Plattsburg Public School Newsletter

How cold has it been? Temperatures have been very cool this week and our students have headed straight for Breakfast Club each morning to enjoy some hot buttered toast. My sincere thanks to all parents/carers who have been diligent in keeping unwell children at home. I absolutely understand the frustration that many families are experiencing at this time. The grace and good humour that has been shared (and particularly with Deb in the front office), has been greatly appreciated.

We continue to adapt to our changing circumstances. You will see in this newsletter addition that out Chess Team competed in an online tournament and acquitted themselves well. Because Kindergarten Orientation cannot, at this time, occur on site we are busy filming an Orientation video to share on our Facebook page. There are several other traditions approaching and we will, as far as possible, endeavour to share these with you through film and photographs. I would welcome any suggestions on how we might share with you the things that are happening in the school.

Don't forget Father's Day is September 6!

Latest COVID-19 Information from the Department of Education and NSW Health for parents can be found at:

https://education.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/advice-for-families

https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19

We have received updated Guidelines from the Department of Education relating to COVID-19 restrictions for schools that must be implemented by close of business Wednesday August 19, 2020. A full copy of the Guidelines from the Department’s Advice for Families and found at https://education.nsw.gov.au/covid-19. A summary of how this is being responded to is below:

1.   School Attendance:

 Students should be at school unless:

a)   they have a medical certificate which states that they are unable to return to school due to an ongoing medical condition and the expected timeframe

b)   they are currently unwell.

2.   Students presenting as unwell:

If a student is exhibiting cold or flu like symptoms at school, they will be immediately sent to the sick bay. Students then must be picked up by a parent/caregiver and complete COVID-19 testing.

Students only return to school if:

a)   The testing comes back negative and the school is presented with test results. Results can be emailed to plattsburg-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au

b)   The student has fully recovered from the illness

Please understand that this is the same for students, whose reason for absence is for cold and flu like symptoms and they did not present to school. This is a Department Policy, that I must implement.

NSW Health have requested that schools encourage anyone who is unwell or has even mild flu-like symptoms, to arrange to be tested through their local medical practitioner or one of the COVID-19 clinics

Students and staff with flu-like symptoms will need to provide a copy of a negative COVID-19 test result before being permitted to return to school from Wednesday 19 August.

Tuesday, 8th September 2020

School Photos

Monday, 21st September 2020

CANTEEN CLOSED

Tuesday 27th October 2020  

Kindergarten 2021 Information Session 4 p.m - 5 p.m

Wednesday, 4th November 2020 

Kindergarten Orientation 2 p.m - 3 p.m

Monday, 9th November to Friday 20th November 2020

School Swimming Scheme for Year 2 Students CANCELLED

Tuesday, 17th November 2020  

Kindergarten Orientation 9:30 a.m - 10:45 a.m

Wednesday, 18th November 2020  

Kindergarten Orientation 9:30 a.m - 10:45 a.m

The Plattsburg Chess Team participated in an online Chess Tournament for the first time due to the COVID-19 guidelines. The tournament was set up by the Sydney Academy of Chess.

We had ten participants from Plattsburg and all experienced wins and losses. It was the first time an online tournament was organised, so I guess the  Plattsburg Chess Team were part of history.

Thanks to all the team who were brilliant throughout the whole day.

Regards,

Mr Hopson

"Every Chess Master was once a beginner." Irving Chernev (Master Russian-American Chess Player and Author)

A message from MSP Photography-

With the current COVID-19 situation in mind and in consultation with your school, MSP Photography will be implementing a safer process for the taking of school photos this year. This new process has been designed in accordance with the most recent guidelines currently issued by the relevant Health Authorities, which are being monitored daily.

Our staff are photographing at a different school each day therefore we need to maintain the strictest of Covid-19 health guidelines to minimise the possibility of transmission and infection.

This has been an extraordinarily difficult year in many ways, and we appreciate your understanding that things cannot be the same as they normally are.

We acknowledge that this may be disappointing however, the health and safety of everyone is our main priority as you can appreciate.

This year, the format for school photos will change to a group composite style.

Each student will be photographed individually, with the group created digitally as a composite. Our product will be the same as previous years just in a slightly different format.

This will eliminate the need for students to be grouped together in close contact with either themselves, or our staff. 

ADDITIONAL PROTOCOLS INCLUDE:

• Students will move in and out of the portrait studio area individually.
• The area will be set up in such a way as to ensure that each individual student will maintain the recommended physical distancing guidelines of 1.5m from other students and the photographer.
• MSP Photography staff will provide instructions to each class upon entry to the photography area.
• Hygiene and cleaning guidelines used by MSP Photography staff are in accordance with information distributed by the relevant Health Authorities.

Regards,

MSP Photography Hunter & Central Coast

T: (02) 4966 8292 | E: admin.nhvcc@msp.com.au

What does the Department of Education and Training and the RTA say?

The Department of Education and Training and NSW Centre for Road Safety (RTA) recommend that children under 10 years of age should cycle in a safe place off the road and away from vehicles and driveways. Children aged between 10 and 12 years of age should avoid cycling on or near busy roads.

Parents and carers are responsible for:

•  The maintenance of their child’s bicycle and are to ensure their child always correctly wears an Australian Standards approved helmet when riding. Bicycles must be in a good, safe working order and must be fitted with a working brake and a bell
•  Ensuring their child is aware of and follows the road rules relating to bicycles. This includes the pedestrian’s right of way on footpaths and using a bell as a warning when approaching pedestrians
• Reinforcing rules and safety advice for riding bicycles to and from school, as outlined in these guidelines and RTA advice brochures.

Bicycle riders, who bring their bicycle onto school grounds, are responsible for:

•  Completing a Bicycle rider’s agreement and the Bicycle rider’s permission note, issued by the school.
• This is to be completed and returned to Ms Bax.
•   Using the bicycle entry and exit points to Plattsburg Public School via the side pedestrian entrance in Ranclaud Street. This is the only way to access the school grounds by bicycle riders.
• Dismounting before entering the school grounds and walking their bicycles whilst on the school grounds.
• Storing their bicycle in the bicycle rack in the middle playground. Bicycles must be locked with a chain and padlock supplied by the bicycle owner. Bicycles and helmets are brought and stored at school at the owners risk.

Safe riding behaviours

•   Students are to always correctly wear an Australian Standards approved helmet when riding.
• Students must always ride in a safe manner following these guidelines and the NSW road rules relating to bicycles.
•  Bicycles are not to be ridden in school grounds after school hours.
• Parents and carers will be notified if their child does not adhere to the school’s bicycle safety guidelines. Students may not be allowed to bring their bicycles onto the school grounds if they do not follow the rules.

The full Bicycle policy and permission can be downloaded from our school's website via this link. https://plattsburg-p.schools.nsw.gov.au/content/dam/doe/sws/schools/p/plattsburg-p/localcontent/bicycle_safety.pdf