The three Cs: Care, Co-curricular and COVID-19

YOUR DAUGHTER’S CARE TEAM AT VISION VALLEY

Our Head of Campus – Vision Valley, Mr Stuart Clark will lead a carefully-selected team of staff who will support your daughter’s learning and wellbeing during the program. Pymble’s comprehensive policies and procedures are tightly enforced at Vision Valley, with additional measures in place to safeguard the students.

The Deputy Head of Campus will take full responsibility for all aspects of your daughter’s education and wellbeing, ably supported by staff responsible for teaching and learning, wellbeing, outdoor education, nutrition, physical activity and physical health. Experienced teaching staff will lead the teaching and learning of the Year 9 outcomes earmarked for the program. Our qualified teachers will take every step to ensure your daughter’s experiences in our unique learning environment are enjoyable and engaging as she becomes more familiar with the natural environment.

Please refer to page 9 for more detail about teaching and learning.

Students will undertake a Safe Food Handling Course before departure for Vision Valley.

WELLBEING

Teaching staff will provide 24-hour care and supervision for your daughter during her stay. The staff accommodation is in close proximity to the girls’ rooms.

See Accommodation for Participants, page 19.

The teachers have completed the Youth Mental Health First Aid course; however, significant student wellbeing concerns will be escalated to the Head of Upper School and managed according to College policies and procedures. Our counsellors will be available to support the mental health of students as needed.

CARE ON EXPEDITIONS

Our Head of Outdoor Education, Mr Nick Wilkesmann has designed and will have oversight of the Outdoor Education Program, including day activities, expeditions, and ‘The Great Return’. A team of qualified and experienced outdoor educators will lead the two groups through their experiences.

The staff-to-student ratio will be 2:15 while out on expedition. Mr Wilkesmann will liaise closely with Mr Clark to assess the safety of daily programs in terms of weather, student health and readiness.

PHYSICAL HEALTH

All Pymble staff members are required to have an Apply First Aid Certificate which includes CPR, Asthma, Anaphylaxis and diabetes management. Those who have responsibilities to supervise students overnight must have the Provide First Aid course qualification (formerly known as Senior First Aid).

The Head of Campus – Vision Valley, Head of Outdoor Education and all outdoor educators have Wilderness First Aid qualifications.

In the event of a medical emergency during the day or night, an ambulance will be called. The Vision Valley campus is in close proximity to the Galston Medical Centre should a student need to see a doctor. Parents will always be contacted and informed if their daughter needs medical treatment.

CATERING FOR STUDENTS

Chartwells Catering Group is our provider at Vision Valley and our main Pymble campus. The Chartwells team creates a balanced menu that aligns with the Australian Dietary Guidelines for Children and Young People and has experience in providing higher-energy foods for active children. The Deputy Head of Campus will work closely with Chartwells’ Head Chef to ensure the girls’ dietary needs are met whether in residence or on expedition.

CO-CURRICULAR COMMITMENTS

Pymble’s co-curricular program is an integral component of student learning, enabling students to find their nonacademic passion, grow and thrive beyond the classroom.

Before signing up for this program, students were encouraged to select the term that best suits their co-curricular commitments as they will be unable to leave the site for the duration. Cocurricular activities such as dance, music ensembles, private music and speech and drama lessons, and sports such as swimming, diving, athletics, gymnastics and cross country run all year, therefore our co-curricular leaders have worked closely with staff at Vision Valley to co-construct opportunities for students to sustain progress and enhance skills, fitness and connections while away.

Please be assured, no student will lose their co-curricular place or have their position compromised by joining the residential program at Vision Valley. That’s a promise!

DOWNTIME

The pace and daily routine at Vision Valley will be slower than it is at the Pymble campus. The structure of learning will be flexible, with no set time for activities to begin or end and with sufficient time to meet the learning outcomes determined. There will be downtime for students to enjoy solitude, reflection, chatting with friends, reading books, relaxing and modified co-curricular sessions.

COVID-19 PREVENTION AND MANAGEMENT

COVID-19 prevention and management is an ongoing issue factored into life at Vision Valley. The staff will manage student health and hygiene with the same stringency and protocols in place at our Pymble campus and in alignment with NSW Health. COVID-19 testing will be required for students and staff prior to joining the program and symptoms will be strictly monitored for the duration of the program. Students and staff with COVID symptoms will be isolated from the group and tested. In the event a student returns a positive test, her parents/carers (or guardian for Boarders) will be contacted and the student will be required to return home or to their guardian for their isolation period. Similarly, staff members who test positive will leave the program to self-isolate. Students will be permitted to return to Vision Valley after their isolation period.

Mrs Julie Shaw SENIOR DEPUTY PRINCIPAL

See table on page 16 for co-curricular programs at Vision Valley.

Area

Sport

Music

Dance

CO-CURRICULAR

Activity

Cardio fitness

Options at Vision Valley

Twice-weekly running sessions delivered onsite by coaching staff. Sessions will focus on building and maintaining a level of cardio fitness to support all sports through sprint work and endurance running. If students enjoy the sessions, we can increase their frequency to 2-3 sessions per week.

Strength and flexibility Twice-weekly bootcamp focusing on core strength, plyometric training and flexibility to support all sports.

Gym equipment

ATHLIV gym station (including stationary and ergonomic bikes) set up onsite to develop general strength and conditioning training.

Cardio equipment Two additional stationary bikes and two additional rowing machines onsite.

Athletics (throws)

Athletics throws sessions onsite led by specialist throws coaches.

Netball, Hockey, Rugby Sevens, Touch Football

Online or hard-copy programs developed by coaches to hone specific skills in readiness for returning to sport. Equipment all supplied onsite.

Private Music lessons Online lesson with PT Music teacher at a mutually convenient time, plus time for individual practise.

Choir, Chorale, Strings, Concert Band

Students will be expected to: • self-rehearse using music and rehearsal tracks accessed via Teams • communicate (via Teams) with their conductor and perform sections of their music for feedback when possible • work closely with their private instrumental teacher to support their learning of the repertoire. Depending on the number of students, specialised rehearsal groups may be formed. A member of the Music department will visit for a check-in. Performance opportunities will be offered, where possible, to showcase students’ chosen work.

RAD Ballet stream Students will self-rehearse using the RAD App and sign up for Online Private Lessons with the Ballet teacher at a mutually convenient time. A RAD Ballet teacher will visit for a check-in. Modifications to commitment: If Vocational RAD Ballet students are not ready to participate in the RAD Examination, discussions will be held to decide next steps.

Eisteddfod stream Students will be provided with the Pymble Online Dance Tutorials to rehearse Eisteddfod-level choreography at their own pace. Modifications to commitment: A student attending the residential program will still be a member of the Eisteddfod team for the year with the modifications applied below and eligible for Performance Colours/Awards and Dance Showcase Awards. Semester 2 routine: students will only perform in the sections of the new routine taught whilst they are at school.

Area

Dance (cont.)

Drama

CO-CURRICULAR

Activity

Onstage stream

SideStage Stream

Options at Vision Valley

Students will be encouraged to self-rehearse whenever possible and use Pymble Online Dance Tutorials to learn at their own pace. Students absent from class in Term 3 may be unable to learn a section of the routine and the teacher will stage the item appropriately so the class is not impacted. Students will be able to perform at Showcase.

Students are encouraged to access the Technique Tutorials provided to continue their one hour of technique per week.

Theatresports

Students will be assigned particular tasks to continue.

Drama Festival classes Students will be assigned particular tasks to continue and have an opportunity to showcase their Performance Item 1.

Filmmaking

Students will be assigned particular tasks to continue and have an opportunity to showcase their Semester 1 work.

Language Arts

Debating

Mock Mediation

Private Speech and Drama lessons

Students will miss debating rounds scheduled to take place during their time at Vision Valley, however Year 9 teams will have more members to accommodate this period.

Training with the coach will continue online where possible. Mediation rounds will be held online with Year 9 students joining when possible.

Online lesson with teacher at mutually convenient time, where possible.

Extended Learning

Robotics

Students will resume participation on their return. Some pre-work may be required before departure.

Classes (e.g. Ceramics) Students will only be charged for the lessons attended in Term 3.

Cattle Club

Students will resume participation on their return.

Cadets Cadets

Students will resume participation on their return.