Term 3 at HVGS
As you will be aware there has been an increase of COVID-19 activity in Victoria and in ‘hotspot’ areas in New South Wales. Subsequently the New South Wales Government closed the border with Victoria and Public Health (COVID-19 Border Control) Order 2020 has been put in place.
Under the order, if you are from or have been in Victoria within the past 14 days, you must not enter NSW unless it is your usual place of residence. There are some further exemptions to this order and those people who are exempt must apply for a permit to enter NSW and then must self-isolate for a minimum of 14 days.
People who have been in Victoria in the previous 14 days must:
- self-isolate at home or in other suitable accommodation for 14 days
- not leave your accommodation except for the following reasons: obtaining medical care, complying with a legal obligation, an emergency, providing critical services or leaving NSW
- not let other people into your residence unless they live there
In line with the public health order, we ask that any students who have been in Victoria in the previous 14 days to abide by the health order and self-isolate as required. There are also several areas in NSW that if you have traveled to within a designated timeframe, you must self-isolate and get tested immediately. These areas are listed here and are updated regularly.
If this period of self-isolation means that a student will not be able to return to the School campus please inform the school via email admin@hvgs.nsw.edu.au or phone on 4934 2444.
Click on the links below for further information:
HVGS COVID-19 FAQS
Find below information about School operations in response to COVID-19.
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What cleaning, hygiene and distancing measures are in place?
Cleaning
- Extended and increased formal cleaning of high-touch areas including toilets, door knobs, taps, air conditioner buttons, light switches etc.
- Extra hand sanitising stations (recently installed) throughout high traffic areas of the School and in Staff rooms
Hygiene
Continued promotion of good hygiene practices for staff and students including:
- Washing hands with soap and water for 20 seconds, or using hand sanitiser, when entering school, and at regular intervals throughout the day particularly before and after eating, and after going to the toilet.
- Covering coughs and sneezes with ones elbow or a tissue and placing used tissues straight into the bin.
- Avoiding touching one’s eyes, nose and mouth.
- Encouraging students to not share food or drink.
- Continued adherence to strictest food hygiene preparation standards for the Canteen.
Distancing
HVGS will continue to encourage social distancing for students and staff including:
- Where possible, avoiding close-proximity queuing and encouraging increased space between students, for example, by placing markings on the floor.
- All school excursions and assemblies cancelled for May
- Using rooms with with enhanced ventilation
- Where possible, arranging classroom furniture to leave as much space as possible between students
- Teachers maintaining 1.5m physical distance from other adults in staff rooms
- Encouraging non-contact greetings
- Two visitors only at any time in the uniform shop
Can visitors be on site at HVGS?
- NO external visitors are permitted to enter or visit the School unless an emergency, critical to the School’s operations, or have approval from the School to do so.
- All approved visitors to the School must complete the HVGS External Visitors sign in form upon arrival.
- Parents and carers are asked not to come onto the grounds unless your child requires your urgent attention, which would be notified to you by the School. The exception to this is to drop children at school, and collect children. Please remain in your vehicles for this.
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What are the procedures for dropping off and picking up my child from HVGS?
- When dropping off and picking up students from Kindergarten through to Year 12 parents/carers must stay in their vehicle. This includes for regular school times, co-curricular activities, and late arrivals. The exception to this is;
- Dropping off or picking children up from TeamKids.
These exceptions are due to legislation requiring children to be signed in and out.
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What procedures are in place at the Early Learning Centre?
- Parents/carers are required to drop off and collect their children from the front of the ELC. This will assist to minimise the volume of visitors who attend our setting on a daily basis. Staff will be on hand to sign children in and out of the ELC and assist children with morning and afternoon routines.
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You may have noticed the ELC’s Coronavirus Policy on display in our foyer area. Here is a digital copy of the policy which outlines the steps we are taking to minimise the spread of any infectious illness, links to the latest Government information and requirements, as well information regarding the payment of fees.
- You may see some ELC staff wearing masks when you pick up or drop off your children, this is just to provided the staff with added protection during a time when they cannot socially distance from other adults.
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What are the procedures for child drop off and pick up to TeamKids?
- Parents are allowed on-site to collect, given the legal requirement that student be signed out
- Parents will not be required to sign their child in or out on an iPad, TeamKids staff will do that (parents still need to escort children in and out of TeamKids).
Are bus services running to and from HVGS for Term 3?
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HVGS has confirmed with bus companies that provide services to and from the School, that all regular Schools services will be running in Term 3. We understand bus companies have hygiene and social distancing practices in place as per Government recommendations. Please contact the bus company for any specific questions.
Bus services details can be found on the HVGS Parent Portal under School Resources.
- The HVGS-run bus service to and from Newcastle will continue as normal but with enhanced cleaning and hygiene, and social distancing procedures in place
I need to buy my child a uniform, can I attend the uniform shop?
- Uniforms can be purchased online through QKR. Uniform price list and more information can be found on the Parent Portal under School Resources.
- Parents can also attend the uniform shop, where social distancing rules will apply. The uniform shop is open Tuesdays and Thursday from 8am – 4pm during term time.
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When should I keep my child home from school?
- See information above under ‘Returning for Term 3’
- Students or staff who have been identified as close contacts of a person diagnosed with COVID-19 during their infectious period must also self-isolate at home, and should not attend school or childcare settings until 14 days after their last contact with the infected person
- If a student is unwell with respiratory illness, or cold or flu-like symptoms they should remain at home until symptoms resolve and, where appropriate, seek advice from a medical practitioner
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What can you do at home to protect against COVID-19?
- Take all steps and precautions to combat Coronavirus, and to press home the relevant messages to children and students;
- Supervise hand hygiene; regular hand hygiene routines when at home (using soap);
- Enhance frequency and cleaning for high touch surfaces at home; and use outdoor environments; and
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