Return to School Plan

Dear Norwood Primary Families

Welcome to the 2022 school year at Norwood PS.  We’re excited for another big year of learning.

A safe return to school

We know that this year feels very different to last with COVID-19 in the community, but we want to reassure parents that we’re doing all we can to provide a safe learning environment.

 Proactive measures are in place at our school, including:

• frequent cleaning and increased hygiene practices;
• vaccination of all Department of Education staff, volunteers and contractors;
• wearing face masks indoors by all staff; teachers will be able to remove this for direct instructions and/or for students who require more 
• increased ventilation in classrooms
• use of outdoor learning areas where possible

Rapid Antigen Tests (RATS) and masks

Students will also be given COVID-19 care packs that include rapid antigen tests (RATs), face masks and useful information. Please know that additional face masks and RATs will be provided (up to two per week) if requested for the first five weeks of term. Please request additional RATs as you use them. 

To keep our sites COVID-safe, if your child has symptoms and you have run out of school issued RATs, we ask that you don’t attend school to collect a RAT. Instead contact the Tasmanian Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738.

Entering school sites

We are looking forward to welcoming parents and carers onto school sites, however, you must follow these COVID-safe measures:

• only enter if you’re feeling well
• limit your time onsite
• wear a face mask (please talk with the office staff if you have an exemption from mask wearing)
• frequent handwashing and hand sanitising
• physical distance of 1.5 metres between adults
• check in using Check in Tas app
• Each classroom is restricted to 8 Adults at any given time, including the teachers and any Teacher Assistants.   

A Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) is not required to enter the school if you have no symptoms. If your child is presenting with symptoms please administer the test. Your child is good to come to school if there is a negative result, but please inform the office staff that this has been done. Any child presenting with cold/flu like sypmtoms with be required to be collected and a Rapid Antigen Test performed before returning to school.  

Stop, Drop and Go is preferred (dropping your child at the gate or the classroom door to limit adults on site), but we understand that some children require more support to be left at school than others).

To limit the human traffic within our enclosed spaces, please use external entrances closest to your child's classroom and refrain, where possible, from using the main indoor corridors.  

Thank you for your patience and kindness towards our staff as we navigate these changes together. Please remember that whilst we certainly appreciate that this situation can cause a great deal of stress for families, it also is stressful for school staff who are doing their very best to implement safety practices whilst still implementing quality learning programs for all students.

We will continually update you of any changes, and appreciate your flexibility during this time. Our top priority is providing a safe learning environment for your children.

If you’re wanting to know more information, please refer to the frequently asked questions for parents and carers and Department of Education COVID-19 website.

If you still have a question, please talk to the school office or contact the Department of Education COVID Support Hotline at COVID19support@education.tas.gov.au or on 1800 816 057.

Student Books & COVID Packs

All student’s you be given their book packs and COVID Care pack on Wednesday (you are welcome to take the COVID pack home with you at drop off if you wish). If you would like to name and cover books, please discuss (or ask your child to discuss) a good time for these to go home with your child’s teacher. 

Norwood PS Uniform

Over the past 2-3 years we have worked very hard with our School Association and students to re-design our uniform. We believe that we now have a uniform that provides a range of options, is generally gender neutral, hard wearing and looks very modern and stylish. We get many positive comments from the public about how stylish and smart our students look in their uniforms.

We ask that all families abide by our uniform policy as this instils a sense of belonging and pride in our school, and also takes away from any competition of differences in types of clothing. 

Please remember that the bottom half of the uniform must be loose dark blue shorts, skorts or trackpants. Tight fitting leggings, long or short are not appropriate, unless worn beneath other clothing for warmth.

A copy of our uniform policy can be found by following the link below.

Karen Monaghan