Principal update 19 May 2020 Students return to School full time

Final Principal Covid- 19 update

I have now had my final update from the Department of Education in this Learning at Home program. Here are the main points.

• From Monday 25^th May, all students are to return to normal school operation. Normal classroom teaching and learning will occur and distance learning will stop.
• We are told that students are safe and that schools will continue to have extra cleaning for all of term 2 (they will disinfect many surfaces including handrails, computers, toilets).   
• Students can catch the bus without observing social distancing, however good hygiene and avoiding physical contact is encouraged. Parents are asked not to congregate after dropping students off.
• Teachers still have to obey social distancing requirements. There will be a few changes to student timetables to accommodate this and some new teacher absences, during this time. Given the short notification time, Monday will probably be the first time students will be informed of these changes.
• There will be no whole school assemblies, incursions, excursions, camps etc.
• At this stage, the school will continue to pay for an early period 4 bus on Wednesday commencing on 27^th May.
• Students are encouraged to bring water and not drink from bubblers.
• Student reports may be a little different. We are working to ensure they are all delivered by the end of term, but there may be a delay for some students. We are also looking to make reports available on our school digital parent platform in term 3.

There are still issues our staff are working through. Some of the larger issues include,

1. What do students do for sport and PE?
2. Performances, work experience, work placements are still not allowed.
3. What will happen to the office and uniform shop next week as the hall will go back to student use? Unfortunately, the builders will need all of term 2 to complete the round-about.

As of next week, I will return to producing a School Newsletter available from our website. If there is more information on Covid-19, I will publish it there.

Thanks for your assistance over this last seven weeks. Covid- 19 is not over but we are better prepared.

Warren Parkes

Principal

Picton High School

(02) 4677 1242