Key Points

• The NSW Premier announced ongoing restrictions until at least 28 August. As soon as we know what is happening beyond this date, we will communicate to our community with details.
• We will continue to check-in with you and your families as a way of support to access learning from home materials. Where possible, we are looking to connect with students directly and with parent permission are using student mobiles to call you directly. 
• Learning packages are available to you Monday morning and are due Friday afternoon.
• A summary of your progress has been well received and continues to show a cumulative summary of progress with learning and is helping connect in a targeted way with you all. These will continue each Thursday.

Work for students in Years 7-10

• The remote learning model delivered at Gymea is through learning packages.
• An outline of next week’s work is attached below. This has also been emailed to you and your parents.
• You can access Week 4 remote learning course work from Google Classroom on Monday morning.
• Week 4 work is due on Friday afternoon.
• You are asked to use messaging within your Google Classrooms to ask your Teachers questions about your learning.
• Student progress on packages from this week will be communicated back to you and your parents on Thursday.

Work for senior students

• The remote learning model delivered at Gymea is through learning packages.
• Senior classes can access Week 4 remote learning course work on Google Classroom and Moodle on Monday morning.
• Week 4 work is due on Friday afternoon.
• It is important that all students commence their work starting Monday morning to ensure they remain on the front foot with their senior study.
• Student progress on packages from this week will be communicated back to you and your parents on Thursday.

Student Enrichment Site

• Extension and enrichment work for junior students has been prepared as an additional option for those students who are looking to extend themselves past their weekly package requirements.
• The Student Enrichment Site is accessed from the top menu on the Student Feed.
• Lesson activities have been designed by our teachers across a range of subject and interest areas.
• Junior students can select any activity of interest and complete it by uploading their submission to their Year Group Google Classroom using the buttons at the bottom of each lesson.

Access the Enrichment and Extension site here.

The Government have announced that Year 12 will be able to return to school from Monday 16 August. NSW Education are working with NSW Health and other stakeholders on the details of the vaccination program and the Antigen testing for students returning to school. The vaccination is targeting the students in the 8 most at-risk LGA areas. Details of Antigen testing will be released by the NSW Education as soon as possible.

NSW Education identifies the focus of return to school for Year 12

The advice from NSW Education is that from 16 August, HSC students throughout NSW (including in Greater Sydney) will be permitted to attend school to:

• participate in COVID-safe trial written and oral exams
   
• participate in scheduled face-to-face learning to enable course completion and revision
   
• participate in performance rehearsals (where only students who are required for the performance should attend, and only in their own performance groups)
   
• complete work on a practical task where specialist equipment is required (such as a major design project).

With these guidelines, the plan at Gymea for Year 12 

• Commencement of the Trial HSC examinations beginning on the 16th August including scheduling oral examinations. These examinations will be run to the strictest of COVID-safe practices that reduces mingling, utilises safe distances, maintains minimal numbers at any examination and other personal heightened hygiene practices.
  
• The trial timetable is attached to this email and will be posted on the school website and the Student Feed.
   
• Following the Trial HSC, timetabled lessons commence focused on course completion and revision to the HSC examinations.  We will know more about what this looks like as we get closer to the date with an optimistic view that we can connect with learning in a ‘normal’ way.
   
• Continue to plan Year 12 events in a manner that meets the COVID safe advice.
   
• Continue with the learning packages for 1 more week (Week 4).
   
• Continue with the quiz strategy for now as we will still need that contingency plan just in case. Once the trials are completed, those quizzes will continue to serve as quality preparation for exams but will not count as part of an assessment.
   
• Our arrangements are established to ensure we can best navigate different scenarios in the event that the direction from the Government on return to school changes. 

Supporting our students

All advice has been that the HSC will happen this year and with that, we must make sure we all keep working towards the processes and expectations that come with the HSC.

The HSC can be stressful at the best of times and the current situation that families, students and staff are in right now complicates this further. We are committed to the support of Year 12 and will continue to connect and help while also ensuring we do our best in bringing the academic processes and learning that is required as part of the HSC requirements.

I thank the students who have helped us refine the approach and provided important feedback along the way. Thank you to the many parents we have spoken to and the insight and ideas that we have gleaned from those conversations.

Some direction to help students manage the immediate way forward

1. The content of the learning packages for next week will be reduced some more.
    
2. The learning direction for the week before the Trials is focused on revision only. Teachers will assist with that revision direction as an option for students to use.
   
3. The Trial HSC will NOT contain content from Term 3. 
    
4. Quizzes will not run in the week before the Trials or during the Trials.
    
5. Course Seminars will start next week. Details will be sent through next week on Google classroom.
    
6. A Year 12 meeting will be held on Monday. Students will be broken off in smaller groups in the second part of this meeting to work through important planning and discussion about preparation for the weeks ahead.

COVID Safe Practices

NSW Education have indicated that: 

• Whenever on-site, staff, students and visitors must adhere to the strictest of COVID-safe practices.
   
• The return of HSC students to on-site activities will continue to be based on the latest NSW Health advice. 
   
• HSC students and staff are not required to be on-site full time.
   
• Timetabling must limit mingling of HSC (appropriately grouped and spaced across classrooms or buildings) and other student cohorts at all times, as well as support reduced attendance.
   
• Specific advice on rapid antigen testing and vaccinations for HSC students in targeted LGAs will be provided when it becomes available.

Work for senior students

• The remote learning model delivered at Gymea is through learning packages.
   
• Senior classes can access Week 4 remote learning course work on Google Classroom and Moodle on Monday morning.
  
• Week 4 work is due on Friday afternoon.
  
• These have been reduced this week based on feedback from Year 12.
  
• It is important that all students commence their work starting Monday morning to ensure they remain on the front foot with their HSC study. 
• Student progress on packages from this week will be communicated back to parents and students on Thursday.

Key Points

• A huge thank to you to the way everyone has come together to help manage the challenging situation we are in.  
   
• We are continuing with learning from home until at least 30 July.  As soon as we know what is happening beyond this date, we will communicate to our community with details.
   
• We will continue to check-in with you and your families as a way of support to access learning from home materials. If you are happy and prefer not to receive further phone calls, mention that next time someone contacts and they will note it down.
   
• Learning packages are available to all students Monday morning and are due Friday afternoon.
   
• A summary of your progress with your Week 1 packages was emailed to you and your families yesterday and will be updated with work already submitted as well as this week’s work this coming Thursday.

Thank you!

A huge thank to you to the way everyone has come together to help manage the challenging situation we are in.  The engagement of home learning from you all has been outstanding and the support that your parents and families are providing is without a doubt a critical and successful ingredient to this, so thank you.

As way of update on school operation:

• The department have advised to have staff work from home. Currently we have only two of us on school site first thing in the morning. No students have attended school in the past week.
• Our teachers and support staff are working strongly in a consistent strategy that aims to engage all students and the data of engagement is nothing less than exceptional.  We have a wonderful and committed staff, so a huge shout out to all of our teachers and support staff.
• The student summaries are produced in a way that we hope continues to encourage you to do your very best. These will be continually updated as your work comes in.  
• We have launched two new websites this week that provide you with extension work and also provide key information on careers and pathways as we cannot lose site of what is important ahead.
• Subject selection information is online and available on the front page of the school website. At this point, we have the process on hold so we can focus on immediate priorities.
• Our phone system is connected to a voice mail system and is managed throughout the day. Likewise, our school email is also monitored. These remain open for those important communications parents need to make.

Again, thank you for your support and work that you are doing each day.

Work for students in Years 7-10

• The remote learning model delivered at Gymea is through learning packages.
• An outline of next week’s work is attached to this email. This has also been emailed to students and placed on the Student Feed.
• Students can access Week 3 remote learning course work from Google Classroom on Monday morning.
• Week 3 work is due on Friday afternoon.
• Students are asked to use messaging within their Google Classroom to ask questions about their learning.
• Student progress on packages from this week will be communicated back to parents and students on Thursday.

Work for senior students

• The remote learning model delivered at Gymea is through learning packages. 
• Senior classes can access Week 3 remote learning course work on Google Classroom and Moodle on Monday morning.
• Week 3 work is due on Friday afternoon.
• It is important that all students commence their work starting Monday morning to ensure they remain on the front foot with their HSC study. 
• Student progress on packages from this week will be communicated back to parents and students on Thursday.

Higher School Certificate Support

• A special virtual meeting will be held for Year 12 students on Friday evening, 23 July, to discuss the current arrangements, the outlook and changes that NESA have made so far as well as hear from a few students from Year 12 2020 to reflect on managing lockdown in the HSC year. Links to the meeting are available in the Year 12 Google Classroom.
• At this point our students these NESA changes include:
  • Rescheduling of the Dance performance exams to run in schools from 13 to 17 September.
  • Extension of  the due date for all Major Projects by two weeks to 9 August. Please follow the advice from the classroom teacher with respect to these projects.
  • Reschedule Drama performance exams to run from 6 to 17 September
  • Music performance exams continue as scheduled, running from 30 August to 10 September
  • Reschedule the written exams to begin one week later on 19 October with HSC results out on 17 December
• The Trial HSC examinations have been postponed. 
• We are putting together plans for Year 12 in preparation for different scenarios ahead.
• Careers and Pathways information for Year 12 has been deployed on a new Careers site. Access the Careers Site here.

Student Enrichment Site

• Extension and enrichment work for junior students has been prepared as an additional option for those students who are looking to extend themselves past their weekly package requirements.
• The Student Enrichment Site is accessed from the menu on the Student Feed as displayed below.
• Lesson activities have been designed by our teachers across a range of subject and interest areas.
• Junior students can select any activity of interest and complete it by uploading their submission to their Year Group Google Classroom using the buttons at the bottom of each lesson.

Access the Enrichment and Extension site here. 

Key Points

• Student progress summaries for learning from home packages will be emailed to you and your families today.
• Extension and enrichment work for Juniors has been prepared as an additional option for students and is accessed via our Student Enrichment site from the Student Feed.
• Careers and Pathways information for Year 12 has been deployed on a new site accessed via the Student Feed.
• A special virtual meeting will be hosted for Year 12 to keep updated on HSC changes and support in this important term.  

Student Enrichment Site

• Extension and enrichment work for junior students has been prepared as an additional option for those students who are looking to extend themselves past their weekly package requirements.
• The Student Enrichment Site is access from the menu on the Student Feed as displayed below.
• Lesson activities have been designed by our teachers across a range of subject and interest areas.
• Junior students can select any activity of interest and complete it by uploading their submission to their Year Group Google Classroom using the buttons at the bottom of each lesson.

Access the Enrichment and Extension site here. 

Student Careers Information

• Careers and Pathways information for Year 12 has been deployed on a new Careers site.
• The Careers Site is accessed from the menu on the Student Feed as shown above.
• The site will be updated by Mrs Hristodoulou with important pathways information for senior students. 
• This will ensure that the Google Classroom communication remains focused on targeted curriculum messages for senior students. 

Access the Careers Site here.

HSC Update

• A special virtual meeting will be held for Year 12 students on Friday evening to discuss the current arrangements, the outlook and changes that NESA have made so far as well as hear from a few students from Year 12 2020 to reflect on managing lockdown in the HSC year. Links to the meeting are available in the Year 12 Google Classroom.
• For our students, these NESA changes include:
  • Reschedule the Dance performance exams to run in schools from 13 to 17 September.
  • Extend the due date for the Society and Culture Personal Interest Project by two weeks to 9 August. Please follow the advice from the classroom teacher with respect to these projects.
  • The Trial HSC examinations have been postponed and rescheduled to Weeks 7 and 8. 
• We are putting together plans for Year 12 in preparation for different scenarios ahead.

Key Points

• The NSW Department of Education has provided formal advice that we will be continuing with learning from home until at least 30 July. 
• We will continue to check-in with you and your families as a way of support to access learning from home materials.
• Your learning packages are available to on Monday morning and are due Friday afternoon.
• A summary of your progress will be emailed to parents and students on Thursday.

Work for students in Years 7-10

• The remote learning model delivered at Gymea is through learning packages. 
• You can download an outline of next week’s work below. This has also been emailed to you and your parents.
• You can access Week 2 remote learning course work from Google Classroom on Monday morning.
• Week 2 work is due on Friday afternoon. 
• Please use messaging within your Google Classrooms to ask questions about your learning.
• Your progress on packages from this week will be communicated back to you and your parents on Thursday.

Work for senior students

• The remote learning model delivered at Gymea is through learning packages.  
• Senior classes can access Week 2 remote learning course work on Google Classroom and Moodle on Monday morning.
• Week 2 work is due on Friday afternoon. 
• It is important that all students commence their work starting Monday morning to ensure they remain on the front foot with their HSC study. 
• Student progress on packages from this week will be communicated back to parents and students on Thursday.

Higher School Certificate Support

• The Trial HSC examinations have been postponed and rescheduled to Weeks 6 & 7.
• Questions have been sent to Year 12 students, via the Year 12 Google Classroom to gain feedback on your project work, confidence around course work and outlook for when we return. We are putting together plans for Year 12 in preparation for different scenarios ahead. 
• Individual students involved in project work will be contacted to see what support can be provided towards your progress with these projects.

Key Points

• The NSW Department of Education has provided formal advic​e that we will be continuing with learning from home until at least 30 July. 
• We have checked-in with you or your parents as a way of support to access your learning from home materials.
• Congratulations to so many of you for getting straight into your learning this week.
• Our school was recognised by the Department of Education as a school that continued delivering high-quality education during a difficult time with the 2020 lockdown. Our approach with remote learning builds on the successes of that time and we are already travelling the first week of that model.

Learning from home for Years 7 -10

• The remote learning model delivered at Gymea is through learning packages.
• These learning activities will be accessed from your Google classroom for your respective courses.
• The work will be released for you on Monday morning and will be due Friday 3pm each week. 
• It is important that all students start on their work as soon as it is posted.
• Teachers are accessed through the Google classroom and all students are encouraged to contact their teacher if they are experiencing any difficulties.
• A homework sheet will be emailed to you as well your parents and also placed on the Student Feed. 
• We will aim to report your progress with your learning packages to your parents starting from Week 2 each Thursday.

Learning from home for Years 11 -12

• The remote learning model delivered at Gymea is through learning packages set by each course.
• Senior classes will access their remote learning course work on Google Classroom and Moodle.
• The work will be released for students on Monday morning and will be due Friday 3pm each week. 
• It is important that all students start on their work as soon as it is posted.
• Teachers are accessed through the Google classroom and all students are encouraged to contact their teacher if they are experiencing any difficulties.
• We will aim to report your progress with your learning packages to your parents starting from Week 2 each Thursday.
• The School Website and the Student Feed are continually updated reflecting the detail of newsletters. Please check for updates and details.
• We will be talking to HSC students on Friday to discuss the plan for this term. 

Arrangements for Term 3 Week 1

The NSW Department of Education has provided formal advice for the commencement of Term 3 which will see staff and all students start the term with Remote Learning. Students will undertake their first week of Term 3 learning from home. If this is to be extended, we will communicate as soon as we know.

• For those students with extenuating circumstances that impact the possibility of remaining at home during the school day, please email the school.

Cyber Security Incident

The department is currently investigating a cyber security incident involving the state wide digital network. As a result of this incident, there are number of platforms currently not accessible to schools and students.  We are fortunate to have contingencies in place to continue to communicate and provide work to students. Our staff have work ready for students and we remain optimistic that the department systems will begin to be restored but in the event they are not ready before the start of the term, a revised approach to access materials will be communicated. 

Work for senior students

The remote learning model delivered at Gymea is through learning packages. These are delivered primarily through Google Classroom and Moodle which in some cases will access a number of other valuable programs where these are worthwhile. 

• Senior classes will access their remote learning course work on Google Classroom and Moodle.
• The work will be released for students on Monday afternoon and will be due Friday 3pm. 
• This information has also been emailed to your parents.
• It is important that all students commence their work starting Tuesday morning to ensure they remain on the front foot with their HSC study. 
• Student progress on packages that have been set will be communicated back to parents and teachers.

Work for students in Years 7-10

The remote learning model delivered at Gymea is through learning packages. These are delivered primarily through Google Classroom and Moodle which in some cases will access a number of other valuable programs where these are worthwhile.

• Attached to this post is a weekly home learning cover sheet for your year group.
• The work in this home learning sheet is located on your Google Classroom for respective courses.
• The work will be released for you on Monday afternoon and will be due Friday 3pm. 
• This information has also been emailed to your parents.
• Students are asked to use messaging within their Google Classroom’s to ask questions about their learning.

Higher School Certificate Support

• Year 12 students were provided with substantial packages of HSC preparation work with guiding resources. Executive staff reviewed these with all year 12 students prior to the end of Term 2. 
• Individual students involved in practical project work will be contacted to see what support can be provided towards their progress with these projects.
• Other HSC project work will be supported online through course teachers.
• The trial examinations at this point will continue as scheduled.
• It is important that all students commence their work starting Tuesday morning to ensure they remain on the front foot with their HSC study.