Students will soon enjoy more school-based activities as restrictions ease

 The following principles underpin these guidelines:

• schools continue to be safe and operations are in line with Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) and NSW Health guidelines
• existing infection control protocols at schools, and new health and safety measures put in place will help maintain the health and safety of students and staff
• all activities permitted at school are safe and appropriate in a living with COVID-19 environment.

The majority of school-based activities can recommence, as long as the following measures are observed:

• all visitors and external to school providers must adhere to relevant hygiene, distancing and safety protocols
• principals may continue to restrict, limit or prohibit activities if they are seen as contrary to the current health advice
• external providers and visitors are required to demonstrate compliance with health and safety requirements including adhering to strict guidelines and completing relevant forms
• non-essential adults are still not permitted on school grounds or at school events – this includes parents/carers unless specifically approved by the principal.

Activities that can take place from Monday 15 June 2020

• School assemblies (limited to 15 minutes and no external visitors)
• Choirs and performing arts at school, with safety protocols in place
• Students may attend other schools for essential curriculum related reasons or placements (e.g. auditions or placement tests)
• Incursions/external providers can provide activities that support delivery of curriculum (e.g. music tutors, sport skills development programs, science demonstrations, drama tutors, Healthy Harold).
• Community use activities used by students such as dance classes, and student sport skills development, outside of school hours with limited adult attendance)
• Day field trips to outdoor locations where no physical distancing requirements can take place
• Face to face TAFE attendance (see TAFE website for further information)
• Department of Community and Justice services and programs.

Activities that can take place from beginning of Term 3

• All school sport and activities including competitions aligned with current health advice (including those activities run by external organisations)
• Inter-school student events and competitions (choirs, sport, debating, public speaking, performing arts, Selective Sports High School trials etc)
• SRE/SEE lessons
• Work experience for students
• VET work placements can proceed subject to the availability of placement and appropriate risk assessments. For any that can’t proceed, please see the NESA website
• School based apprenticeships and traineeships can recommence once the relevant workplaces are back in operation
• P&C meetings – with a strong preference for on-line where possible
• Parent/teacher meetings – where these need to take place – strong preference for online where possible unless involving serious matters that require face to face discussion
• Community use activities involving general adult attendance (such as community markets). 

Activities under consideration from Term 3

The following events will be reconsidered in Term 3. For now these events must remain on hold. This includes the We Will Rock You Musical.

• School camps
• Excursions (other than field trips explained above)
• Parent attendance at assemblies and other school events (e.g. graduation ceremonies or student speech events)
• Parent volunteers – e.g. parent reading helpers (note: canteen and uniform shop volunteers are permitted)
• Interstate excursions
• School based activities that involve large gathering of adults are not permitted at this time. These include parent/community gatherings such as parent functions, working bees, fundraisers, school BBQs, large parent information evenings, and large on-site cultural events. These large gatherings and the following activities will continue to be reviewed and assessed based on AHPPC and NSW Health advice and may be permitted at a later date.

Responding to new cases

Reminder to students