Return to School Plan Term 4 2020

2019 ANNUAL REPORT | MESSAGES FROM KEY SCHOOL BODIES WWW.GPCC.NSW.EDU.AU

Green Point Christian College Term 4, November 2020 COVID-19 Return to School Plan _________

GPCC has the following plan for the on-going operation of the School for Term 4. We continue to ground our decisions in certain principles and to take into account official medical and social regulations and advice coming from the NSW and Australian Governments.

New regulations for schools released on Thursday 24 September allow for some slight easing of restrictions as noted below. Further minor updates have occurred on 4 November and are included below.

Our Pandemic Response Plan sees us continuing at Level 4 as we continue to return to normal.

(See GPCC website for the PRP). We acknowledge that to remain at Level 4 will require ongoing attention to health guidelines for the pandemic.

Principles: 1. “The health advice consistently provided by AHPPC is that attendance at a school campus for education represents a very low risk to students.” (CSA guidance April 2020, AAHPPC 25 April) “In terms of schools, I’ll just reiterate my position which I am absolutely certain of on the basis of evidence, and we look at this continually, about the risk to children. So the risk to children of this virus is much less than in adults and that is very clear right around the world in terms of the severity of the illness.“ (Prof. Paul Kelly, Acting Chief Medical officer at PM Press Briefing Friday 10 July 2020) 2. “Our schools must be healthy and safe environments for students and staff” (CSA guidance April 2020) 3. “All students must be supported by their school to ensure participation in quality education during the covid-19 crisis.” (CSA guidance April 2020) 4. “Education staff who identify as high risk, vulnerable or are caring for vulnerable family members, must be supported to work from home.” (National Cabinet Statement) 5. GPCC has developed a sound approach to home learning that can be delivered to students at home or at school should we need to revert back to home learning due to a spike in COVID-19 infections.

WWW.GPCC.NSW.EDU.AU

6. Independent schools are now required to comply with public school regulations so that all schools in the State are aligned in their response to the pandemic.

7. Students or staff suffering any symptoms such as ‘fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, loss of taste, loss of smell’ should be COVID tested and may not return to school until the school has sighted the negative test result.

Plan: A. Students will return to school as normal from Tuesday 13 October.

B. We continue increased cleaning of classrooms and other surfaces students are in regular contact with and continue providing hand sanitiser in all Primary classrooms and other high traffic accessible areas around the Secondary school blocks. Soap is available in all toilet blocks.

C. Social distancing for adults remains in force. Social distancing is not required for students so numbers of students in classrooms will only be limited to the normal classroom capacity.

D. We will hold larger group gatherings such as Year assemblies, devotions etc but will not be holding total Primary or Secondary assemblies or Chapel. Assemblies are now allowed from 12 November, but parents are not permitted to attend.

E. Year 6 Prizegiving may now be held with parents in attendance.

F. The Canteen and Uniform shops remain open for business full time, with some restrictions. Parents may visit the Uniform Shop to purchase uniform and must follow the guidelines the Shop has instituted.

G. Parents are still not permitted on site unless visiting the Uniform Shop or the office or attending a meeting involving matters relating to their child.

H. Social distancing must be maintained while dropping off or picking up students each day.

I. Sport and other Co-curricular Activities: a. Sports practices will continue. b. PE classes and lunch time play are continuing. c. Sports events may now be held but with no spectators present. d. Band and Choir still have tight restrictions on them for Term 4. e. Overnight camps are now permitted.

J. We continue to communicate regularly when required with families via email and our social media sites to ensure everyone is well informed.

Due to the constantly changing nature of this pandemic situation, this plan will be subject to modification as and when required.

Phillip Nash Principal