Term 2 Week 4 2020 Issue 6 21 May 2020

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Albury High School Proud Member of Crossing Point Learning Community

‘Creating our Future’ __________________________________________________________

Learning for all through Tradition, Innovation & Excellence

625 Kiewa Street ALBURY NSW 2640

Website: www.albury-h.schools.nsw.edu.au Email: albury-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Twitter:@Albury_High Phone: (02) 6021 3488

Fax: (02) 6041 3782

Mark Ellis Deputy Principal

Joe Addison AHS Teacher

VALE PETA SMITHWICK However she was much more than that. She was a great

friend to many. In a world where people have hundreds of 'close' friends on social media, Peta genuinely cultivated deep friendships wherever she roamed. She will be sorely missed by all who knew and worked with her over the years, clearly not more so than by her family; husband Charlie, children Kate, Jane and Felicity, their partners and children.

Peta passed away suddenly on the 10th April 2020 aged, well she’d haunt me if I told.

Peta served as Lab Technician in the Science Department at Albury High School for almost thirty years before retirement. There wasn't a student or teacher in that time who could have missed her. Larger than life, with a smile that brightened the room and no sufferer of fools, there was only one person a discerning Science

VALE MARK DIXEN

It is with great regret that the Albury High School community acknowledge the passing of one of its long serving staff members. Mark Dixen was a valued teacher at the school from his appointment in 1972 through to his retirement in 2005.

Mark as part of the Social Sciences staff was a passionate teacher who was dedicated to his profession and to the success of his students. Within his faculty he taught business studies, geography, legal studies and Asian studies. When called upon he taught junior and senior classes in agriculture.

In 1979 Mark was instrumental in establishing the Albury High School cadet unit including the introduction of girls into what had traditionally been a totally male domain.

During his time at the school Mark contributed his talents in a wide variety of areas including sports coach, dramatic productions, extended year excursions and social activity organization.

Mark had a great love for his school, fought to maintain its standards and honoured its traditions. He gave much of his life to the school, he is fondly remembered by those he served with and will always be in the minds of the students he taught.

teacher turned to when advice was needed regarding Science, life, the Universe, anything. From time to time some received the advice free of charge.

The complexity of the technician’s job, given both the range of areas of study and the variety of experiments, is immense. The Albury High School community, both staff and students were blessed to have someone of Peta’s capacity. Due to both her intellect and work ethic, she not only coped, often under pressure, she thrived in this demanding role. Peta possessed a unique filing system, and I for one, would turn up and say “I want to do an experiment to …….” And she would reach for the 'recipe book' or scrap of paper from the file and voila, at times after the odd expletive.

In the early 2000’s Peta, with partner in crime Robin Gordon, who worked the Library, went about refreshing AHS. Between them they had A-block painted in striking colours, items of interest from the archives framed and hung and many plants and trees interred. They also instigated the restoring of the old Library book table which now holds pride of place in the executive office for meetings.

In short Peta facilitated opportunity and excellent learning for students at Albury High School.

Principal's Message Dear Parents/Caregivers The Government and Department of Education has announced that all students will return to school on Monday 25 May. I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the work done by staff in a quickly changing and complex environment and to thank you and students for your efforts in continuing with learning.

As part of our evaluations of the learning that took place, we will be surveying parents and students on the experience. The purpose of the survey is to assist parents and students to think about the skills learnt during this time of self-paced learning and for staff to learn from students. While the COVID-19 situation has been less than ideal, what knowledge can we take from it to improve learning at AHS. Your help in completing this survey will be appreciated.

Attached to this newsletter is a guide for parents regarding students' return to 'face-to-face' learning. I encourage you to read this. Most importantly you should not send students to school who exhibit signs of a cold or flu. Student who show these signs will be isolated in sick bay and parents will be called to collect them. We will be making changes to the operation of the school to cater for sport and assemblies which have restrictions.

A letter will be emailed home explaining these changes in detail. Tuesday will become an 8 period day (no assembly) and on Wednesday junior students, Yrs 7 to 10 who are able to, will be sent home at 12:00 noon. Remaining at school will be bus travellers and students of essential workers. These students who remain at school, will have modified sporting activities developed for them in two sessions. Once we can access venues again we will return to normal sport. Seniors who have extension classes on Wednesday will stay at school for classes and seniors can attend TAFE when it restarts. Please keep an eye out for the email. From next week the canteen will be operating normally except for Wednesday when students will need to order lunch.

Again, thank you for your support as we continue to navigate the impact of COVID-19.

Congratulations to Ms Eyles who has been selected to be a Head Teacher Subject Co-ordinator Maths Rural and Re-mote Directorate. She will work from Albury High School in this role supporting teachers in the Riverina and West, and continue to work here part time.

Welcome to Mrs Klopper who will replace Ms Eyles in the Maths Faculty.

Darryl Ward Principal

21 May 2020

Proud Member of Crossing Point Learning Community ‘Creating our Future’ 2

21 May 2020

Proud Member of Crossing Point Learning Community ‘Creating our Future’ 3

Calendar of Events:Week 5

Monday May 25 Return to school for all students

Week 6

PARENTAL ACCESS TO SCHOOL GROUNDS

Parents/Caregivers:

As per the advice of the DoE and other government agencies, during this unusual time of COVID-19, parental access to the school is limited. All external gates will be locked, so collection of students must be made off site. Only parents collecting sick students will have access to the school site. Listed below are the alternative arrangements for parents/caregivers.

• Students needing to leave school early for appointments etc will berequired to bring a note from home signed and dated. Arrangements forcollection of students need to be made with your student (ie front ofschool in Kiewa Street or Griffith Street at the back of the school) asparents are not permitted to come onto school grounds.

• Contact with classroom teachers needs to be made via a telephoneappointment. Please call the school to make these arrangements.

• Payment of school fees, contributions etc can be made via the AHSwebsite. Follow the instructions in the section for ‘Make a Payment’ or youcan call the school and pay over the phone with a credit card.

Should you require further information, please do not hesitate to contact the school on 02 6021 3488. We appreciate the inconvenience this is causing families, but these are unprecedented times and our focus is on keeping everyone safe and well.

Darryl Ward Principal

21 May 2020

Proud Member of Crossing Point Learning Community ‘Creating our Future’ 4

Lowes Albury has reopened AHS winter uniforms can also be purchased from Lowes online store. lowes.com.au and use the Schools Online Tab.

NSW Department of Education

A guide to NSW school students returning to face-to- face learning

This guide is for parents and carers

Information has been updated as at 19 May 2020, until further notice.

Schools are safe and open for full time face-to-face learning

All schools are returning to full on-campus learning from Monday 25 May. All school activities and operations will be in line with Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) and NSW Health guidelines as applicable.

School students do not need to follow physical distancing guidelines, but should follow good hygiene practices like:

• Regularly washing hands• Avoiding sharing drinks or food• Coughing or sneezing into your elbow, or a tissue which should be discarded

immediately.

School attendance

All students should be at school unless:

• They have a medical certificate which states that they are unable to return toschool due to an ongoing medical condition

• They are currently unwell.

Students who have a medical certificate to stay at home will be supported to learn from home in line with regular procedures if they are able to. These regular proce-dures are different to what was offered during the learning from home period. If you require work to be provided to your child whilst they are at home due to an underlying health condition, you should contact the school for assistance.

Please note, students who live with a family member in one of the categories identified as being at increased risk by the AHPPC, should attend school unless a medical prac-titioner advises otherwise in writing.

If your child is unwell, do not send them to school. If they are unwell at school you or your nominated emergency contact will need to collect them immediately. Please make sure your contact details are up to date.

If a student is absent without a medical reason for more than three days, this will be recorded as an unauthorised absence and followed up by the school.

If you need any support to get your child back to school, please contact your school.

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NSW Department of Education

Reporting and assessment

Your child has been assessed during the learning from home period and will receive additional assessment on their return to school.

You will receive your child’s semester 1 report before the end of August (week 6, Term 3).

This may be a simplified version of the report you normally receive. Schools are encouraged to discuss your child’s progress with you before the written report is issued.

School activities

Teachers will continue to follow the same school curriculum with the exception of some activities that can’t go ahead for now.

What children can do:

• Use the school library• Engage in non-contact sporting activities• Year 11 and 12 students may attend classes/activities relating to subjects

available on other campuses• VET work placement for Year 12 students is able to proceed from 1 June 2020.

Year 10 and 11 work-placement is able to proceed from Term 3 2020.• School based apprenticeships and traineeships can recommence once the rele-

vant workplaces are back in operation• Trade Training Centres can operate on school sites.

What students can’t do:

• School assemblies (unless for critical information)• School incursions and excursions including camps• Work experience• Inter-school activities (debating, inter-school sport)• In-school activities requiring parent or other volunteers• Use hydrotherapy pools• Drink from a water bubbler – bring a water bottle instead• Students cannot attend TAFE for study but may continue to learn online.

School cleaning and hygiene supplies

Your school will receive additional cleaning in line with the AHPPC guidelines and advice from NSW Health. Targeted areas include high-touch areas and other hard surfaces, door handles, lockers, light switches and handrails in stairways and movement areas. There will also be additional cleaning of toilets and bubblers and topping up of supplies like soap.

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NSW Department of Education

Your school has received supplies of soap, hand sanitiser, toilet paper, paper towels, disinfectant wipes and personal protective equipment. The school is able to order more as needed.

School grounds

There should be no visitors to school sites unless they are essential. Your school can provide guidance as to who is considered essential.

Your school will provide advice on drop off and pick up procedures.

Wherever possible, P&C and parent/carer/teacher meetings should be conducted virtually.

Canteens and uniform shops can open at the discretion of the principal.

Out of school hours care can continue to operate.

Community use of school facilities will recommence only for uses that are necessary for continuation of education and with principal’s approval.

Responding to COVID-19 cases

There is a clear plan in place for schools to respond to any suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 in our schools. We are working closely with NSW Health and will communicate with parents if a situation was to arise.

3 education.nsw.gov.au May 2020