the emails above. 

Again, we are grateful for your understanding in the age of COVID-19 and thank you as we work together to ensure the health and wellbeing of our School community, and the continuity of learning for our students.