28 Apr 2020
BGHS Return to school UPDATE
Dear Parents,
I hope this letter finds you well.
We thank you for your ongoing support of the learning from home structures and practices we have put in place to ensure your child’s education has continued during the upheaval that the COVID-19 pandemic has triggered.
Students who have mirrored school learning routines at home and accessed the curriculum online or via work packages arranged by the school will find that there has been less impact to the continuum of their learning once we return to our normal organisation.
Having said this, we also recognise that the challenges we have faced and continue to face in 2020 will impact and in ways we may not have been able to predict as yet. In light of this, we are confident that our expert staff, in partnership with our parents and families, will ensure that every one of our students will continue to progress and work towards achieving excellence and success in their long term learning goals.
Included in this letter is the school schedule that will commence as of Monday May 11, 2020 (Term 2, Week 3), until otherwise advised. The schedule for Years 7-10 allocates one day per week specific to their year group where a specialised schedule focusing on cross KLA skills and wellbeing will be conducted. Year 11 will engage in their normal timetable on their scheduled onsite day in addition to online for the rest of the week.
Our parents are reminded of the following:
§ Our school is open and remains open for any student to access, provided they are in good health. Any student who has a temperature or is displaying symptoms of ANY illness is required to stay at home until they are well and no longer contagious.
§ Learning online and learning from home routines must be maintained on the days when students are not on the school premises.
§ At this stage, while learning online is available, parents can make individual decisions about sending their child to attend onsite. We are available to discuss this over the phone if you require. Should you choose to keep your child at home on the day allocated for onsite attendance, you must inform the school via phone.
Parents and students are notified of the following requirements and expectations at all times:
§ Students must come prepared and equipped to learn, and comply with school rules and values
§ Students must attend in full school uniform (Years 7-10 must bring their sports uniform to school on the allocated day)
§ Students must actively comply with hygiene protocols and social distancing rules
§ Absolute respect of teachers and whole school staff must be demonstrated in all forums.
Important information for HSC students and their parents:
BGHS has maintained that the HSC and our HSC students are of the highest priority. All decision-making related to the HSC has been motivated by the intent to ensure that there is no disadvantage to our students. In keeping with this focus, from Week 3, students in Year 12 are encouraged to attend all days of the week. While learning online will still be available, we will be running face to face timetabled classes, confident that this will be the best way to engage and support our students as the HSC looms ever closer. HSC requirements to meet outcomes are still being enforced. Decisions around attendance must involve direct notification and discussions with the Deputy Principal or Principal.
Please find below an overview of scheduled days for the phased transition back to onsite learning.
Organisation for the phased transition to onsite school learning at Birrong Girls High School
Year 12 classes will be running onsite five days a week as of May 11, 2020.
Onsite access remains available for any student who requires it on any day it is required, however the Premier’s announcement encouraged parents to adhere to the schedule posted by the school wherever possible.
Day of the week & Expected attendance
Monday - Years 11 and 12
Tuesday - Years 7 and 12
Wednesday - Years 8 and 12
Thursday - Years 9 and 12
Friday - Years 10 and 12
On the ‘one day’ schedule students will be participating in a specifically designed program of skills based lessons that also incorporate a focus on wellbeing, physical activity and overall reconnection and engagement with learning at school within school routines.
We look forward to welcoming all our students back to school.
Any queries can be directed to the relevant Deputy Principal or Year Adviser on 02 96445057.
We are looking forward to welcoming all our students back at school. We are also looking forward to the day where our routines and activities at school and in the wider community return to normal. In order for this to occur sooner rather than later, we need every member of our school community, including our parents to remember that back to school does not mean back to normal as yet. We need everyone to do their bit, maintaining social distancing and hygiene protocols wherever they are. This is the only way to ensure that schools and our wider community are safe places to be for all of us. Every one of us has an important role to play and we encourage everyone to continue to follow the rules because following the rules works!
Yours sincerely,
Zena Dabaja
Principal
28.4.20