Deputy Principal - Student & Staff Wellbeing, Mr Patrick Brennan
From Deputy Principal – Student & Staff Wellbeing, Mr Patrick Brennan
Absenteeism During COVID-19
In line with NSW Health guidelines set out on 19 August, the College has asked parents and carers to specify a reason for absence and/or illness on the absentee line, or via Skoolbag. This is to ensure that any student with COVID symptoms does not attend school and is tested for the virus before returning to the College.
COVID symptoms include a fever, sore throat, dry cough or fatigue.
The following information can be found on the NSW Health website:
· Encourage immediate testing for any symptomatic children or staff
· Prohibit return to school for anyone with symptoms of COVID-19 until a negative COVID test result has been reported
The College wishes to thank the vast majority of parents who are supporting these guidelines and providing us with additional information about their son’s absence from school. A follow-up call is now being made to families where the specific nature of a student’s illness has not been established.
We have been overwhelmed with our community’s commitment to ensuring that any student or staff member with COVID-19 symptoms stays home until they receive a negative test result. We ask that parents contact the College Health Centre via email upon receipt of a negative result.
We are all playing our part so that life at Waverley can continue, even as certain restrictions become the new norm.
2021 Uniform Expectations
2021 will see the entire College wearing the new academic uniform. Planning for this commenced back in 2018 and involved consultation with all of the key stakeholders at the College.
2021 will provide us with a once-in-a-generation opportunity to further tighten our expectations regarding the way we present ourselves both at school and in public. Already we have seen a marked improvement in the way boys are wearing the uniform.
From Term 1, 2021, students can only attend class without academic uniform if they have a medical certificate or clearance from the Uniform Shop, which confirms that they are awaiting delivery on an item. In this case, students must be in full sports uniform.
For all other reasons, students will require a uniform pass from the Wellbeing Centre and receive a one-hour detention. Please note that students on campus without a uniform pass, or arriving or leaving campus without a blazer and tie (Term 2 and 3 only), will be subject to a three-hour detention.
Students are already being informed and reminded about these changes to the policy in 2021. You can also find these updates in the College diary, which has already been updated.
