Principal's Update Term 2

Good morning and hello from Singleton High School, welcome back to Week 2 of Term 2. It is pleasing to see that our collective efforts to combat this terrible virus have seen a significant reduction in cases across Australia; as a town and a community we are doing really well!

Sincere thanks to all our parents and carers for your continued support and patience in these complicated and often difficult times. Our staff have really appreciated your kind emails and Facebook posts. I have really appreciated your perseverance supporting our students at home.

Our students have really loved their virtual year meetings so please encourage your child to join these. And our staff have enjoyed their virtual staff meetings.

I also commend all of our staff: their communication, collaboration, creativity, critical reflection & compassion have been outstanding and     everyday they are still solving problems and delivering solutions. Totally rethinking how students could be taught and best support learning, engagement and wellbeing with so much unknown and then committing to deliver whenever and however they have showcased amazing organisational skills and put in incredibly long hours.

Thank you to parents, carers and staff for your support in implementing these changes and for your unwavering commitment to our students and our community.

If you haven't already, please look at some of our Facebook posts from the last few weeks. The PE staff and their practical advice on social distancing and coping with isolation, The Clontarf clip and the 3D printer larynxes produced and delivered over Easter to assist Singleton hospital staff training just show how amazing our staff really are.

We are busy preparing for a Phased Return from Monday 11 May, for Stage 1 starting next week. 

I strongly encourage you to complete the 1 minute 3 question quiz on our Facebook page and emailed home yesterday. This will help us plan and prepare for the gradual return of students next week. Thank you to the 400 people who have already co mpleted this vital feedback.

Our safety measures for next week include social distancing, staggered breaks, more hand soap and sanitiser, enhanced cleaning and extra cleaning of desks and computers, new hygiene signs and new thermometers. We all want Singleton High School to be safe!

To this end if your child shows any signs of any illness you must keep them at home. If your child show any signs of illness at school we will contact you so they can return home.

Please ensure someone is available to contact during the day should the need arise. Also, ensure your child knows who that contact is.

The length of Stage 1 will depend on the status of the virus and the associated health advice from the government.

There is currently NO definite decision about other stages or a full return to school, despite some media reports. However, indications suggest a full return is likely before the end of term.

Currently we have been told to plan to provide mixed mode learning for the first half of Term 2 as a minimum and our staff are prepared for online learning to continue as needed. Rest assured I will continue to keep you up to date as decisions are made known to us. Please consistently encourage your child to focus on the work that has been provided to them, Term 2 is underway and they are all capable of sustained learning.

During the last two months we have also supplied many links to support learning at home, these links and resources can be found on our website or Facebook page.

ATTENDANCE PATTERNS FOR WEEKS 3 & 4

Y12 will attend 3 days, Monday to Wednesday.

Y12 will follow 2 subject lines each day of 2 hrs 50 minutes for each session with brain breaks with a 40 minute break in the middle. They will have their own teachers.

Y10 & Y11 will attend on Thursdays and follow a 6 period day of English Maths Science HSIE PDHPE + one elective.

Y9 will attend on Wednesdays and follow a 5 period day of English Maths Science HSIE PDHPE.

Y8 will attend on Tuesdays and follow a 7 period day of English Maths Science HSIE + Music, Tech and PDHPE.

Y7 will attend on Mondays and follow an 8 period day of English Maths Science HSIE + Jap Art Tech PDHPE.

Not all classes will have their own teachers due to social distancing and continuing their online work. Mondays will not be an early finish for these weeks instead a full day from 9:00am till 3.20pm

For Support Unit students:

In Week 3 - Classes will be back for 1 or 2 days depending on class size.

In Week 4 – all classes will be back across 4 days from Monday to Thursday.

A Special support class timetable has been designed so all classes are following the same pattern of study each day. Parents/carers have been notified via See Saw, email, SMS or phone calls. If you have any questions please ring the school number and ask for Kristen Strachan.

Where possible students should arrive at school just before 9am, all the usual gates will open, and assemble in east and west quad for further instructions.

Buses will operate as normal and social distancing will be needed during the wait period.

If you have a child who can’t attend school or any child who is designated as “at risk” and you have not already informed us, please contact school as a matter of urgency. If they are sick on the day and need to stay home let us know.

Please note there will no general access to the school by parents or carers to conform with current physical distancing guidelines, please phone or email school if you have any enquiries.

Where possible students should bring their own fully charged laptop or tablet, with charger and headphones. School laptops will also be available on site. These will be set up so that students can continue their current online learning.

If students prefer to continue learning with hard copy materials/work packs, they must bring their current work with them.

Years 7 to 11 will be allocated a room and a desk for the entire day to assist with social distancing and hygiene, with 10-15 students per classroom dependent on the room size.

Students must stay in class for all lessons; in these times being out of class unnecessarily will not be tolerated.

Unfortunately, there will be no prac lessons for years 7 to 10 for weeks 3 and 4, to minimise contact and risk

Our Technology Staff will be available from 8:30 to 8:55am, Monday to Thursday, in the school's Library to support any student who is bringing along a device and requires technology support.

Ongoing technology support for students onsite can also be accessed through our school's Technology Support Officers. They will be available for help throughout the day; just choose a time via the sign on sheet outside the TSO rooms behind G1.

Trade Training Classes will resume on all sites with face-to-face classes in Week 3 as per each student's normal program; they are reminded to observe the appropriate hygiene practices set by their course teacher and host school.

- Electro-technology for Y12 is Tuesday and Y11 Thursday
- Primary Industries for Y11 is Tuesday 
- Hospitality for Y12 is Tuesday and Y11 Thursday
- Construction for Y11 and Y12 is Tuesday

This information including times is on our website and Facebook page, and you can always ring us if you are unsure.

Traineeship students are also resuming their work placements in Week 3.

More than ever all students, especially Y12, need to work consistently and with real purpose – for Y12 we will provide support in the Library during study times. There will be no pass outs and my expectation is that they will attend the entire day. Further support for practical HSC course work is always available from their individual teachers.

Our Canteen will be open Monday to Thursdays for breakfast, recess & lunch from Monday 11 May, with a temporary limited menu, we strongly request that staff and students place orders at the beginning of the day before 9.30 am. Over the counter sales will be restricted. See our website and Facebook page for more details and prices.

The school hoodies, developed through student voice, are still for sale and can be purchased online for $50, see our recent on Facebook for details. Orders do close on Friday 15 May so you need to be quick! They look great and are really warm; I love mine! If you have already purchased one they are at school now, but please phone ahead for a safe and easy pick up.

Finally, during the last 4 weeks we have been able to fast track a range of planned refurbishments at school including painting, refurbishing rooms and playgrounds, replacing gutters, laying new carpet, asbestos removal, refreshing some staffrooms, new ground signage and restoring our wooden stage to its former glory. Our upgrades for printers and copiers are on track for July, as is our front office refurbishment

We have also put more seating in the quads. Personally, I am keen to see the new bus bay shade sails go up: blue of course!

and don’t forget …

1.  Keep calm: there are lots of things outside our control. Let’s remember to focus on what really matters.  As a school we will continue to focus on being a calm place where students and staff feel they belong and can learn.

2. Be kind: we are all in this together, please reach out to help others who may be in need.

3. Be grateful: despite Covid-19 we are lucky, we have a great school in a great community.

4. Be careful: it's not over yet, let’s continue to get through this together.

Thank you all again for your ongoing and unwavering commitment to our students our school and our community.

Take care, Jo