A General Statement for Winter Term 2021

At Macarthur the health, safety and welfare of our students and staff are our greatest priority closely followed by our continuity of educational service to the students.

Following the Premier’s press conference on Wednesday 28 July 2021, the Level 4 restrictions (see below) on schools have been extended for four weeks. This extension is in line with the general community lockdown extension that has been announced to end on Saturday 28 August 2021. 

There is an exception for Year 12 students ONLY with face-to-face teaching allowed to resume in two weeks time on Monday 16 August 2021. The Trial HSC Examinations will, therefore NOT occur before this date. Further information regarding the Trials will be forthcoming in due course when more information is available.

With the extended restrictions in place, the online and at-home learning arrangements will remain as they are currently for all students other than Year 12 until at least Friday 27 August 2021. In order to accommodate the extension, a learning pack distribution for all students Transition to Year 12 has been arranged, commencing Tuesday 1 August  2021.

For students in Year 7 to Year 11, this extended lockdown significantly impacts the Yearly Examinations that would ordinarily have occurred towards the end of this term. There are also foreseeable impacts on the ability of the teachers to report on student learning in the usual way. Further information from the Headmaster will be forthcoming in this regard.

For students in Year 12, the NSW Health Authorities and the Department of Education have specific regulations and restrictions that apply for face-to-face teaching to recommence on Monday 16 August 2021. Closer to the time, Year 12 students and parents will be informed of the teaching and learning arrangements, the Trial HSC Examinations, and the HSC Examinations themselves.

A summary of the levels are:
• Level 1: Students learning at school, with all activities occurring in a COVID-safe way 
• Level 2: Students learning at school, with non-essential visitors restricted from school sites, and certain activities modified to be COVID-safe; masks recommended indoors for all staff, and all students in Year 7 and above (noting exemptions apply) 
• Level 3: Students learning at school, with non-essential visitors restricted from school sites, reduced mingling between student and year cohorts and restrictions on activities; masks mandatory for all staff, and all students in Year 7 and above (noting exemptions apply) 
• Level 4: Students encouraged to learn from home, but schools open for students and their families who need it. For those on school sites, masks mandatory for all staff, and all students in Year 7 and above (some minor exemptions apply).

Macarthur, being in the Greater Sydney area as specified in the current Public Health Order, has been classified as Level 4 effective 8 July 2021 and until further notice.

An information sheet for parents has been emailed to all parents informing them of arrangements for  Winter Term.