Fairvale High School Return to School Plan
Transcript of Fairvale High School Return to School Plan
More information about Term 4 and the return to school is available at education.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/advice-for-families
Fairvale High School
Return to School Plan
We are excited about our return to face-to-face learning and welcoming students and
staff back onsite where we know the best learning happens. This is a short summary
of what our parents and students can expect.
While we know there is excitement about the return to school, it is important that we stick to the staged
return to give us time to be ready to welcome back students onsite. Students will return to face-to-face
learning in the following order
• from 18 October – Year 12 (for those students wanting support, revision andconsolidation from class teachers)
• from 25 October – all remaining year groups – Years 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12
Our COVID-safe return to school plan is NSW Health approved and includes numerous effective
practices to support the health and wellbeing of our students and staff. These practices include
vaccinations, mask wearing, reduced mingling of student groups and staff, ventilation in classrooms and
continued good hygiene and cleaning.
More information about Term 4 and the return to school is available at education.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/advice-for-families
As we return to school students will be kept in their cohorts to minimise opportunities for transmission of
COVID-19 and to enable effective contact tracing and containment. This means minimising interaction
between students on school grounds and keeping cohorts together where possible.
BREAK TIMES
During break times, students at Fairvale High School will be kept together in stages.
Stage 4 – Years 7 and 8
Stage 5 – Years 9 and 10
Stage 6 – Years 11 and 12
When all students return to school on Monday 25 October, students will be allocated the following areas and
rotated around on a weekly basis.
Stage 4 – Allocated the COLA and Year 7 area
Stage 5 – Allocated the football field as well as the football field shelters
Stage 6 – Allocated the quadrangle and walkway awnings
CANTEEN USE
There will be opportunities for students to purchase food from the school canteen in a safe way. In order to
limit large gatherings at the canteen, the following times will be the only opportunity students will have to
purchase food items from the canteen. Please consider this and talk to your son or daughter when making
decisions regarding food purchases:
Stage 4 – Permitted to purchase food from the canteen during Lunch 1 only
Stage 5 – Permitted to purchase food from the canteen during Lunch 2 only
Stage 6 – Permitted to purchase food from the canteen during Recess 1 and 2 only
PERSONAL HYGIENE
All students, staff and essential visitors should:
• wash their hands regularly and/or use hand sanitiser throughout the day
• cover a cough or sneeze with their elbow
• dispose of tissues and other personal use items immediately into the bin
• avoid physical contact in greetings, such as shaking hands or hugging
• stay home if feeling unwell with COVID-19 symptoms and get tested.
In addition, students and staff are expected to sanitise their hands, desks and school equipment at the
beginning and end of all lessons.
More information about Term 4 and the return to school is available at education.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/advice-for-families
Masks are required to be worn on the school site by staff indoors and outdoors and required for students
indoors and outdoors unless eating or exercising.
It is an expectation that all students will attend school with their own mask. It is strongly advised that
students have spare masks in their school bag in the event that a mask becomes unusable. In emergency
situations, the school will have spare masks for students if required.
If students refuse to wear a mask whilst at school or fail to follow a direction regarding mask use, parents or
carers will be contacted to collect their child.
All staff required on site supporting the return to school will need to be fully vaccinated from 18 October.
Then from 8 November all staff, contractors, volunteers and students on student placement on a school site
will need to be fully vaccinated, including Outside of School Hours Care staff.
Student Vaccinations
Vaccinations are not mandatory for students. However, anyone eligible (currently anyone aged 12 and over) is encouraged to get vaccinated. Please speak to your health care professional for further advice and support.
Having open or well-ventilated spaces reduces the risk of transmission of COVID-19 because infectious
particles are more quickly diffused in the open air. The department will continue to work with NSW Health to
provide us with advice and guidance on maintaining good ventilation in our school and we will make use of
our outdoor spaces wherever practical.
YEAR 12 ENTRY AND EXIT • Year 12 students will be entering an exiting the school via the Bini Shell gate.
More information about Term 4 and the return to school is available at education.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/advice-for-families
During Term 4 many school-based activities will remain on hold until NSW Health advise otherwise. This
includes large celebrations like assemblies, presentation days and graduations, arts and sports events.
SPORT and PDHPE LESSONS
• Years 7-10 Integrated Sport will continue to operate during regular timetabled periods. Year 11 Sport will
be cancelled for Term 4 and students will be permitted to leave school at the end of Period 4 (11:43am)
unless they have a timetabled class (Drama and Extension 2 Mathematics) or any student who is yet to
achieve the minimum standards. Parents and carers will need to make transport arrangements as
appropriate.
• During Weeks 4 and 5, Year 7, 8, 9, and 10 students will not be required to bring their sports uniform to
school for Sport or Physical Education lessons. Instead, students will be encouraged to bring sports
shoes and a hat. This will avoid the need for students to gather in large numbers in changing rooms.
This will be reviewed in subsequent weeks and communication will be made with the community once
revised.
• Students will participate in activities that are of a low to moderate intensity. Examples of lesson activities
that will operate include fitness walking, badminton, mini tennis and other low impact activities that do
not require significant sharing of equipment and promote physical distancing. PDHPE and Sport
teachers are well equipped to make these minor adjustments to lessons to ensure that they are still fun
and engaging.
GENERAL
• Dance and/or Drama are permitted in-line with COVID-Safe practices within classes in outdoorspaces. Mixing of classes is not permitted (except for HSC assessment purposes with COVID Safepractices in place)
Parents and students will be notified if a decision is made to close the school due to a confirmed case of
COVID-19. During this time we will continue to provide learning from home activities and we will let you
know when we can return to face-to-face learning.
In the event that the school has a confirmed case of COVID-19 and we move to online learning, the school
community will be notified via our social media channels and on the school website. Parents and community
members are encouraged to join the school’s social media platforms (see links below) and familiarise
themselves with the school website.
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/fairvalehigh/
Instagram - @fairvalehigh:
School Website - https://fairvale-h.schools.nsw.gov.au/
More information about Term 4 and the return to school is available at education.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/advice-for-families
Onsite orientations and transition programs are not currently allowed in person on school sites until we are
advised differently by NSW Health. We’ll share more information in the coming weeks about our school’s
virtual orientation and transition program.
HSC Minimum Standards (11 - 15 Oct) FVHS is still functioning under construction restrictions and as such, minimum facilities, including internet, are available. As such, only students who have not yet met the HSC minimum standards will attend study bubble sessions from 11 Oct for a maximum of 3 hours a day. Students must check in via the Service NSW QR Code app and must stay in their study group at all times.
HSC Revision Sessions (18 Oct - 5 Nov)
Teachers of HSC subjects are available for revision and support during their usual timetabled HSC
classes. Students must stay within their year group and not mingle with other year groups. Year 12
students must check in via the Service NSW QR Code upon entry to the school. Year 12 will be
allocated a specific area to take their recess and lunch breaks.
We are putting in place and preparing COVID-safe arrangements for exams to minimise mixing between
students. These plans include appropriate spacing for students and that exams are conducted in well-
ventilated rooms and spaces, mask wearing for students and staff onsite. We are also organising alternative
venues in the event we need to relocate the exams.
Final details will be communicated to all parents, carers and students closer to the HSC commencement
date – Tuesday 9th November
More information about Term 4 and the return to school is available at education.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/advice-for-families
Is there an option to learn from home?
• It is an expectation that all students will return to school from the dates indicated on page 1
• Lessons will only be taught at school. For students with exceptional medical or other circumstances,
parents and carers need to contact the school and speak to the School Principal or Deputy Principal. In
these rare circumstances, work packages will be prepared and sent home. Support whilst learning from
home will occur in a limited way.
Supporting children returning to face-to-face learning
Helpful tips for parents and carers to support their children as they prepare to return to school are available
in multiple languages on the following web link:
https://education.nsw.gov.au/public-schools/going-to-a-public-school/translated-documents/supporting-
children-return-to-face-to-face-learning?deliveryName=DM20184
The staff at Fairvale High School have been extremely proud of the way our community has
supported one another during this challenging time. The school staff wish to extend their thanks to
all parents and carers for their support during this time. The role that parents and carers have
played has ensured that our students have had an opportunity to continue their educational journey
whilst learning from home.
COVID-safe operations for schools
Students return to face-to-face learning in staged cohorts. COVID-safe operations are maintained through high rates of staff and student vaccination, safe rostering and physical distancing.
Students should be at school from the date indicated for their year group unless they are unwell.
Year 12
All other years
18October
25October
Drop-offs and pick-ups
Please follow the physical distancing rules, avoid gathering outside gates, remain off school grounds and wear a mask. (some exceptions made for vulnerable students.)
in Year 7 and above while they are indoors and outdoors on school sites unless eating or exercising. Students should bring their own masks where possible, but schools will have back-up supplies just in case. Masks are also required for all travel on public transport for children 13 years and older.
Masks
All adults on school sitesmust be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, including employees, contractors, volunteers and essential visitors.Students aged 12 or above are now eligible for a COVID-19 vaccination. Parents and carers can book in a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine now.
Vaccination
of transmission of COVID-19 because infectious particles are more quickly diffused in the open air than in spaces with less ventilation. Outdoor settings will be used where practicable.
Ventilation
Only essential visitors are allowed on school sites. All visitors are required to wear a mask and sign-in using the Service NSW QR code when entering the school.
Visitors
Students will be reminded to wash their hands often. Sanitisers, soaps, paper towels and other essential items will be readily available for students.Enhanced cleaning will continue on our school site.
Hand hygiene & cleaning
Masks will be required for all staff and all students
Open or well-ventilated spaces reduce the risk
From 18 October, students sitting their HSC exams will be able to access their schools full-time for revision and study sessions.