Stockton Public School Newsletter

What a whirlwind the past couple of weeks have been since we all returned to school. It so great to feel like the school is back to normal. I can tell the students are enjoying it by the smiling faces.

Next week we move from Level 3+ guidelines and restrictions to Level 3. Further information can be found here https://education.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/advice-for-families It will give us some further freedoms for end of year planning.

Some notes –

• We will continue with our cohorting and staggered lunch and recess times.
• We will keep our staggered times for the end of the school day and the gate plan. If you need to pick up another child or family, parents/carers are asked to collect the other children at their corresponding gate. The plans are in place for contact tracing purposes should we have a positive case. Therefore, plans changed by parents and carers could mean that other children are at risk or students are missed or confused in the contact tracing process. I know it is difficult but we must stick to the plan. I would prefer that we don’t have any plans but at this point in time I must have them in order to try and keep everyone safe and well.
• Staff, canteen volunteers, cleaners, contractors and OOSH must wear masks indoors and are strongly recommended outdoors. Students are strongly encouraged to wear masks at school however, this is a parent decision and is not mandated through the school.
• Parents and carers are not allowed on school sites unless it is prearranged as a canteen volunteer or at the request of the principal. All adults on school sites must be double dose vaccinated and show proof of vaccination prior to entry.

Please know that the plans and guidelines are in place to try and keep everyone safe and well. We are following Department of Education guideline who work closely with NSW Health. Thank you for your continued support in complying to the guidelines at this time. 

Ms Jodie Holt

Principal

Please note we are not accepting cash at the front office. Please call the office and arrange to make a payment for uniforms. Payments can be made via our website using the "Make a Payment" link or tapping your card on our EFTPOS machine from the Clyde Street gate.

You may be unaware that our school does not have an internal phone system. We are also cohorting as a staff and our office ladies cannot enter all classrooms across the school. For that reason, as from 2.00pm we will not be taking and passing messages to students about changing pick up arrangements at the end of the school day. It is a difficult process to get messages to classrooms as they are now on a staggered leaving time plan. We also run the risk of the message not making it to your child and then perhaps leaving a child stranded or anxious about the change in  plans. It is paramount that your child knows how they are getting home each day before they come to school each morning. This will avoid disappointment and confusion in the afternoons when parents/carers call and we tell you that we are unable to fulfil the request.

Thank you to the P&C, Jen Daubney and our volunteers for reopening our canteen this week. Another part of our school is back in action supporting our community.

Thompson’s pie drive – with thanks to Jen Daubney we have been able to get our Thompson’s Pie Drive ordered ready for delivery. Unfortunately our Pie drive orders were ordered and paid for just before we all went into lockdown therefore we were unable to fulfil the last part of the process. Jen has secured Friday 19th November as our delivery day. I will let you know in the very near future what the pick up plans will be for that afternoon.  

Ice blocks – Please note we have taken ice blocks off the canteen menu for the remainder of this term as it was causing some confusion between lunch orders and children bringing money to spend. This is also the reason for the free ice block for every student in the school on Fridays (Bathu Bila Preschool will get a free iceblock on Tuesdays as they are not at school on Fridays)

Please remember that we are not accepting any money over the counter at the canteen for the remainder of this term. Lunch orders can be ordered through QuickCliq only. This is the only way at the moment that we can keep our canteen open.

Should you become aware of a security incident at our school please contact the School Security Unit's hotline 24/7 on 1300 88 00 21.