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.

https://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



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.



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.



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/


https://fairvale-h.schools.nsw.gov.au/


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



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.


https://education.nsw.gov.au/public-schools/going-to-a-public-school/translated-documents/supporting-children-return-to-face-to-face-learning?deliveryName=DM20184

https://education.nsw.gov.au/public-schools/going-to-a-public-school/translated-documents/supporting-children-return-to-face-to-face-learning?deliveryName=DM20184

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.

fairvale high school return to school plan

Documents