The Vine Newsletter

It gives us great pleasure to welcome you to Penrith Anglican College in 2022. I hope the holiday break has been an opportunity for you and your family to rest and refresh despite the ongoing challenges of COVID-19. 2022 is full of hope and great possibilities and I know it is going to be a wonderful year at the College.

We would like to particularly extend a very warm welcome to all our new students and their families to the College. You are joining a vibrant learning community where a strong sense of community and care is valued and nurtured.

This year, our enrolments have grown significantly across the College and we will start the year with over 70 more students. We also have 5 Kindergarten classes commencing for the first time in the history of the College. 2022 will see us develop our next Strategic Plan and a Master Plan for the College so we can continue to provide inspiring, challenging and engaging learning environments for our College.

Staff have returned to the College this week and they have been preparing for the teaching year ahead. Our professional learning has focused on the College theme for 2022 which is “Building Character to Serve Christ”. We look forward to sharing more on this theme as we move through the year.

This VINE is full of information families will need as they prepare to return to the College. At the beginning of Term 1, we will provide a full report of the HSC achievements of our students in 2021.

Mrs Felicity Grima
Principal

Communication
The College will continue to provide updated information to families in the coming weeks as regulations and requirements change. As always, our main forms of communication will be:

• Emails
• Notifications on Parent App
• Website updates
• Text messages
• Website updates on the COVID portal
• Fortnightly VINE

COVID-Safe Practices/Procedures
The College remains committed to the safety and wellbeing of the students in our care. The COVID-safe practices we had in place in 2021 will continue in 2022 including but not limited to:

• increased ventilation with doors and windows open to create an air flow;
• use of outdoor and covered areas wherever possible in preference to indoor spaces;
• directing fans away from people’s faces;
• regular cleaning will continue throughout the day on high touch surfaces and the toilets as well as the playground equipment;
• tables and high-touch objects will be cleaned after use by each student and staff member;
• minimise sharing of equipment;
• hand sanitiser will be available in every classroom and at the entry to buildings with students required to use it as they enter classrooms;
• changes to College activities as required including postponing or cancelling activities that would be considered too high risk.

COVID Symptoms
Anyone experiencing COVID-19 symptoms should not come to the College campus. Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath (difficulty breathing), runny nose, headaches or fatigue. If students develop these symptoms during the College day, families will be contacted and asked to collect their child/ren immediately.

Positive cases
Any student who tests positive to COVID is required to follow NSW Health requirements under the Public Health Order for testing positive and self-isolation. Currently, the requirement is:

• isolate for 7 days following the positive test;
• leave isolation after 7 days if no symptoms (sore throat, runny nose, cough or shortness of breath);
• if there are symptoms after 7 days, then remain in isolation until 24 hours after symptoms have resolved. Note: if a person continues to have symptoms, they are able to leave isolation after 7 days with a medical clearance. Once a person who has tested positive to COVID-19 has finished their isolation period they can immediately return to school settings. 

The PHO requires families to immediately notify the school of their positive result on a PCR or RAHT. Families will need to respond to the link provided by the College to note any positive tests.

Schools will no longer have to send cohorts home or undertake contact tracing when there is a case within the school.  There will be no requirement to differentiate between close/casual contacts. Notification will depend on the contact the person who has tested positive had in the two days prior to being symptomatic or testing positive.   

Household/Close Contacts
There have been changes to NSW Health contact tracing processes for close contacts and the introduction of a ‘household contact’.  A household contact is a person who lives with someone who has COVID-19.

Only household contacts are required by NSW Health to isolate for 7 days unless the person has previously tested positive to COVID and ended their isolation for this in the past 28 days. Previously, those that had been with a positive case for 4 or more hours were also considered a close contact – the definition has been updated and this no longer makes someone a close contact (i.e. close contacts are household contacts only). 

Any other individual that has contact with a COVID positive person is not required to isolate but is advised by NSW Health to assess the level of risk of the contact and respond accordingly. This means any exposure to COVID at school or socially does not result in a person being a close contact.

Returning to School after Isolation
Once a person who has tested positive to COVID-19 has finished their isolation period as detailed above, they can immediately return to school settings. 

Individuals do not have to return a negative test to leave isolation as there may still be a viral load present in their system which may result in a positive test result. However, they are not likely to continue to be infectious.  

RAHT Kits Collection
RAHT Kits will be available for families to collect on Friday 28 January through a drive-thru service. Two weeks’ worth of tests will be provided for each student (4 tests total). If you cannot collect your family's RAHT Kits on Friday you may come on Saturday January 29 between 9.00am-11.00am.

To make sure we can safely manage this service to ensure everyone’s health and safety, please see the times of when you can collect your RAHT Kits:

Pre-K to Year 2                 9.00am-11.30am
Years 3-6                          11.30am-1.30pm
Years 7-12                        1.30pm-3.30pm

Families will be signed off once they receive their kits. Unfortunately, other families are not able to collect the RAHT kits on someone else’s behalf.

If you have multiple children across many grades, please come at the time of your youngest child.

Please enter the car park via the eastern gates (automatic gates) and proceed towards the College administration building. There you will see cones and signs marked to direct you to where you need to go.

Please ensure that you have your car park pass displayed on your windscreen and we ask that you are wearing a mask during this time. If you do not have your sign, please write your name in large letters and have it on display. This will assist staff greatly as tinted windows and masks can make identifying people in cars very difficult.

Twice Weekly Rapid Antigen Home Tests
Staff and students are required to screen for COVID-19 twice a week for the first four weeks of Term 1.

It is suggested that the testing occur on Sunday evening or Monday morning, prior to school beginning and again on Wednesday morning.

The results of those tests, both Positive and Negative, will need to be communicated with the College. A link will be provided to all families to assist with reporting the results. This information is kept private and confidential in accordance with the Privacy Act.

Attendance
Under the Education Act students are required to attend school unless they have a valid reason not to do so. There is no provision available for an exemption from attendance to be granted for COVID-related absences. Schools should follow their usual processes to manage unsatisfactory attendance.  

Vaccination
As required by the current Public Health Order, all staff at the College are fully vaccinated.

Families are strongly encouraged to consider vaccination for their children. We have no information to suggest that vaccination will be mandated for students. Evidence of vaccination could be requested in some situations, for example, as required by external venues. 

Students Returning From Overseas
Fully vaccinated students, unvaccinated students under 18 travelling unaccompanied, and unvaccinated students arriving with a fully vaccinated adult only have to isolate until they return a negative RAHT (which must be taken within 24 hours of arrival). They also have to do another RAHT on day 6. They should carefully monitor for symptoms for 14 days. If they test positive, they need to follow the regular isolation requirements for testing positive.

Whilst children arriving from overseas who are under 12 years of age and who are not fully vaccinated are not required to isolate once they receive a negative RAHT test, they must not attend school until at least 7 days have passed and they have a negative result from their day 6 RAHT test.

Masks
Health advice continues to be that masks provide an important first line of defence in minimising transmission, particularly as the Omicron variant is recognised to be incredibly transmissible.

The protocols for wearing masks have not changed since the end of 2021.

Masks continue to be required in all indoor settings for staff and secondary students, as well as being strongly encouraged for primary students from Year 3 and above.

Schools have been advised that cloth and vented masks should not be used at school. It is recommended that surgical masks are used by staff and students at school. The College requests that wherever possible students bring their own mask each day.

Visitors to the College, including parents and carers – anyone over the age of 12 on the College campus who is indoors is required to wear a mask.

Parents and Visitors

Parents and Visitors on-site will be required to sign-in using the QR Code. Parents and visitors must be fully vaccinated to be on-site.

Pick up and Drop off arrangements

We will continue using the pick up and drop off arrangements that were in place in 2021 with the exception of Pre-K, Kindergarten and new families joining the College on day 1 of school who are able to have up to two vaccinated adults walk them in.

We ask for your patience in the car park as we begin a new year. Whilst we know that at times there are delays which can be frustrating, we ask that you remain calm and trust that the College staff are ensuring the safety of all our students.

Arriving early to collect your child/ren is not helpful, as it causes additional traffic and delays for all. Please keep to the times to assist us in a smooth afternoon pick up as possible.

Afternoon Pick Up Times

Pre-K to Year 1           2.50pm                       Infants Kiss and Run

Year 2                         2.50pm                       Primary Kiss and Run

Years 3 and 4             3.00pm                       Primary Kiss and Run

Years 5 and 6             3.15pm                       Primary Kiss and Run

Years 7 to 12              3.25pm                       Primary Kiss and Run

Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten and new families to the College
Up to two fully vaccinated adults are welcome to accompany Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten and students from other years who are new to the College on their first day. The adults must check in using the QR code and show their vaccination status. 

Canteen
The canteen will be in operation via Flexischools only and students will not be permitted to visit the canteen to purchase items. We have arranged for lunch orders to be delivered to the classrooms at lunch time. The Canteen staff will be sending out more information including a new menu.

Students in Primary are encouraged not to order for recess as there will not be adequate time for receiving and eating the items.

Uniform Shop
The Uniform Shop will operate via an appointment system. Online ordering will continue to be available for parents.

We have a number of new staff joining us at the College in 2022.

Mrs Rebecca Finemore          Pre-K Aide

Mrs Candace Lamplough       Pre-K Aide

Mrs Melody Head                  Primary Learning Support Aide

Mr Matthew Asplin                Primary Teacher

Mrs Aimee Tindall                 Primary Teacher

Miss Nikki Tallada                 Primary Teacher

Ms Vicki McGrath                  Primary Teacher

Mr Nick Lane                        Head of Performing Arts

Ms Corrine Robinson             Mathematics Teacher

Mr Phil McIntyre                   Mathematics Teacher

Mrs Alix Madden                   Science Teacher

Ms Josefa Calfoforo               HSIE Teacher

Mr Isaac Bingham                 PDHPE Teacher

Mr Mark Latham                   Science and Technologies Teacher

Mr Jacob Fleming                  English Teacher

Welcome back to the following staff returning from Maternity Leave:

Mrs Donica Marks                 Returning part-time to Mathematics

Mrs Rochelle Smith               Returning part-time to Primary

Mrs Kimberley Crawford        Returning part-time to Dance and English

Mrs Amy Harrison                 Returning to Administration

Mrs Helen Muller                   Returning to Primary G&T

Deputy Principal: Secondary – Mr Leighton Corr
[email protected]

Supports the Principal in the strategic and day-to-day leadership of the College with particular focus on the Secondary School.

Deputy Principal: Primary – Mrs Ljubica (Luby) Mansell
[email protected]

Supports the Principal in the strategic and day-to-day leadership of the College with particular focus on the Primary School.

Chaplain – Mr David Janzen
[email protected]

Leads the Chaplaincy and Christian Living Departments as well as the Christian fellowship, mission and outreach programs of the College.

Director of Operations P-12 – Mrs Wendy White
[email protected]

Oversees the daily operations of the College.

Director of Teaching and Learning P-12 – Mr Phil McMurray
[email protected]

Oversight of teaching and learning across the College including teacher accreditation and professional practice.

Director of Studies 7-12 – Mr Felix Kobus
[email protected]

Oversight of the academic program of the Secondary School.

Director of Student Wellbeing 7-12 – Miss Adele Crane
[email protected]

Oversight of the Student Wellbeing programs of the Secondary School.

Director of Student Development 10-12 – Mrs Fiona Wright
[email protected]

Oversight of the Student Development programs in 10-12 with a particular focus on Careers, CEP and Tabitha.

Business Manager – Mr Rodney Cosier
[email protected]

Supports the Principal in the management of the business, support services and property functions of the College.

 The 2022 College Term Dates is available on the College website and can also be downloaded via this link.

The Parent Portal on Edumate is one of the main forms of communication between the College and our families. It is important that you are checking the parent portal once or twice a week for any relevant communication or parent permission requests for excursions or sport.

You can view student timetables, classes and teachers by logging onto the parent portal and going to each child and looking at the timetable, which will start in Week 1. There still may be minor changes; in particular, to rooming however, the main fabric of the timetable will remain as is.

If you cannot remember your parent portal details, log onto Edumate through the link via the College Website. If you cannot remember your details click onto “Can’t login” on the bottom right hand side of the login screen.

Once parents have set their password in Edumate, you can download the College App and use this to read and update information on Edumate including recording absences. 

A reminder that the 2022 stationery lists for Years 3-12 are available on the College website.

Mrs Ljubica Mansell, Deputy Principal (Primary)

Dear Families

We welcome you all to a new year here at Penrith Anglican College and trust that you have had the opportunity to rest and enjoy some quality time with your loved ones.  We have included some information below that will allow families to prepare for the beginning of Term 1.

Diary Dates for Term 1 2022

First days of School

Pre-K 5- and 3-Day and Kindergarten begin Monday 31 January 2022
Year 6 Student Leaders begin Monday 31 January 2022 for leadership training.
Years 1-6 students return Tuesday 1 February 2022
Pre-K 2-day students begin Thursday 4 February 2022

Class Allocations
The timetable is currently live on Edumate but please know that it is not final until Friday 28 January 2022 at 5pm. Teachers will all have copies of the classes on Day 1 of school returning so we can assist your child if they are unsure of their core classes.

Uniform
All students in Kindergarten to Year 6 will commence in their full Summer Uniform and Summer Sports Uniform to be worn on Fridays only.

Pre-Kindergarten students will wear their Sports Uniform.

Please ensure that all uniform items are labelled.

What to bring each day In Primary
Students are asked to begin their lunchboxes and water bottles each day. We have water refill stations located around the school, but our bubblers are still non-operational. All items are to be labelled with your child’s full name and class.

Students will be given a diary that is required each day. It will be part of their uniform and is needed as an additional communication tool.

Masks are not mandatory in Primary settings, however, students are welcomed and encouraged to wear them while in the classroom.

All stationery and learning materials required as per the stationery lists are required from day one of school. Students in K-2 will have all their stationery items provided by the College. However, students who wish to bring their own pencil cases are welcome to do so. We do ask that all students in K-2 have their own headphones. Please ensure all items are labelled.

Classroom Times

Classroom and daily times in Primary will be the same as in term 4, 2021 and are as follows:

8.00am Supervision Begins

Mr Leighton Corr - Deputy Principal (Secondary)

Dear Families

Welcome to the New Year. A year where we had hoped to commence with far more certainty and the demands of Covid behind us. While that is not quite the case, we can assure you that we are working hard to be well prepared for the start of the school year.

We do hope you all had a chance to rest and relax over the break even with so much happening with the pandemic. This letter will provide you with information regarding the start of the year and also the year ahead. We hope you find this information helpful in preparing for your child returning, or joining us at Penrith for the first time. If you still have questions, please feel free to make contact with the College and we will seek to address any concerns you may have.

Daily Times
The day commences at 8:30am each day and concludes at 3:25pm. Each teaching period goes for 53 minutes and students should expect 50 minutes of teaching/learning and then time to pack up and head to their next lesson. Our Mentor time will go for 30 minutes each day with a schedule noted later in this letter.

Mobile Phones
A reminder for parents in the Secondary school about our Mobile Phone Policy; students cannot use their phones from the hours of 8:30am until 3:25pm. The exception to this is for the first 5 minutes of recess and the first 10 minutes of lunch. This will allow students to check their timetable, room changes, any important messages or contact home. Of course, we know at times phones can be used for learning activities and this will be communicated by the teacher for specific tasks. Outside of these times we ask that students keep their devices away.

Phones used outside of the appropriate windows will be confiscated for the remainder of the day and parents contacted if there is a second or third offence in any term.

Uniform
Our College uniform and sports uniform will remain the same in 2022 and the uniform shop is open ready for business. Please note that the uniform shop has moved locations and is now found in the L Block building. Details of our College uniform requirements can be found at: http://www.penrith.nsw.edu.au/enrol/essentials/uniforms/. 

The scheduled rehearsal for Tuesday 1 February has been cancelled. More detailed information regarding rehearsals will be sent to families in the next week.

Miss Sophie Tucker
English & Drama Teacher / Head of House Ridley

Penrith Anglican College wishes to confirm that you are willing for images (an image can be in the form of photograph or video) of your child and/or details regarding their academic results or other achievements to be used in various media published in the public domain in 2022 or whether you would like to withdraw permission in 2022. 

If you are unwilling to allow images of your child to be used in any way by the College, please complete the details and return the form to the College by Friday 4 February 2022. A new form is required for 2022 if you do NOT wish images of your child to be used even if you have submitted one in previous years.

The Australian Government Department of Education, Skills and Employment (the department) would like to notify you that a request has been made for your child’s school to provide residential address and other information as required under the Australian Education Regulation 2013. 

What do you need to do? 

You are not required to do anything. Your school is responsible for providing the requested details to the department; however, you may wish to ensure that your school has the most up-to-date and correct details for your family. 

Contacts for further information 

Additional information about the Collection process is attached. Alternatively, please visit the SchoolsHUB Address Collection help and support page.

Please be advised the Uniform Shop has relocated to L Block.

We would like to invite all families who require their children to be fitted at the beginning of the year, to make an appointment. Due to the number of children who require new uniforms, we are only taking appointments at this time. This enables us to ensure there are no long waiting times and allows us to follow COVID-19 guidelines. 

Appointments can be made by clicking the link below.  It can also be found on the uniform page on the College website.  

https://penrithanglicancollege.permapleat.com.au/schoolbookings/

We encourage families to make an order online when possible.

Term Time Opening Hours are:

Tuesday       8:00am - 11:00am
Wednesday  12pm - 5pm
Friday          8:00am - 11:00am

If you have any further queries please do not hesitate to contact us by email [email protected] and we will respond during store opening hours. 

Kind Regards
Sharon Louis & Tanya Barnes
Perm-A-Pleat Uniform Store 

Please be advised Camp Australia has relocated to M Block (behind L Block that houses Kindy, Year 1 and Year 2 classrooms).

As 2022 approaches, we look forward to collaborating with Penrith Anglican College to welcome new families. Starting school is a major milestone for them and this transition process can be both exciting and challenging for children – and we relish the opportunity to help families during this time. 

Helpful information to get families started 
To make this new experience as comfortable and positive as possible for families and children, we have attached our Parent Information Leaflet which includes information about OSHC, our tailored programs, and how to register. 

Bookings now open for 2022
Families can prepare for the new school year as 2022 bookings for Your OSHC program are now open. Registration is free for families. We recommend that all families register so if they ever need or want to attend, all they need to do is book their session as we'll already have all the documentation we need from them. They simply have to log in and register through our Parent Portal, also available as a smartphone app, and start booking. 

Camp Australia

Students who need a School Opal card or travel pass for 2022 can apply now. A new application will need to be submitted if they are:

• Applying for a school travel pass for the first time, or
• If they are requesting an additional travel entitlement as a result of a new shared parental responsibility situation

Please see the attached letter from Transport NSW for more details.

The latest version of our Community Business Directory is now available for download.

The Community Business Directory acts as a link for business and families to support each other.  This initiative has been created by the Parents & Friends Association for businesses of Penrith Anglican College families rather than a general advertising site to assist our College Community during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Each business in the Directory has a direct link with a College family.

Please note, the Parents & Friends Association, Penrith Anglican College and their staff will not be liable for any interactions or transactions that occur between any parties connected through this P&F Initiative. The Parents & Friends Association has not vetted the information, products or offerings provided by these businesses. 

We will continue to update this document and post a link to the updated version on the website and the College App.  If you would like your business to participate in the Community Business Directory, please fill out the form via this link. There is no cost involved.

We are excited to be able to support our College families in this way, and hope you find this Directory helpful.