Eastlakes Edition

On behalf of the students, teachers and parents of Eastlakes Public School, we would like to pay our respects and acknowledge the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, past, present and future who have the first connection to this land. 

We are thankful for the Gadigal and Kameygal clans for taking care of the land, sky and waterways on which we learn and play today.

Together we will rise to the challenge and be respectful andresponsible to care for our country. 

Always was, always will be Aboriginal land

The term is flying ahead! It's already the end of Week 7. It was so wonderful to see many of our parents  join us for the International Women's Day morning tea this week. A big thank you to Stage 2 and 3 girls led by Ms Maher, who each read a page from She Persisted about inspiring women and their contributions to breaking the gender bias.

It has been a challenging few weeks: the wet weather and flooding across the state and the ongoing COVID-19 situation. Our thoughts are with all the families and schools who have been impacted by the rain and floods. Congratulations to our students who have been safe and responsible during this wet weather as they have had to spend most of their school days indoors.

Thank you for joining your child's class teacher for Meet the Teacher via zoom last week. All teachers enjoyed connecting with families and sharing  information about curriculum, school routines and procedures for the term and year ahead.

For positive COVID-19 cases

If there is a positive case in your child’s class,  your child can continue to attend school in line with NSW Health advice. If a student or staff member receives a positive RAT test, they need to:

• record the positive RAT result through the Service NSW website or Service NSW app

• notify the school of the positive RAT or PCR test result as soon as possible

• follow NSW Health advice to isolate for 7 days.

Negative results do not need to be reported to Service NSW or to the school.

The school will inform the class/stage or whole school when there is a positive case within the school and guide families on NSW Health advice, including monitoring for symptoms.

At all times any student or staff member who is unwell and/or displays symptoms of COVID- 19 will be asked to go home and stay home until they can complete a RAT or PCR test. Staff and students cannot attend school if they are showing any symptoms of COVID-19. These include fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, runny nose, loss of smell/taste, muscle/joint pains, diarrhoea, nausea/vomiting, extreme tiredness, unexplained chest pain or conjunctivitis (eye infection).

• If symptoms continue, they should stay at home and take another RAT in 24 hours or have a PCR test.

• If the second RAT or initial PCR test result is negative and they are displaying no symptoms OR they are diagnosed as another condition such as hayfever, the student or staff member can return to school.

• In NSW, positive COVID-19 cases are provided a Medical Clearance Notice after 7 days and allowed to leave self-isolation as long as they do not have COVID-19 symptoms.  Advice to families can be found here: https://education.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/advice-for-families. 

Updated COVID-19 Settings

• Cohorting of students is no longer required. Students will be able to mix in the playground.
• Masks - as of Monday 7th mask are no longer mandatory for staff to wear. Some staff and students may still to choose to wear masks and will be supported in doing so.
• Parents and visitors are welcome to come back on school grounds. If meeting with a teacher or school psychologist, or volunteering you must check in using the school's QR code.

• Parents and carers are welcome back on the school grounds in the afternoons to pick up their children. We continue to thank our wonderful parent community for their ongoing support and patience as we navigate our way through this time. Physical distancing continues to be a priority when on school grounds.

• All students K-6 are being dismissed at 3pm. Parents and carers can wait for their children in the COLA, the amphitheatre or at the front of the school. The COLA gate will be opened from 2.50pm.

School Levies

Next week information will be sent home about school levies for the year. These levies cover extracurricular activities and or items, such as incursions, textbooks, creative arts, and digital technologies. The levies will support the curriculum enhancement requirements for each stage. Prompt payment of levies is appreciated. Contact the office if you wish to make a payment plan or are in need of any financial assistance.

P&C

The last couple of years has impacted on the P&C. After speaking with some parents this week we are ready to get the balling rolling again. Please keep an eye out for the up and coming date for our first P&C Meeting.

Have a lovely weekend and stay safe.

Anthia Tsantoulis

Principal

It is important that we have the most up to date information about your child’s health to assist the school in:

·         supporting the safety and wellbeing of your child;

·         allowing  planning to occur so that we can determine the best way to meet the individual health and support needs of your child and

·         providing safe participation for your child at the school.

If your child has any of the following:

• Asthma
• Anaphylaxis
• Allergy

Please provide the school with current action plans from your GP or specialist to assist the school in better managing any daily and emergency needs of your child. 

If your child needs to take prescribed medication while at school visit the school office to complete a request for administering prescribed medication to the student form.

All enquires can be made at the office - Phone: 96673659 or email: eastlakes-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au