Dear Boarding Families
Thank you for your ongoing support in responding to the unprecedented situation in which we find ourselves.
At this point in time, health and education experts are united in their view that the best possible approach for students, staff and the broader community is for schools to remain open as the country responds to COVID-19.
This advice is not as straightforward when applied to a Boarding environment.
Should a Boarding student or Boarding staff member test positive for COVID-19, we could be ordered to put the Boarding Houses into lockdown. This means Boarders could be quarantined from parents and carers and would need to remain on campus, in their respective Boarding House, for the quarantine period of 14 days.
I stress that we are not responding to any incident, but as a precautionary and voluntary measure, we recommend that Boarders return to their parents or carers or make arrangements to stay in Sydney and attend the College as a Day student.
Boarders will resume their learning via the online learning platforms or continue as Day students where feasible.
To assist our 65 country New South Wales Boarders, we have organised buses that will take the following routes, departing on Tuesday at 12.00pm, following the Year 12 English assessment:
- Western NSW: with parent collection points at Lithgow, Orange, Bathurst and Dubbo
- North Western NSW: with parent collection points at Newcastle, Gunnedah and Narrabri
- Southern NSW: with parent collection points at Wollongong, Goulburn, Young and Wagga Wagga.
There may be opportunity for additional stops along the route if this is more convenient. Should your daughter take one of these routes, we ask that she communicate with you via text to ensure a timely pick-up.
Please complete the following form to book your daughter on one of these services. We would like to offer spare seats on the bus to neighbouring schools and therefore ask that you complete this form by 12.00pm today.
Girls who fall outside the above areas will proceed with the previously identified travel plans. Boarding staff will be on hand to assist with airport transfers and flight bookings for our interstate and international Boarders. Our local Boarders may use their usual transport method to travel home.
It is essential that we have current details of the travel arrangements for your daughter(s). I ask that you make it a priority to use Boardingware to enter leave, describing how your daughter(s) will travel home. This will allow us to ensure all girls are well-placed to travel home safely and promptly.
We have prepared a checklist of items and steps that the girls should take in preparation for their departure. House staff will be on hand to assist the girls in packing and preparing their rooms this afternoon.
As you know, the College is well-prepared for remote learning and this is already available to the girls. We recognise that internet access for some of our more remote families can be unreliable and we will be working with individual girls to provide support.
I realise this has been a very unsettled start to the year and apologise for the disruption caused to you, your daughter and your family. Rest assured we are all here to care for your daughter and her wellbeing is at the forefront of our thinking.
Thank you again for your support as we navigate this situation. We are all on hand to assist in any way we can, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Best regards
Dr Kate Hadwen
Principal
Pymble Ladies’ College
Avon Road, Pymble NSW 2073
T: +61 2 9855 7799
www.pymblelc.nsw.edu.au