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Jennifer Thomas Principal Principal Report Continuing to Keep Our Community Safe Please remember that for safety reasons only Department of Education staff and students are allowed on site, although you are welcome to go to the Office if necessary. This includes walking through the Staff Carpark. I understand that at this stage of the pandemic it is getting confusing about what is allowed and what is not allowed and that we all have opinions about what should and shouldn’t happen, but this decision has been made by the NSW Department of Education and NSW Government and arguing with staff when they are following their employers’ instructions is unhelpful. It’s important that the safety and obligations of staff are respected. To assist us please make sure that if you have friends or family bringing your child/children to school or collecting them at the end of the day that they too are aware of the new procedures and that they know that they are not to walk through the Staff Carpark. Do you use Before and After School Care on this site? Then you are welcome to walk your child to and from the Hall using the covered pathway but that is as far as you can go. Unfortunately it is not an opportunity to go on to the classrooms at this time. We have realised that we need to officially name the gates around our school so that we all have the same understanding! The Back Gate is the gate across the road from the shops. The Oval Gate is the gate leading onto Hill Park Oval. The Front Gate is closest to the Office. Thank you for staying away from the gate at the Covered Walkway. It has meant that Bus Duty is running smoothly and safely for staff. We hope that the new arrangements, whilst different, are as supportive of everyone as possible. Please remember that they are not ‘forever’ and that our goal is to keep people safe, keep strong relationships and keep things as certain for the children as possible to minimise their anxiety. Do you or someone you know have a child who will be starting Kindergarten in 2021? Because of COVID-19 we will have to make some changes to the way that we carry out our Kindergarten 2021 Transition to School program. It’s a work in progress! In the meantime, if your child is starting school in 2021 please submit your enrolment forms as soon as possible. You will then receive communication about new transition activities and procedures directly via email. At this stage our November Kindergarten 2021 Transition Program will remain unchanged for the children. Big Day @School as we have known it is likely to change but we will aim make sure that, within the COVID-19 restrictions that we must follow, we offer a program that helps us get to know each other and you to understand why we do what we do here at Wollongbar Public School. We are looking at ways to still do some of the things that we love that have been impacted by COVID-19. One of my favourite days of the year is Book Character Parade so Ms Runge, Mrs Yager and I have started planning an alternative Book Week and Character Parade for early Term 4. Mrs Raeburn, Miss Mansfield and the SRC have started planning for a Pyjama Day, with Recess Disco, for later this term (Friday 26 June). The Semester One SRC didn’t have much of a chance to carry out their roles so we have decided to carry their positions over to Term Three as well. Semester Two SRC will operate as ‘normal’, so the SRC will be twice the size in Term 3. One of their important roles in Term 3 will be choosing the games to be painted onto our new playground surfaces. Don’t forget, our staggered home times for the students are the new normal, and if you are late your child will be safe and waiting outside the Office. We are finding that the staggered end to the day has a silver lining: the children seem much less stressed or anxious about where to meet you or what to do than when there are 300 children streaming out of the classrooms at the same time. 2.55pm Bradman 3.00pm Cuthbert 3.05pm Freeman 3.10pm Newcombe Thursday 11 th June 2020 Term 2, Week 7 Volume 7 Wollongbar Public School Simpson Ave, Wollongbar 2477 Ph: 6628 1302 Fax: 6628 1976 Email: [email protected] Website: https://wollongbar-p.schools.nsw.gov.au/ Principal: Jennifer Thomas
