Latest News
COVID-19 Update: Plan for Term 4
Dear students and families,
Since the announcement on Tuesday by the ACT Chief Minister, the circumstances regarding the return of students to onsite learning from the beginning of term 4 have changed.
The two documents linked below have been developed by the Education Directorate in line with the guidelines set down by ACT Health to ensure the safe return of students to onsite learning over the initial weeks of term 4.
Term 4 Roadmap for ACT Public Colleges
Health Guidelines for Senior Secondary
We have developed our plan in relation to these guidelines and I can inform you that:
- Remote Learning and Remote Learning timetable will stay in place for Year 11 & 12 classes until end of week 2
- Onsite learning opportunities will be limited to only Year 12 students during week 1 & 2 for essential practical course work, assessment of VET Competencies or supervised assessment
- Year 12 AST will be held onsite during week 2 and we will be holding an AST Assembly for Year 12 students sitting the AST onsite Monday 1.15 Monday 11 October (please see AST message below)
College Newsletter (DC News) - incorrect information
Unfortunately, our Newsletter has been circulated with information that doesn't reflect this latest change. Apologies and please disregard the date referring to the face-to-face return of Year 12 students onsite.
Year 12 AST Update
The AST is scheduled for Tuesday 12th and Wednesday 13th October.
Things to note are:
- All venues within the College will be the same as those used in the trials (GYM main testing venue, A12 Special Consideration, A20 EALD).
- An onsite AST assembly is scheduled for Monday 11th October, 1:15-1:45 pm, in the HALL
-
- It is expected that ALL students sitting the AST will attend this assembly
- Students attending the assembly will have to check-in upon entry AND wear a face mask
- Due to health directions, the college will no longer provide any catering for students during the test days. Students should make sure to eat breakfast on the mornings of the AST, and organise to bring a packed lunch for Tuesday
Thanks for your understanding and patience at this time. Please take time during this holiday break to rest and recover.
Take care.
Regards
Craig Edwards
Principal
posted on 17 Sep 2021
Transition to onsite learning from the beginning of Term 4
I would like to acknowledge and thank our students for their flexibility and commitment to their learning over the past few weeks as we have transitioned to teacher-led remote learning as part of the ACT’s health response to COVID-19. I would also like to thank our parents and community for their support of the College and its staff during this time.
I am writing to confirm the opportunity for Year 12 students to return to on-campus learning from the start of Term 4, which begins on 5 October. Year 11 students are also being prioritised for a return to on-campus learning from the beginning of week 3 of Term 4, Monday 18 October.
We look forward to welcoming students back on site. This transition from remote to onsite learning will occur in a staged plan over the first two weeks of term 4. We will provide a detailed Dickson College Term 4 Transition Plan to you later this week.
In line with the health advice and intent, Dickson College is taking a very cautious approach to bringing students and staff back on site.
The significant factors in our planning are the consideration of classes that comprise of year 11 and 12 students. As well as classes that have large practical components/assessments, and classes that comprise only of year 12 students. Our planning for the first two weeks also needs to ensure the Year 12 AST sitting can be undertaken safely.
All school-based staff and Year 12 students have now been prioritised for COVID-19 vaccination. If your young person has not yet booked their vaccination, we encourage them to do so. Bookings for Year 12 students can be made by calling the COVID-19 vaccination booking line on 5124 7700 daily between 7am-7pm and notifying the booking operator of your priority category (i.e. being a Year 12 student). Vaccination slots are also now available for other age groups e.g., 16-year-old children not in year 12 and 12–15-year-old children from Monday (please see the latest information on vaccinations).
Our school will have measures in place to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission. These include promoting good hand and respiratory hygiene, requiring physical distancing for adults onsite, regular cleaning and disinfecting, requiring staff and students to stay home if unwell and promoting ventilation. Students and staff will be required to wear masks in line with public health directions.
You can find more information about the arrangement for schools in term 4 on the ACT Education website: COVID-19 school arrangements.You can also keep up to date with the latest health information, advice and resources on the ACT’s COVID-19 website www.covid19.act.gov.au
From the ACT BSSS - Release of the Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR)
"The release of the ATAR will be delayed until Thursday 20 January 2022.
The ACT BSSS works closely with the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) to produce the ATAR so that ACT students can apply for direct university admission.
The delay is due to the postponement of the NSW Higher School Certificate examinations. The ATAR and therefore University offers for ACT and NSW students are processed at the same time. UAC processes applications on behalf of all ACT and NSW Universities, including applications from students in other states and territories. Tertiary Admissions Centres in other states and territories do likewise.
The later release of rankings will not affect University applications through UAC as they are processed in the same way and at the same time for all students.
Roberta McRae
Board Chair
ACT Board of Senior Secondary Studies"
Regards
Craig Edwards
Principal
posted on 14 Sep 2021
Important Update
Dear students and families,
I hope you are all well. At present, it is unclear exactly what the return to onsite learning will look like for Colleges in the ACT during term 4. However, we are anticipating that colleges will have a clearer picture of the plan for term 4 early next week. I will communicate this with you as soon as I am able. Until then, here are the key messages for this week:
Parent-Teacher Evening Online Thursday 16 September 2:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Mid-Semester reports will be distributed to students and families on Monday. The report will include detailed instructions on booking times with teachers using Parent Teacher Online (PTO). The actual interviews will be held online using Google Meets. If you have not used Google Meets before, don't worry; there will be instructions on this too. Our students are also experts in Google Meets, so we ask them to assist their parents in this area.
Appointments still available for year 12 student COVID-19 vaccinations
A reminder that all year 12 students can book a priority appointment at the AIS Arena COVID-19 mass vaccination clinic and get vaccinated between now and next Friday, 17 September 2021.
How to book
The Year 12 student priority COVID-19 bookings can only be made by calling the COVID-19 Vaccination Booking Line on 02 5124 7700 (press option 5) between 7am to 7pm daily.
If the student would prefer to get vaccinated at a participating GP (or participating pharmacy for those aged 18 years and over), use the Eligibility Checker to find a clinic near you https://covid-vaccine.healthdirect.gov.au/eligibility
More information
A factsheet is attached with more information, or please visit the COVID-19 website: www.covid19.act.gov.au/vaccine. The Education Directorate website also provides information including answers to a number of frequently asked questions.
Vaccinations for students with a disability, their parents and carers
Students, parents and carers of people with disability are eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine right now. You can book in to get a vaccination by calling the ACT COVID-19 vaccination booking line on 02 5124 7700 between 7am to 7pm, daily. You can also book in to get a vaccination at a participating GP or pharmacist. More information is available at www.covid19.act.gov.au/vaccinebooking
ACT Health operates an Access and Sensory vaccination clinic where people with disability, support staff, volunteers and carers can get vaccinated. The clinic is moving to the Weston Creek Community Health Centre from Monday 13 September. You can make an appointment to attend the clinic by calling the ACT COVID-19 vaccination booking line on 02 5124 7700 between 7am to 7pm, daily. You can find out more at www.covid19.act.gov.au/disability
The latest information from the BSSS regarding assessment during COVID-19 Lockdown
In addition to information circulated previously, the BSSS has provided, a further question and answer has been included in the FAQ for Students/Parents and Carers. The new Q and A is below for your information. The full document can be accessed here and is also attached to this email.
Q10: What should a student who is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms on the days of the AST do? Will they still receive a Tertiary Entrance Statement and ATAR?
A: The conduct of the test will be consistent with health advice and guidelines at the time.
As always if a student is unwell, they should seek medical advice, and if experiencing COVID-19 like symptoms should be tested. Absence from one or more of the test components would require appropriate and verifiable Medical documentation.
The BSSS has processes to enable scaling if individual students within a school cohort meet all other requirements for a Tertiary Entrance Statement (TES) but cannot sit an ACT Scaling Test (AST) due to illness or misadventure. These students would still receive an ATAR.
Regards
Craig Edwards
Principal
posted on 10 Sep 2021
Parent Teacher Interviews Online
Term 3 Parent Teacher Interviews will be held online next Thursday 16 September from 2:30 pm to 6:30 pm.
More details including instructions will be sent to families with Mid-Semester Reports Monday 13 September.
posted on 09 Sep 2021
