From the Principal...

Now that we have welcomed back all students there is a great feel around the school. Those who attended in the first fortnight are enjoying the routines offered by being in their own classroom with their regular teacher. 

Our Prep/1 class made a fantastic start to 2022! The Year 1s quickly showed the preps where to sit, where to play, how to get there and how to get back to their room. They were Day 1 champions! 

COVID information 

We continue to follow practices to minimise the risk of COVID transmission. Physical distancing for adults is required when visiting the school and masks are required where physical distancing is not possible. Masks are required inside school buildings.

In addition: 

• All staff, contractors and volunteers providing a service inside the school are required to be double vaccinated. 
• Staff and students are required to stay home if unwell and show any symptoms of COVID. 
• If a staff member tests positive, they must isolate at home for 7 days. In the event multiple staff are absent, the school will endeavour to replace staff where possible. Families will be kept informed of changes and student management in the event Gympie Central is impacted by staff shortages. 
• If a staff member or student is a confirmed close contact of a positive case, they must leave the school and isolate at home for 6 days. The person must test negative on day 6 (and be symptom free) before returning to school. 
• Children who present at school with symptoms or develop symptoms while at school will be sent to the office and families will be contacted to collect your child. Families will be provided with 1 RAT to test your child at home. 
• If your student tests positive to COVID, the school requests that you keep your child home and inform the office.  
• Families with children in that class will be informed of a positive case in the classroom and can then be vigilant to monitoring their own children. 

No parades until at least 4 March 

Whole school parades take place each Friday morning at 9am. Unfortunately, due to COVID, there will be no whole school parades until at least after 4 March. Families will be informed if this changes after 4 March.  

Tuckshop - fortnightly this term 

Tuckshop is a popular choice for many families and staff on a Friday morning. Tuckshop offers a single meal option that changes each fortnight, along with a small selection of standard sides.  

The P&C coordinates tuckshop for first break on Friday mornings and the team is calling for volunteers from 8:30am to 11:15am on Friday mornings. This year tuckshop has been reduced to fortnightly, but if more volunteers can be found, the P&C will look to offer it weekly. Volunteers are required to show proof of being double vaccinated. 

For new families, orders are placed before 8:30am on the Friday using the Qkr app (no cash orders). Parents and carers can register for Qkr using the instructions attached to this newsletter. 

The first tuckshop will be on Friday 18 February (ham or chicken wraps) and the menu will be emailed early next week. 

Remember, we are here to help 

Like always, if there is something that you want our support with, or if your child is struggling, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s teacher for support.  If it is not a matter for the teacher please call the front office and arrange to meet with a member of the leadership team, so we can work through things together.  It takes a village to raise a child, so let’s work together. 

Crossing Supervisor