Following the announcement by the NSW Premier yesterday that schools in NSW will continue to remain open until the holidays, with parents being encouraged to keep their children home for practical reasons, we wanted to confirm the position of Newcastle Grammar School. Many of you viewed the video we sent late yesterday, and we thank you for all the positive messages about this additional form of communication. 

Based on the advice from NSW Health, advice to schools has not changed. However, we are aware that Government policy continues to be debated.

At this stage, the School will remain open for the remainder of Term One. Wherever possible, staff will continue to work onsite. We continue to encourage the practice of good hand and sneeze/cough hygiene as well as social distancing measures.

Students can choose to come to school or access their learning from home. However, if your child is unwell, they should remain at home until the symptoms resolve. In particular, students who are sick with influenza-like symptoms, even mild symptoms, should not attend school.

 

Attendance

If your child is sick or won’t be attending school on campus, we ask that you submit an absentee notification via our SchoolBox app. If it is for an extended period, please indicate the length of time he/she will be away.

From Monday, 30 March the roll will be marked each morning in Roll Call and in every lesson throughout the day. Students will need to be logged in to be marked present. 

  

Teaching and Learning

• This week, teachers will continue teaching classes. Students who are away can access work through SchoolBox (Hill Campus) or work through their Home Learning Pack (Park Campus)
• On Friday, 27 March the staff will have a Professional Learning Day to enable them to complete the shift to the full online learning model. Please keep your child at home if you are able to do. Supervision will be provided for students who are unable to stay at home. Please notify the School if your child will be coming to school via email:

      K – 4: Lisa Foster lisa.foster@ngs.nsw.edu.au 

      5 – 12: Carla James carla.james@ngs.nsw.edu.au. 

    Please put Friday Supervision Required in the subject line of your email.

• Teaching and learning will move online for all students on Monday, 30 March and continue until the end of term. Families can choose to either keep their child at home or send them to school during this time. 
• Students in Years 5 – 12 have been given instruction on the use of Microsoft Teams, the platform we will use as a primary mode of delivery on Hill Campus
• Parents and students will receive comprehensive Guides for Online Learning and instructions for downloading Microsoft teams. At this stage we are also going to use a programme called See Saw with our K-4 students – an appropriate online tool for this age group. Instructions will be provided. 
• Further information and resources will be available on our SchoolBox Online Learning page shortly. 
• Students with additional needs will continue to be supported by staff in our Learning Support Team
• More information about curriculum and assessment for students in Year 11 and 12 will be provided to parents and students separately

 

Questions about Teaching and Learning:

Primary:

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

Head of Learning Support – Melinda Tucker: Melinda.Tucker@ngs.nsw.edu.au

Secondary

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

Director of Studies – Philip Fielden: Philip.Fielden@ngs.nsw.edu.au 

Head of Learning Support – Astrid Lepelaar: Astrid.Lepelaar@ngs.nsw.edu.au

 

Co-Curricular Activities 

All Co-Curricular activities will be cancelled as of Monday 26^th March.

 

Tyrrell Library, The Learning Centre & Stage 3 Homework Centre 

• The Learning Centre, Stage 3 Homework Centre and Senior Study Centre will be closed as of Monday, 30 March.
• For students who need to stay at school after 3:05pm, care will be provided in the Tyrrell Library. Students must be picked up before 5.30pm. 

 

OOSH

OOSH remains open on Park Campus.

 

Pre-school

Pre-school remains open throughout this period as normal, including Friday 27^th March. 

 

Buses

• All late buses (5:15) from Hill Campus will be cancelled from Monday 30 March. 
• All morning and the first afternoon bus services between Hill and Park Campus will continue to run as usual. 
• All buses are being thoroughly cleaned after each run as part or our ongoing commitment to maintaining our precautionary measures.

During these times, all families must make decisions based on their individual circumstances. Many parents will choose to keep their children at home. But with so many of our parents engaged in essential services, we feel that it is vital for our School to offer our support by providing students with access to onsite supervision and continuity of learning. I am also particularly conscious of our Year 12 students at present who would never have thought their Year 12 experience would be like this. We will send updates to parents and students of Year 12 as we receive HSC news from NESA.

Please be assured that the health, safety and wellbeing of our students and staff continues to be a priority for us. In a rapidly evolving situation, the Government’s position may change again before the end of term. I will continue to provide you with information as it comes to hand.

Thank you again for your continued support, understanding and gratitude for the School and the staff who are working tirelessly to meet the needs of our students and the wider community.

 

Yours sincerely, 

Erica Thomas

Head of School