The Entrance Public School

A Safe, Respectful and Engaged Community

Important Update for Week 3, Term Three

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Dear Parents and Carers,

As you would have heard the NSW government has extended stay at home orders - until at least
28 August - we have to continue to significantly minimise the number of people on our school site. 
Each day we must submit the number of students and staff on site to ensure we are following ALL of the latest rules.

We realise that working from home and trying to home school your children at the same time is tough and a huge juggling act. Many of our own staff face the same challenges when they are asked to work from home.

It is important that all students are at home unless you are an essential service worker. Please note that the list of what constitutes an essential worker has been updated by NSW Health.

If you are able to work from home or are currently not working due to the new restrictions then the assumption is that you will have your children at home with you as this minimises movement in the community. Department of Education (DoE) updated its message to families regarding the importance of keeping children at home. We have also been asked to further minimise staff on our school site. This means our school and office will be operating on a ‘skeleton’ staff for the coming weeks.The following is the message from the DoE:

Principal's have been asked to pass on this important message as we enter week 2...
Parents must keep children - of all ages, across primary and secondary schooling and early childcare - home if they can. Students will be supported to learn from home. Schools and early childhood education and care services, including Out of School Hours  Care services are open for any child that needs it. Thank you for your support. 


All staff are required to wear a mask both indoors and outdoors while on school grounds (with some exemptions).


A full set of guidelines can be found at: https://education.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/advice- for-families

Some Specific guidelines for The Entrance Public School

We will continue to have Home Learning Packs ready to collect from the office for those families who have indicated they require these resources. This will be the only time available for collection of these packs each day. Please make sure you wear a mask and log in with the QR code.

Home Learning Packs can also be requested to be sent via email or through the Seesaw App by contacting your class teacher or emailing the school. All parents must adhere to strict social distancing requirements and wear a face mask.

The school is open for students of essential workers.

There will be minimal staff supervision and schools will provide one unit of work for students, whether they are learning from home or in the classroom. This is as best as possible in line with normal scope and sequences.

Parents will be asked to drop their children off at the school gates in the morning and pick their child up at the designated gate in the afternoon. Due to reduced staff only the yellow (Preschool) and Green (Food Hub) gates will be open.

Home Learning Options

A range of online learning materials are available from See-Saw (K-2) and Google Classrooms (3-6). See-saw will continue to be used for regular communication between all classroom teachers and their students.

Alternatively, there will be the option of picking up ‘hard copy’ learning packs from the front office.

Parent resources are available on the Department of Education’s Learning from Home Hub. https://education.nsw.gov.au/teaching-and-learning/learning-from- home/learning-at-home

Contacting Teachers

Our teachers are working extremely hard at home answering your questions through Seesaw. Please note that they have been instructed to field enquiries between 9 am and 4 pm only.

Any enquiries after that time will be responded to the following morning. Teachers will also let classes know the day they are rostered on at school and will be able to respond later that day.

Garawa Preschool

Garawa Preschool is currently closed. If you are a parent of an essential worker you can still bring your child in, however, they will be supported with our Kindergarten cohort.

Canteen

Our canteen will not be open. Students attending school must bring their own lunch and recess.

The After-School Klub – TASK

The After-School Klub (TASK) continues to operate for families who require their service. If you are currently using their service, or would like to enquire about availability, contact TASK by telephone 1300 827 500 or enrol@task-kids.com.au.

A reminder for all families:

Students should not attend school if unwell, even with mild symptoms of COVID-19. Any person with any COVID-19 symptoms should not return to school until they have received a negative test result and are symptom-free.

In circumstances where children have other medical reasons for recurrent symptoms, a letter from their GP is sufficient to negate the requirement for a negative test.

Anyone who is unwell with COVID-19 symptoms is strongly encouraged to get tested and self-isolate until a negative result is received.

The Challenges of Home Learning

We know that this is a difficult time for parents. You are not teachers, nor should you be expected to be teachers. The important thing to note is that this is a health issue, not an educational issue. Our priority is health.

Please do not stress about having to teach your kids. Upon returning to school we will put in the necessary support to accelerate their learning.

Take care of each other.

Dave Stitt 

Principal