Nhill College Newsletter

What a great start to the year it has been!  All students seem to have settled into the year really well, and there is an extremely positive energy throughout the school.  Students are actively engaged in their learning programs and genuinely seem to be enjoying some continuity in the classroom following the tumultuous end to last year.  

Daily notifications (when required) have been sent home to parents of students in classes where a student or staff member has returned a positive RAT result.  Fortunately this has not had to occur every day and the number of cases so far has been minimal. 

The availability of RAT kits will hopefully allow us to continue to minimise transmission, and I would like to thank those families who have notified the school and isolated when a positive result has been recorded.

There are some items that follow in this newsletter outlining the cautious and flexible approach the school will be taking in regard to any events scheduled for the next few weeks.  While we are extremely hopeful that we will be able to continue with all events as planned, we must be prepared to adapt at short notice in response to any changes in the COVID landscape. 

For the benefit of all families, I have repeated the summary of the current conditions from last week's newsletter below:  

• Stay home if unwell.

• Students in Year 3 and above must wear a face mask indoors at school unless an exemption applies.

• Students in Years F-2 are strongly recommended to wear a mask indoors at school.

• Students must wear face masks even if vaccinated.

• Students are not required to wear a face mask outside.

• Everyone over 8 years old must wear a face mask when travelling to and from school on the bus or public transport.

• Free Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) kits have been made available for all students for the first 4 weeks of Term 1.

• Rapid antigen testing is voluntary.

• Nhill College recommends that staff and students use the RAT kits twice each week - on Tuesday and Thursday mornings before school - for the first 4 weeks of Term 1.

• Only positive RAT results need to be reported.

• If a positive RAT result is returned, please contact the school and the Department of Health (1800 675 398), and isolate for 7 days.

• If a student is a household contact (more than 4 hours with someone who has COVID-19 at home) they must inform the school and isolate for 7 days.

• The use of the Service Victoria QR code system for electronic record-keeping is mandatory in all schools.  All parents and visitors to the school who enter school buildings must check in using the QR code system.  Students are not required to check in using the QR code system.

• All visitors entering school buildings must be fully vaccinated.

• Parents are asked to maintain 1.5m distance  between themselves and other adults at drop off and pick up times.

  As part of the back to school plan, principals must notify staff and the school community when a student or staff member has (or multiple students or staff members) have returned a positive COVID-19 test result and had attended the school.  The notification will be sent to the year levels associated with that case without revealing the identity of the individual(s).  The purpose of this notification is to raise awareness that a case has been reported to the relevant cohort and recommend that families watch for the onset of symptoms and use the Rapid Antigen Test kits should any symptoms be detected.  

  Please feel free to contact the school if you have any questions relating to the current COVID-19 conditions or the start of the year.
  

COVID-19 third-dose vaccinations are now available to 16-17 year olds who had their second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine three or more months ago.

Supporting as many eligible students as we can to be vaccinated will help make our school as safe as possible.

Getting vaccinated is one of the most important steps we can all take to get direct protection against COVID-19.  

How to book an appointment

There are many convenient and accessible options to access vaccinations.  These include state-wide vaccination clinics, your local GP or pharmacy. 

You can book your appointment in a few different ways, including:

• online:  coronavirus.vic.gov.au/vaccine
• by phone: 1800 675 398 (Coronavirus Hotline)
• using the COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Finder - COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Finder | Australian Government Department of Health

• In person: talk to your local pharmacy, doctor, or attend  one of the State Vaccination Centres. https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/vaccination-information-children-and-teenagers

Research shows that the academic and social development of students is affected each day they are absent, and that going to school every day is the single most important part of your child's education.  Following the potential disruptions to the social and academic progress of students caused due to COVID-19 over the past two years, it is more important than ever for children to be at school. 

If your child is unwell or absolutely cannot attend school for some reason, it is important to let the school know of their absence and the reason why prior to the day if planned or at the start of the day if the absence is not planned.  The easiest way to do this is via Compass.  Alternatively, you can contact the office at school on 5391 2111.

If your child is absent and we have not been notified, you will receive a text message asking you to contact the school with an explanation.  If we do not receive a reply to our text message, we will be following up with a phone call.

Nhill College is very excited to once again be offering Nhill Community Playgroup. Suz Menzel will be running the sessions and she is looking forward to creating an environment that will allow pre-school aged children to socialise and learn through play, craft, stories and songs. Playgroup will be held in the Nhill Early Years Centre and will run from 9am until 11am each Friday of the school term. Those interested are asked to bring along a gold coin and a piece of fruit for each child attending. It is also recommended that all families take up the free membership that is being offered through Playgroup Victoria. Due to COVID-19 restrictions it is preferred that parents contact the college to register their intended attendance on 53912111.

The first playgroup session will be on Friday the 25th of February. We look forward to seeing you all there!

• Year 3-12 House Swimming Sports:  Friday 18th February
  
• Year 7 Camp:  February 28 - March 2 **CHANGE OF DATE**
• Little Desert Swim:  Tuesday 1st March
• Year 8 Mt Arapiles Visit:  Friday 4th March
• Resilience Project - Parent Webinar:  Wednesday 9th March

Hindmarsh Shire have officially appointed Alexis to Youth Council for 2022.  This is a major honour and we are really proud of this leadership opportunity for Alexis. Nhill College looks forward to supporting Alexis in this role and we can't wait to hear about the amazing projects she will be involved in with her fellow youth members, peers and within the community. Well done Alexis.

Students are reminded of the requirement for them to wear a broad brimmed hat whenever they are in the yard during recess and lunch times.  Hopefully everyone was able to locate or update their hats over the recent holidays and that they have remembered to put them in their bag to bring to school.  Very affordable options are available in the Uniform Store if required.  In addition, extra shade has been secured in the yard following the installation of the large shade sails over the school BBQ area.  

Additionally, Nhill College parents are now able to use the school's new website to find out when it is predicted that UV index levels will reach 3 or more, which generally occurs between mid-August and April.  The Sunsmart App tells parents the maximum UV index levels predicted for the day as well as the hours when sunscreen measures are recommended.  This link has been attached to the front page of our website (https://www.nhillcollege.vic.edu.au/), so please visit often, keep your children safe, and check out some of the other great things featured on the website while you're there!

Last year we successfully trialled a Nhill College Facebook page to help us promote school events and activities with the wider community.  We will continue to use Compass, our web page and the weekly newsletter to keep families associated with the school up to date with all of the events and activities that occur in and around the school each week.  However, our Facebook page has allowed us to broaden exposure to the school and reach a number of people who may not have otherwise had access to our formal communication channels.  Our Facebook page will continue to be purely for promotion, publicity and to inform everyone of the upcoming events and happenings within the College.  All notes, questions, concerns or communication to staff regarding students still need to be directed to the College via Compass or on (03) 5391 2111.  To find our Facebook page, simply follow this link: https://www.facebook.com/nhillcollege/ or type Nhill College in the search function on Facebook. (Please be aware there is also an unofficial Nhill College facebook page that does not show the Nhill College logo).

Please like/follow the page and then you will be kept up-to-date with all of our posts.