Dear parents and guardians,

You have no doubt heard that the Government has changed the timing for the return to school for Years 7-10 students. Year 12 will return on 18 October and Years 7-11 on 25 October. We had anticipated this and have been planning accordingly. The main impact will be on the assessment schedule and reporting timeline for the boys, which has now been changed.

We will run year level meetings on Monday 18 October during the day for students and in the evening for parents. These meetings will be compulsory for students. Invitations to these meetings will be sent out in next week’s Head of Stanmore communication.

Years 7-11 (2021):

• Week 11A, 12B and 13A will run as normal Zoom classes with Tuesday and Thursday afternoons screen-free.
• Friday 22 October will be a normal online teaching day and no longer a study day.
• Years 7-11 students will return to campus on Monday 25 October.
• Private and public bus services will resume on Monday 25 October.

Year 7 and 8 assessments

• Year 7 and 8 students will complete any test-style assessments during class time on campus.
• A revised schedule will be provided by Mr Driver in the coming days.
• Please check Spaces for updates.

Year 9 examinations

• Year 9 exams will be completed on campus in the week starting Monday 8 November.
• Year 9 will have a study day on Friday 5 November and will not be required to come on campus.
• Please check Spaces for exam timetables and updates.

Year 10 examinations

• Year 10 exams will be completed on campus in the week starting Monday 15 November.
• Year 10 will have a study day on Friday 12 November and will not be required to come on campus.
• Please check sSpaces for exam timetables and updates.

Year 11 (2021)

• There are no changes to the plans previously communicated to Year 11.
• Year 11 students will return to face-to-face learning on Monday 25 October.
• Week 11A, 12B and 13A will run as normal Zoom classes with Tuesday and Thursday afternoons screen-free but with offline tasks set to complete.
• Reports will be available online to parents from Monday 25 October. 
• Parent/teacher night is scheduled for Wednesday 27 October via Zoom.

Additional information:

• Assessment notifications will be adjusted and resent to the boys.
• As is usual in an examination period, Year 9 and 10 will not be required to attend lessons during their examination week. We will have support in place and a room on campus for boys who cannot study at home.
• Individual arrangements will be made for boys to complete assessments who are not able to return to campus for medical reasons.
• Boys will be permitted to attend the College in either their school or PE uniform. On days they have PE classes and activities they should attend in PE uniform, so they do not need to change on campus.
• We will not require boys to have haircuts, however, where possible they do need to be reasonable. In the run up to the return, we would appreciate your co-operation with no new mullets or hair colour. Boys are welcome to clip hair all over, but no shorter than a No. 2.

Year 12 (2021)

• We will send more details to Year 12 boys tomorrow about Valedictory arrangements and examinations.

What we are doing when boys return to help create a more Covid safe environment:

• Staggered class times and break times.
• There will be reduced mingling of year groups where possible.
• Large group gatherings, including assemblies, bands, and choirs will not be permitted.
• We are looking at options for socially distanced fitness and activity programs for the boys and we will remain in line with community sport arrangements which continue to be reviewed.
• No external visitors will be allowed on our campuses.
• Masks will be mandatory for all staff and students on the Stanmore 7-12 campus unless they are eating or drinking or outside with their PE classes.
• All staff are vaccinated.
• Social distancing protocols will be in place as much as possible in our classrooms.
• Doors will be chocked open to increase ventilation and we have improved our filtering capacity within the air conditioning units across the campus where we cannot open doors and windows.
• Rolls will be kept for all classes as usual but will take on increased importance to ensure ease of rapid contact tracing if it is needed.
• Hand sanitising stations will continue to be available at multiple locations across our campuses.
• Enhanced cleaning protocols will be in place.
• Where possible teaching will occur outside.

Should you have any questions about the above please do not hesitate to contact the College.

I wish you all a relaxing weekend.