Andrew Watt – Principal

Returning to school – unpacking the Emanuel School transition pathway

Students from NSW Public Schools will commence their phased return to school (25% of students each day) on Wednesday and our first group of students will commence our transition pathway (bringing 50% of our students on campus) on the following Monday. This will occur in the midst of 864 active cases of COVID-19 across Australia, and 9 new cases in NSW (as of Wednesday 6 May 2020). The curve has flattened but we are not yet out of the woods. Our two-week block transition pathway allows us the flexibility of moving towards full time attendance for all students swiftly, in response to the advice of our National and State health experts. We will be monitoring the rates of COVID-19 transmission in NSW closely, with the aim to resume full time attendance as soon as is advisable. The State Government initially indicated that Public Schools would return fully for Term 3, but a subsequent announcement from the Premier indicated that this might occur earlier than anticipated. No further directions have emerged in the last few days.

There is no doubt that this is a very difficult time for our parents, many of whom are feeling stressed and depleted, as they work significant hours seeking to stay afloat and retain their jobs. Adding the need to support of their children through their online learning has only increased stress for many families. Other families and staff members who are vulnerable to COVID-19 have appreciated the staged return. Our shared aim is to return to full school attendance when this is deemed to be safe.

In addition to health expert advice, our staff and parent surveys served as an important guide in identifying the appetite for, and pace of, a return to school. A summary of the findings are outlined below:

• 65% of parents wanted their child(ren) to return to school as quickly as possible, with an additional 17% preferring a return to school by Week 5 or 6;
• 18% of parents preferred a more delayed return to school;
• 67% of parents preferred a return to school full time, whilst 33% preferred a staged return;
• 67% of parents indicated that they would be comfortable to send their child(ren) to school early in the term, with an additional 15% by mid-term;
• 18% of parents were not comfortable with the school re-opening before Week 9 or 10.

Our transition pathway plan was developed by our Strategic Advisory Team (SAT), comprising of the Principal, Deputy Principals, Head of Primary School and Director of Finance and Operations. The SAT has met almost every day since the advent of COVID-19, to develop a strategy and an ongoing communication plan. The transition plan was presented and approved at the April Board Meeting and continues to be adjusted, as new medical advice emerges. The rationale for our staged return is outlined below:

1. The health, safety and wellbeing of our students and staff remains of primary importance, with new cases still emerging in NSW and nearly 900 active cases across Australia. 
2. Our staged approach (50% of students) reduces the density of students on campus, providing more space to spread out and reduces the risks associated with physical distancing. It also balances the varied needs of different year groups, especially the youngest students and our HSC students.
3. With Public Schools, under the advice of medical experts, returning on a rotational basis, with only 25% of students, our 50% return staged model matches more closely with this model than an immediate full time return to campus.
4. We seek to implement an agile, 2-week block model that allows us to respond quickly to medical advice and any new spikes in the spread of COVID-19.
5. Our staged model also allows us to monitor the number of students attending school each day and the number of students who remain off campus, as remote learners. This will form a basis to consider further changes.
6. As almost 20% (approximately 165) of our parents are hesitant to return their child(ren) to school, it will be important to cater for the learning needs of both those on campus and the still significant numbers wanting to learn from home. This has implications for the load on our teachers and on our students and parents.
7. Our staged approach seeks to build confidence in our community that schools are a safe place to learn. It is hoped that we can move to full time attendance at a swifter rate than the current timeline indicates.
8. The return of Kindergarten, Years 1 and 2 on a rotating class model (attending school every second day) provides student whose parents do not choose to send them to school with the opportunity to join the class working remotely. Providing online learning for those young students not at school, if both teachers were providing face-to-face lessons, would be extremely difficult and students would be disadvantaged. This rotation allows each class to spread out across the double classroom, enhancing physical distancing.

When the results from both the parent and staff survey emerged, it became clear that no model could be developed that would meet the needs of every family or staff member. Please be assured that our approach will seek to be data-informed and evidence-based, and always in the best interests of our Emanuel School community.

Influenza vaccination and immunisation

We encourage every family to become vaccinated against influenza. This service is available through your local GP, or through organisations such as Chemist Warehouse. According to the Department of Health, optimal protection against influenza occurs within the first three to four months following vaccination. Timing of the vaccination should aim to achieve the highest level of protection during the influenza season. Vaccinating from April provides protection before the peak season. The flu shot does not protect against COVID‐19, however, the importance of getting vaccinated is that you do not want to be infected with coronavirus and influenza at the same time.

Celebrating Mother’s Day

This Sunday is a special day for our families, as we show our love and appreciation for all that our mothers have done for us. We have the opportunity to pause and be thankful for the sacrifices of time, and sometimes career our mothers have made – and for the love, care and support that they give to us. Whilst we cannot enjoy our customary Mother’s Day breakfast together, you are invited to celebrate together but apart, by sending in a photo that will be included in our virtual Mother’s Day video.

Chelsea Rutstein

Creative use of lockdown

Despite the current social distancing restrictions, Chelsea Rutstein (Year 12 2019) has been enjoying her gap year. The lockdown has not impacted her sport of big game fishing and she has enjoyed many hours at sea, seeking to capture yellow fin tuna and striped marlin, enjoying the fresh outdoors. Chelsea remains one of the most successful female big game fishers in the state.

Mazal Tov

The Israeli Defence Force spokesperson unit followed Tali Oziel (Class of 2019) in the last four months, since she made Aliyah with Garin Tzabar (Israeli Lone Soldiers Program). She was drafted to the IDF at the end of April. You can watch the video here.

Quote of the week

The time is always right to do what is right.

Martin Luther King, Jr