Welcome to Term 2 

It has been wonderful welcoming back the students this term and to see their happy faces without masks!

While the term is still young, we have already been able to hold many important school activities including House cross country carnivals, excursions, assemblies, Mother's Day morning tea, parent- teacher interviews and parent information evenings.

School is starting to look normal again!

COVID Update

While many COVID restrictions were lifted during the school holidays, we are still being vigilant to try to avoid the spread of the virus, as well as other winter illnesses. We continue to follow the 3 Vs:

  • Vaccination

All staff and any adults performing work, or volunteering, at school are fully vaccinated

  • Ventilation

95 Additional air purifiers have been installed in learning spaces. These should help over the winter months when it is not possible to open windows or take classes outside

  • Vital COVID safe steps

Physical distancing (where possible), good hygiene practices, twice weekly RATs, for at least the next four weeks of Term 2 and stay at home if you are unwell.

Face masks are no longer mandatory although they are strongly recommended in school and some staff and students may choose to wear one. Face masks must be worn on public transport, so please make sure your child has a face mask for school excursions and camps.

Confirmed COVID cases are required to isolate for seven days and COVID positive people must not attend school during this quarantine period. Please ensure you inform the school nurse of any positive cases through the absence hotline. Parents of children who are close school contacts will be notified by the school.

Another important change in regulations is that close contacts of confirmed cases no longer have to quarantine. Siblings of confirmed cases may attend school. Parents need to notify the school through the absence hotline that their child is a close contact. 

  • The child can attend school as long as they are asymptomatic
  • Close contacts over eight years of age must wear a mask indoors (unless they have a medical exemption) and have a negative RAT each morning for the five days they attend school while the close contact is isolating.

People who have had COVID are now exempt from testing or from quarantining for 12 weeks from the time they tested positive.

It has been lovely to welcome parents back on site, however please remember that parents should not enter classrooms or buildings until further notice.

Clyde Move

Over the holidays we were all excited to receive the news that Clyde Grammar had permission to move into their new school buildings and the staff and students have now happily settled in.

Now that Clyde has moved, there is no need to continue with the staggered dismissals we have had in place for Foundation – Year 2 students. Please note that from now on, all students, including F–2 students, will be dismissed at 3.10 pm each day.

Uniform Update

Our current formal uniform policy was updated last year after surveying parents, students and staff. There was a clear majority of opinion in all groups and so the following changes have been made to the uniform policy:

  • School ties will continue to be worn
  • A formal school uniform, with a blazer for all Senior School students, will be maintained
  • The blazer must be worn by Senior School students at formal occasions, travelling to and from school, at school assembly and on excursions
  • Summer uniform must be worn in Terms 1 and 4 and winter uniform must be worn from May to the end of Term 3
  • Summer uniform consists of: Summer dress worn with short white socks, blue shorts with blue socks with red and white stripes, short sleeve shirt worn untucked and no tie
  • Winter uniform consists of: Winter tunic/dress, long navy trousers or navy shorts, blue socks with red and white stripes, long sleeve shirt worn tucked in and a tie. The blazer must be worn by Senior School students at formal occasions, travelling to and from school, at school assembly and on excursions
  • The survey decided all students will wear navy shorts or trousers and the grey shorts and trousers will be phased out over the next three years
  • Students may wear blue shorts all year round
  • A black leather belt is to be worn with shorts or trousers that have belt loops
  • The sport uniform remains unchanged.

Secondhand Uniforms

Please note that, with the easing of COVID restrictions, we are able to re-open the secondhand uniform shop in the school. I am grateful to members of the PFC for donating their time and managing this valuable resource. Please see the PFC section of the newsletter for information about the shop’s opening hours.

Thank you

Stay safe, stay well.

Fiona Williams

Principal