Thank you to all in our community, who have supported the COVID safe measures we have in place to protect our community.  The adherence to these measures means that we have not had COVID spread rapidly through out the school and we have been able to keep the instances isolated.

You will have seen in media reports that the NSW Government has updated school safety measures.  From 9 September 2022 the isolation period for all positive COVID cases has been reduced from 7 days down to 5 days.  Should your child test positive for COVID, they will now be able to return to school after 5 days in isolation provided they have no symptoms. We continue to ask that if your child has even the mildest of symptoms they must not come to school.

Please see the below flow charts that take you through the steps for your child or a household contact testing positive. In addition, should your family require addition RAHT tests please contact the Student Office.

We thank you for your continued support of our students and community.

Flow Charts:
- My Child Tested Positive for COVID-19
- A Household Member Tested Positive for COVID-19

COVID Guidelines

NSW Health and Dr Kerry Chant have briefed the School with regard to the rise of COVID-19 variants and other winter illnesses in the broader community.  Below are the updated guidelines in place to keep our community safe

Masks

NSWHealth strongly recommend the wearing of masks when indoors for all students and staff. This is particularly important for Year 12 students who are about to sit their trial examinations.

As per the Health Order, masks are a mandatory requirement for all Senior School (Years 7 – 12) students on public transport and the Hills Grammar buses. Masks are strongly recommended for all other students on public transport and the Hills Grammar buses.

Positive COVID Case

It is mandatory for the following to occur should a student test positive to COVID-19

• Record the positive result on ServiceNSW App
• Please notify the school, via email or 02 9654 5336 
• Isolate as directed by NSWHealth – currently 7 days

Students can leave isolation after 7 days if they have no symptoms (sore throat, runny nose, cough or shortness of breath). If there are symptoms after 7 days, they should remain in isolation until 24 hours after symptoms have resolved.

Close Contacts | ECEC - 12 

If your child is identified as a close contact of a positive case, they are permitted to attend school provided they 

• conduct a daily RAHT and return a negative result each morning before attending school.  They must test daily for 5 school days 
• have no COVID symptoms
• wear a mask whilst indoors
• NB students who are close contacts will not be permitted to participate in overnight excursions. 

A parent or visitor to Campus who is a close contact must advise the school that they are a close contact before they come on site. These visitors should conduct a daily RAT and return a negative result before attending. They must also wear a mask indoors at all times.

Other Illnesses

We are aware that there are a number of respiratory illnesses circulating in the community. 

If your child is unwell, even with the mildest of symptoms, they should always test for COVID-19. If the test comes back negative for COVID-19, the student should still not return to school until either: 

• they no longer have any symptoms, or
• a medical certificate is provided to the school confirming that symptoms are explained by another diagnosis (such as hay fever)

Term 1 Update  As advised in our communication earlier this week, unfortunately, School will commence in 2022 with similar restrictions in place as we concluded 2021.  Whilst we have all been hoping for a more free return, the health and safety of our students and staff are one of our main priorities and as such we must be guided by NSWHealth guidelines. The underlying premise of the safe return to school, ensuring continuity for our students in their learning, is the NSW Health backed ‘Test to Stay’. NSW Health is recommending regular rapid antigen tests for students and staff who attend Hills Grammar.  Each member of Hills Grammar will receive an allotment of Rapid Antigen Home Test (RAHT) kits. These are due for delivery in the coming weeks, and we will advise families of their distribution once received. Outlined below are the key principles of our 2022 COVID Protocols. These Protocols will be enforced for at least weeks 1 - 5 of Term 1 Read the full document.

COVID Safe Principles for Term 1 Test to Stay NSW Health is recommending regular rapid antigen tests for students and staff More details to come once RAHTs are received  Vaccinations and Boosters Mandatory for all Staff Strongly encouraged for all students from the age of 5, ensure you update the School, via HG Engage Ventilation Classrooms will have windows and doors open  Purifiers were purchased for those rooms that required further ventilation Masks Mandatory for all staff while indoors. Mandatory for all Senior School (Years 7 – 12) students indoors as well as on public transport and the Hills Grammar buses. Strongly recommended for Junior School (Kindergarten to Year 6) students, particularly in indoor settings. Illness / Positive COVID Case It is mandatory for the following to occur should a student test positive to COVID-19: Record the positive result on ServiceNSW App Please notify the school, via email or 02 9654 5336  Isolate as directed by NSWHealth – currently 7 days Close Contacts If your child is identified as a close contact of a positive case, they are permitted to attend school provided they return a negative RAHT and have no COVID symptoms. They will need to test daily for 7 days. The ECEC is exempt from this guideline and must follow their own processes. Parent Events and Engagement Parents/carers are NOT permitted on site unless invited to a special function that takes place in a COVID safe manner away from students and staff.

School Operations | Term 1 only Uniform Summer uniform is expected to be worn by all students. To avoid using change rooms, students are permitted to wear their sports uniform to and from school if they have sport on a particular day. HG Café Fully operational - Online (through Flexischools) orders preferred COVID safe and cashless sales preferred. Transport Public Transport – Buses will be operational Hills Grammar private buses – Buses will be operational Co-Curricular Co-curricular Connect period | likely to be year group based Co-curricular Outside of Hours | Before and after school activities may restart depending on the activity. Families will be notified directly by the organisers outlining the COVID details for the return of their activity. Outdoor Education Camps | Years 6 – 12 Our outdoor education program is scheduled for Week 5 of Term 1. These camps are an important component of the holistic education provided to our students.  They provide an opportunity for students to form bonds with their peers, challenge themselves and build resilience. The School and our providers have completed a comprehensive risk management process to assess the COVID-19 risks of camps, as the NSW Government considers they may be a higher risk activity. Based on our reviews, we believe we are in an excellent position to proceed in Week 5 as planned. Please access the link above to review our COVID safe measures for camps.  We are keen to learn more from our community on this topic, please click here to complete our short survey. Access to online learning content The current sentiment among a small number of Hills Grammar families is that some students may remain at home during the first part of term 1 2022. For this reason, the School will provide the following online access for students: Senior School – Online content for students to access during the day to ensure continuity of learning. Should a staff member feel confident to allow Teams access for students this will be negotiated directly with impacted families. Junior School – The remote learning platform will be distributed weekly. This will be via See Saw for K – 2 and OneNote for years 3 – 6. Students who are isolating will be invited to access activities via the Distance Learning Platform and may choose to log into morning Launch at the start of each day if they are able to. Specialist teachers will also provide a weekly activity via the same format. Teacher Absence Due to the nature of this latest variant of COVID-19 there is a likelihood that teachers will be required to be absent from school should they contract COVID and until they return a negative RAHT. Should this occur, the School will make every effort to source cover for the classes. However, at times alternative arrangements may need to be implemented (e.g. combining classes in larger spaces). The underlying principle here is that learning continues for the students as best as possible. To assist in managing the anticipated fluctuations in staffing, we are securing one or two fixed term casuals.

There is something to be said about how well we can all adapt to change as the roadmap for students returning to school was fast-tracked following the announcements on Thursday from our new Premier. This is the news we have all been waiting for – to once again have our students back in the classrooms, back on the playground, and learning at School.

We are fortunate here at Hills Grammar to be able to use the entirety of our 53.4 acre campus effectively to meet the guidelines set down by NSW Health when it comes to minimising the risk of COVID infection amongst our school population. With this in mind, a great deal of thought and planning has been put into the support of the safe return of your child/ren to the School campus.

Added to this benefit of space, the most recent data indicates the Hills District inclusive of many areas in which our families live has one of the highest rates of fully vaccinated eligible people in NSW! This gives added comfort to us all that we are all doing our part to provide as safe an environment as possible for our students at School.

Return to Onsite Learning

Hills Grammar will now be following the latest advice and the student return to the classroom will be:

• October 18 – Years K, 1 and 12 (HSC Class of 2021)
• October 25 – All other year groups.

Key points:

• Staff on-site will have met all appropriate guidelines set by NSW Health regarding vaccinations.
• Masks are mandatory for all staff and also for students from Year 7 – Year 12 at all times.
• Social distancing will be monitored by staff.
• There will be no parents or non-essential visitors on-site.

More details about what this means can be found in our Return to School outline below.

The document is quite extensive and covers the many aspects that make up the typical school day and I urge you to read this carefully to ensure you can gain a full appreciation of the efforts undertaken by a number of our staff to facilitate this return to school.

In the coming weeks, the School will undertake an audit of the classrooms across the School to ensure there is more than adequate ventilation in our classrooms and buildings, an important measure in providing a cleaner environment for our students in which to learn.

Return to Onsite Learning

A reminder about vaccinations

While the current guidelines do not mandate eligible students be vaccinated prior to returning to School, the message from Hills Grammar is that we strongly encourage you to consider this an added comfort for your child as they begin to re-emerge into not only School but into society. Should the vaccination status for your child change then please update these details with the School to ensure we have the most up-to-date information for our students.

HSC Class of 2021

The efforts of our students in preparing for their HSC cannot be understated. We are extremely proud of our Class of 2021. They have kept focused on achieving their potential and individual goals. The plan for this cohort will be different for other year groups. To ensure their wellbeing they will participate in a series of study workshops with their teachers in an area of the School removed from other students as much as possible.

The end of formal schooling has a number of milestone moments including the Higher School Certificate examinations. A carefully constructed plan has been developed to provide an environment that will allow the students to confidently attend their examinations. Other milestone events which have ordinarily taken place have been re-scheduled to later dates to give this cohort and their families the opportunity to celebrate what has been an extraordinary journey towards graduation.

Once again, thank you to all staff, students, and parents of the Hills Grammar community for their perseverance throughout the period of Distance Learning (soon to end) and for the support shown as we move into the last part of the year with our students back where they belong – on campus.

Keep well and I look forward to sharing more news with you as the term progresses.

I trust that you are well and that the recent holidays have been an opportunity for all of our families to spend some time recharging and rejuvenating.

Staggered Return to Campus

The most recent Government announcements indicate that the staggered return of our students to School will take place as follows:

• Monday October 18 | Years Kindergarten, 1 and 12 (Class of 2021)
• Monday October 25 | Years 2, 6 and 11
• Monday November 1 | Years 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10

This staggered return being brought forward by a week has the excitement growing here at School, as once again we will hear the corridors and playgrounds filled with the energy of our students each day.

A detailed plan of the return to campus will be finalised by the School Leadership team and distributed to families next week.  Whilst we anticipate onsite learning will be similar to our 2020 return to School, our plan will outline the extensive measures we will put in place to ensure you can feel comfortable about the health and safety of your child while at school.

Intention to return to Campus

To assist us in preparing for the student return could you please take the time to complete this survey regarding your intentions of when/if your child will return to on-site lessons. I ask that you please complete this survey by Friday 8 October.

Distance Learning | Term 4 Start-up | Wednesday 6 October

A reminder that Distance Learning will re-commence for all year groups from Wednesday 6 October.

Uniform Shop Update

Due to the current COVID situation the uniform shop will only be open for online orders for Term 4 2021.  Click here for further details

Parent Engagement

A couple of reminders for families in the start up to Term 4

• Celebration Mug | Last chance to purchase | Sales close Monday 4 October
• Class Parents Meeting | Online | 12 October | RSVP
• PAFA Meeting | Online | 12 October | RSVP
• 2021 Book Fair | Online | From 15 October

I thank you again for your on-going support and patience as we work together to develop a comprehensive plan for our students to return to school in Term 4.

Following a positive covid case in the Dural area, NSW Health has requested access to our campus for a drive-through pop-up COVID Testing Centre inside Gate 1.

After much consideration, and as the clinic is drive-through only with visitors not able to exit their vehicles, we have agreed to this request to assist their operations and in support of the wider Hills community.

All the appropriate risk control measures have been rolled out, and the site will be operational from today at 1pm and then throughout distance learning only. 

All entry points from Gate 1 into the campus have been completely secured with fencing, and testing personnel do not have access beyond Gate 1. In addition, NSW Health will ensure a thorough deep clean after the temporary site has been closed and before students return to campus.

If you do have a need to visit campus during this period, please use Gate 3.

As a School, we wanted to do our part in keeping our community safe and stopping the spread so that we can get back to onsite learning as soon as possible.

We thank you for your support of the School and the wider community.

As announced by the NSW Premier, the lockdown has been extended and the commencement of onsite learning in Term 3 has been delayed by a week. We have been considering how best to manage this situation and have been reviewing all the latest advice that comes to schools at times such as this.  

In considering everything, and mindful of the difficulty of navigating the rules and restrictions, the following should be noted and built into your own planning for the week commencing 12 July 2021.
  
LOCKDOWN
The School will comply with lockdown requirements and as such, personnel on-site will be minimised and limited to those who cannot work from home.

GOVERNMENT RECOMMENDATION
The government strongly recommends that ALL children remain at home.

CHILDREN OF ESSENTIAL WORKERS
For children of essential workers, there is an option of coming to School and in these circumstances, areas will be available for students to work independently during the lockdown. Students in attendance will be supervised and will work with distance learning materials (i.e. not given separate lessons). 

If you are an essential worker and intend to send your children to School, please register here by Friday 9 July, so arrangements can be made for supervision. Further information will be sent home as to what these arrangements will be. Note: any student Years 7 to 12 who attends campus next week must wear a mask at all times whilst on-site. 

The Schools canteen and Private Bus services will not be available.
  
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CENTRE
Is considered an essential service and remains open to those who wish to use the service. This has been the case throughout the lockdown and risk management strategies are in place, as communicated directly from the ECEC. Please ensure you continue to acquaint yourself with communication and requirements, as frequently they change on a daily basis.

Each ECEC child will receive a home learning pack which will be available for parents to collect from the reception area at ECEC after 7.30am on Friday 9 July. In the pack will be a range of activities and a Hills Grammar Library book to borrow. The home learning pack is designed to help our students engage with their learning for parents who wish to keep their children at home at this time.

ECEC Parent-teacher meetings scheduled for the weeks of 12 and 19 July will be held via phone rather than face to face. Teachers will call parents during the allocated time on the relevant day.

In order that we can manage catering, please register your intention for your child’s attendance during the week of 12 July | please click here

PARENT | TEACHER INTERVIEWS K - 9
Monday 12 July will continue as follows:

In the current COVID-19 context, the following changes need to be made to the arrangements for the Parent-Student-Teacher Interviews in K-9:

We will be using the student's device, and offering a Video Conference through MS Teams. In each case, the teacher will initiate the call, and the times will be as per the interview time booked by families.

• Years K - 4 |  If parents have been unable to pick up their child’s device this week, teachers will phone parents instead.
• Years 5 - 6 |  Interviews will be through MS Teams (video conference). Please have your child’s device logged on to MS Teams. This should be automatic on restart of the computer. The teacher will initiate the video call at the time arranged through the booking system sent at the start of the school holidays.  
• Years 7 - 9 | Interviews will be online through MS Teams (Video Conference). As per Years 5-6, please have your child’s device logged onto MS Teams. The teacher will initiate the call as per schedule.

DISTANCE LEARNING K -12 | TUESDAY 13 - 16 JULY  
The School is mindful that Distance Learning can be difficult for parents and as such we suggest the following

• Years 5 to 12 should engage with their learning program and teachers online throughout the week.
• Kindergarten to Year 4 will have access to their teachers and daily learning will be provided. As parents, please assess the practicality of the program against your own circumstances and respond accordingly.  

As was the case last year, Hills Grammar teachers will deliver their lessons online through a combination of strategies, including OneNote, email correspondence, SeeSaw (Junior School) and MS Teams, including the use of Video Conferencing. In order to access Distance Learning, students will need to log onto their device.

While some flexibility may be required for both students and teachers working from home, for Years 5-12, we intend to work with the existing School Timetable and times. However, we will shorten Connect to 20 minutes, from 2.00-2.20 pm (extending lunch by 15 minutes, from 1.10-2.00 pm). There will be no Co-curricular period in Week One.

A more detailed explanation of Distance Learning will be sent on Monday.

YEAR 12 TRIAL HSC 
At this stage, there is no intention to move the Trial HSC from Week 3, unless COVID-19 restrictions necessitate and further adjustments are required. 

YEAR 12 MAJOR WORKS
Year 12 students who wish to work on their Major Works are able to attend in accord with all recommended restrictions and guidelines.

UNIFORM SHOP
The uniform shop will reopen for appointments only from Saturday 17 July. Click here for further information and how to order online.

ALL VISITORS ON-SITE 
Anyone on-site during the lockdown period is required to do the following:

• Report to Reception
• Sign in using the QR code
• Wear a mask at all times
• Observe recommended social distancing and hygiene practices

RETURN TO SCHOOL
We anticipate a full return to school on Monday 19 July 2021 and look forward to Term 3 recommencing, although some restrictions will likely remain in place. We will of course communicate again in the coming week, but for now, remain safe and healthy.

Dear ECEC Families,

 

I hope you are safe and well and managing the ever-changing circumstances in our community.

 

During the lockdown period, early childhood settings are deemed essential services and therefore ECEC will remain open.

 

To enable us to appropriately plan staffing, catering and other operational details for the next fortnight, please indicate your intention and need for care via the following links.  Please ensure you indicate your child’s name in the email.

 

Yes my child attend ECEC as normal during lockdown

 

No my child will not be attending ECEC during lockdown

 

In addition, please be mindful of the following:

 

• Before entering the gates at ECEC, all parents and visitors must sign in using the QR code on display. Please show ECEC staff the green tick indicating this has been done before you sign in your child
• Parents and visitors are required to wear masks, use hand sanitiser and socially distance during drop off and pick up, and to refrain from entering the buildings at ECEC
• If you or your child has been to a venue of concern as indicated by NSW Health, you must comply with the self-isolation and testing requirements as directed by NSW Health
• Any child who has (even mild) COVID-19 symptoms at ECEC will be sent home immediately. Prior to your child returning, we ask that you provide ECEC with a negative COVID-19 result and a clearance letter from the doctor
• Only essential visitors will enter ECEC building

Further details will be issued by Hills Grammar later this afternoon. In the meantime, if you have any questions or require support in any way, please let us know.

 

Thank you for your understanding as we navigate this situation together.

 

As you will no doubt be aware NSW is again faced with the challenge of new restrictions following an outbreak of COVID-19 in certain areas of Sydney and surrounds.

The NSW Government has recently announced new COVID-19 restrictions for Greater Sydney, Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Wollongong, and Shellharbour.

It is fortunate that we have already commenced the mid-year holidays and many of these restrictions will not impact us at School unless the situation is extended into July. We encourage all Hills Grammar families to be alert to and comply with the guidelines.

Restrictions for Schools

After discussions with NSW Health, the Association of Independent Schools (AIS) has advised independent schools of the following restrictions and guidelines.

• School staff and students are exempt from the requirement to wear masks in indoor settings.
• Students and staff may wear their own masks while in school or in an indoor/office environment.
• Public transport – Masks remain mandatory for students aged 12 years and over, and staff when traveling to and from school and during school excursions by public transport or by chartered or private transport services.
• Schools are requested to not have parent gatherings or non-educational activities until further notice.
• Strongly recommends minimising the number of adults, other than staff, on the school site.
• Singing by audiences at indoor events is not permitted.
• Professional learning, meetings, and other planning can occur with physical distancing, including 4 square-metre rule, personal hygiene, and record-keeping requirements adhered to at all times.
• All visitors to the School must sign in or check-in via the Service NSW QR code each time they visit the School and comply with the COVID safe requirements, including personal hygiene, infection control, and physical distancing requirements, while on site.
• Parents and carers who are dropping off or picking up students do not need to sign in or use the Service NSW QR code.

Hills Grammar Onsite Practices

The School and, in particular the Early Childhood Education Centre, remains open over the three-week holiday period. As such, a number of measures have been put in place to ensure compliance and the safety of those on-site.

Staff and visitors are reminded to please not attend campus if 

• You are unwell or are showing any signs or symptoms of being unwell – eg runny nose, sneezing, coughing
• Have visited any NSW Health areas of concern  

When visitors are attending campus  

• Sign in using the QR codes displayed  
• Practice good hygiene | Wash hands often | Cough / Sneeze into elbows
• Respect and observe physical and social distancing guidelines for adults
• Where staff can work from home, they will do so.
• Staff working on-site may wear masks if they wish.
• Students using the Senior Study Centre during the holidays can wear masks if they wish.
• In the short term, meetings with external visitors or parents should take place online.
• Any scheduled holiday lessons can take place if appropriate restrictions are observed, including mask, social distancing, appropriate hygiene practices, and if venues are adequately ventilated.
• At this stage, the Year 12 Study Conference at School will go ahead as planned.
• Any holiday activities will be assessed, adjusted, and or canceled – separate communication will be forthcoming to those involved.
• Initial communication about Parent-Student-Teacher meetings at the start of Term 3 will be sent and adjustments made as required closer to the date. 
• Sports Training – socially distanced training will continue for sports teams. Parents are encouraged to drop off and pick up only. Masks should be worn by adults on the sidelines. Please sign in using the QR codes.
• ECEC families have been advised separately regarding drop-off and pick-up arrangements and are reminded to read daily communication carefully as guidelines in an Early Childhood setting change frequently.  
• Work will continue on the construction of the playing fields and refurbishment of the HSIE Building and ECEC Playground. Contractors will take appropriate steps to ensure the safety of their workforce and meet School expectations if interacting with School personnel.

Terry White Chemmart Rouse Hill Town Centre

Please note that we are aware NSW Health has advised that a member of the public who visited the Terry White Chemmart Rouse Hill Town Centre has tested positive for Covid-19. The infected person visited the location on Monday 21 June between 10.40 and 11.00am. If you were in the store at this time, you are considered a casual contact and are required to get tested and isolate until a negative result is returned.

We will monitor the situation in the coming weeks, and should adjustments need to be made for the commencement of Term 3 you will be advised.

We appreciate your co-operation and willingness to adjust your routines as we once again find ourselves having to adapt to a rapidly changing situation.

Unfortunately, the outbreak will play havoc with some of our community’s travel plans, but I wish everyone a safe and restful time, amidst the ongoing health emergency.

Dear Hills Grammar Families

The absence of Senior School students at drop off and pick up this week has highlighted the impact Hills Grammar is having on the traffic on Kenthurst Road.  

This has been further emphasised by a spate of recent complaints from local residents about the congestion and behaviour of some members of our community.

There is no easy solution other than to adhere to:

• ­road rules
• School expectations, and
• common sense

all of which ensure the traffic flows and our students and the wider community remain safe.

Senior School parents in particular are asked:

• To delay their arrival at School until between 3.20pm – 3.40pm by which time Junior School cars will have cleared.
• To consider having their children utilise public bus services once more.  The bus companies have strict COVID-19 Safety Plans in place, inclusive of regular cleaning and asking children 12 years and upward to wear masks. Students returning to bus travel will certainly take the pressure off Kenthurst Road.

All parents are reminded of the need for:

• Patience
• Showing respect for my staff and following instructions
• Avoidance of turning right in and out of the School, and greater use of the roundabouts at Gate 1 and Annangrove Roads
• Queuing respectfully on Kenthurst Road and not trying to "jump the queue" 
• Speed limits in school zones – in particular, whilst on the campus
• Observing suggested time frames for pick up

I look forward to the day when things return to normal, when Hills Shire Council updates the roads and infrastructure, and public transport is adequate for our growing area.

In the meantime, I appreciate your devotion to your children and co-operation with the School as we endeavour to negotiate the implications of the changed world we are living in.

In response to the community feedback regarding yesterday’s pick up we will be returning to our 2020 pickup arrangements from TODAY – with some minor tweaks. 

For the benefit of all families and the community around the School, we ask that everyone reads and follows these revised protocols.

DRIVE SLOWLY AND BE ALERT TO STUDENTS ON CAMPUS

GATE 2 – ENTRY FOR JUNIOR SCHOOL, 3-6 WARIN AND SENIOR LEC FAMILIES
GATE 1 – EXIT ONLY – THERE WILL BE NO ENTRY AT GATE 1 TO COLLECT CHILDREN

Click here for a campus map illustrating the path through the School

Private Car

• For the safety of students and staff, when in a pickup zone, please turn your engine off and leave it off until ALL students have been loaded into their cars
• For Years K – 2 We will provide you with a colour coded (by year group) sign for display during pick up
• For Years 3 – 6 please ensure you have a large sign with your child’s Full Name and Year Group on the front passenger windscreen
• Junior School siblings should leave school at the time of their YOUNGEST sibling

JUNIOR SCHOOL FAMILIES

• Enter via GATE 2 only
• Follow the directions of staff to slowly drive through campus
• Pick up is ONLY at the Busbay
  • 2.50pm – Pick up for Kindergarten and siblings (from Wednesday 3 February)
  • 3.05pm – Pick up for Year 1 and Year 2 and siblings
  • 3.15pm – Pick up for Year 3 and Year 4 and siblings
  • 3.20pm – Pick up for Year 5 and Year 6 and siblings
• Exit ONLY through GATE 1

To ensure this process runs smoothly, please be mindful of the following

• DO NOT turn right into Gate 2 off Kenthurst Road
• Access to Gate 2 will be from 2.40pm for Kindergarten Parents
• Arrive on campus close to your year groups allocated pick up time
• Parents MUST stay in their cars

SENIOR SCHOOL FAMILIES

• Enter via GATE 3
• Do not enter before 3.20pm
• Pick up is ONLY at the Gate 3 Busbay
• Parents MUST stay in their cars

3-6 WARIN AND SENIOR LEC

• Pick-up from 3.15pm from OOSH Carpark at Gate 2 

BUSES

We encourage all students who are able to, catch public transport or the Hills Grammar buses to and from School.

As per the Public Health Order, Students 12 years and older must wear masks whilst travelling on public transport OR the Hills Grammar buses.

HILLS GRAMMAR PRIVATE BUSES – DEPART from Gate 1

• Departing from Gate 1 near the Uniform Shop

PUBLIC BUSES

• Departing from Gate 1 as per normal from 3.30pm

We thank you all for your patience and cooperation with the return to our 2020 protocols.

2021 has started how 2020 ended with COVID-19 restrictions and changes abound.

With the risk of COVID-19 still circulating in the community, we have implemented the following amendments to our COVID safe practices, taking into account the guidelines for schools set out by the NSW Department of Health.

Please review these practices carefully so that you and your family are prepared for the school year.  As was the case in 2020, the guidelines are subject to change at short notice.  We appreciate your support and attention to any changes we may make along the way.

We look forward hopefully to seeing more of you in person this year.

Term 1 COVID Safe Practices

ALL Hills Grammar Community | Students | Parents | Staff

• Know the symptoms of Covid-19
• Stay home if unwell
• Get tested if symptomatic | advise the School | all family members must remain at home until you receive the results
• NEGATIVE – provide School with evidence and return to School | Email Student Office
• POSITIVE – advise School and quarantine in accord with NSW Health guidelines
• Practice good hygiene | Wash hands often | Cough / Sneeze into elbows | Use personal and refillable water bottles
• Respect and observe physical and social distancing guidelines for adults

Students

• As per the Public Health Order – Students over 12 years must wear masks on public transport, including private school buses, excursions and charter buses
• Inter-school sport, excursions, camps and variations to routine will occur with a COVID-19 Safety Plan in place

Parents

We are delighted to welcome Parents back on campus for the following reasons ONLY

• walking their children to classes on day one for K, 1, 2 and 7 – sign in using the QR codes at Gate 1
• to attend scheduled appointments with teachers / staff
• to collect a sick child

All visitors must sign in at Reception or the Student Office to ensure easy contact tracing

Parents can:

• gather socially off campus for year group activities following NSW Health COVID guidelines
• organise and attend PAFA events “after school hours” both on and off site with appropriate NSW Health Covid-19 Safety measures in place
• enjoy connecting through the Parent Learning Lounge Program, which has a number of Zoom sessions planned called “Lunch-Bytes”, accompanied by podcasts and videos

At this stage, parents are unable to attend carnivals or school events on school grounds without an invitation

NB due to restrictions, our planned new parent morning teas on 1 February and 3 February will NOT go ahead.  We look forward to welcoming new parents at the Principal’s Parent Dinners which will occur off site.

Car Park | Drop Off and Pick Up

We encourage all students who are able to, catch public transport or the Hills Grammar buses to and from School.

If students are unable to catch public transport, the following car park guidelines are in place for the safety of our students, efficiency for our parents and consideration of the congestion on Kenthurst Road for our neighbours and the general public.

As with all guidelines, these arrangements may change at short notice and in the event that they are not working effectively will revise them and advise families via email.

Drop Off

As per 2020, where possible parents should remain in their cars and utilise the drop off bays at Gate 1 and Gate 3.  If you are unable to stay in your car, please park and walk children to the bus bay / stairs only, ensuring all adults follow the COVID-19 safety guidelines above.

Pick Up

Public Transport | Private Buses

Private Hills Grammar buses | Students using Hills Grammar buses will resume using Gate 1 and board the buses in the bays adjacent to the Uniform Shop

Public buses will continue in Gate 1 Bus bay from 3.30pm

As per the Public Health Order, Students 12 years and older must wear masks whilst travelling on public transport OR the Hills Grammar buses.

Private Car

• For the safety of students and staff, when in a pick up zone at any gate, please turn your engine off and leave it off until ALL students have been loaded into their cars.
• Ensure you have a large sign with your children’s Full Name and class displayed on the front passenger windscreen
• Junior School siblings should leave school at the time of their YOUNGEST sibling
• Please refer to the map below detailing the route for your child’s year group as the routines have been changed from 2020

Timing | Location

Last year we managed a drive-through-campus arrangement to help manage traffic conditions and the COVID-19 restrictions.

This year the following changes have been made:

Kindergarten and their siblings | Pick up from Gate 2 at 3.00pm | see map

Form 2 lines of traffic in the pick up bays only (see map)

To help ease traffic congestion, parents should NOT arrive before 2.50pm

Years 1 to 6 | Pick up from Gate 1 Bus bay from 3.10pm | see map

Form 2 lines of traffic in the pick up bays only (see map)

To help ease traffic congestion, parents should NOT arrive before 3.00pm

Finish times are as follows

Years 1-2 | 3.10pm

Years 3-4 | 3.15pm

Years 5-6 | 3.20pm

Year 7 – 12 | Pick up 3.20pm from Gate 3 | see map

To help ease traffic congestion, parents should NOT arrive before 3.15pm

Junior and Senior School LEC | Pick-up 3.15pm from OOSH Carpark at Gate 2

NB Student drivers (Years 11 and 12) are asked to delay their departure until 3.45pm each day.

Once again, we thank everyone in our community for their support and cooperation.

Michael Smith | Principal