Thank you parents and carers for taking the time to step back and process the significant changes to our school site.
Day one progressed very smoothly and this is contributed to your acknowledgment and support of the school rebuild project and our school operations. Thank you.
Significant planning has occurred in preparation for the rebuild project and we will continue to review our operations and processes daily to enhance what we do.
I’m sure you can see that we are doing our best with what we have, to provide play space for our students and maintain continuity of teaching and learning.
Thank you to the HPS staff for their flexibility, support and solution-focused approach with managing the rebuild project.
Play Areas
Please keep in mind that any changes are for the short term and we all need to be patient and resilient.
School decisions regarding play areas are based on the playground space available, the number of students accessing the area, supervision requirements and site restrictions.
Years 1 and 2 students will play at the top of the school, including the old undercover area. As per a previous notification, the play area will be expanded as we find contractors to complete the work. The extended play space will also include the terraced area and the top sand pit.
Parents and carers can assist us by volunteering time and resources with restoring the terraces and removing the old pool fencing and wire fencing. This support will speed up the process of allowing students to access these areas. Please email us at hillarys.ps@education.wa.edu.au if you can assist. Thank you
Years 3 – 7 students have the paved, grassed and undercover sitting/playground space on the lower level of the school. The lower carpark has been provided as a hardcourt space for students and the assembly area is now included as an eating and passive play space.
The library will be available for all students, once staffing arrangements are finalised at the end of February.
New Equipment and Activities
The school has purchased additional playground equipment and hands-on activities to reflect the changes in the playground environment.
These are being offered to students and will grow and/or be adapted over time.
Parking and Traffic Flow
Thank you for your understanding and patience with the access to parking and slowing down to support student safety and general traffic flow.
Reminder – The lower carpark is now a play space for students. No entry.
Reminder – The access road near the Pre-primary is a construction entry/exit point, only. No entry. Please take extra care at the footpath crossover.
Requests – We need parents and carers to consider changing parking and drop-off and pick-up routines.
- · Leave more time for drop-off and pick-up as you may need to park further away
- · Make student drop-off and pick-up short to support parking availability for others, and general traffic flow in and around the school.
Staff have been allocated specific parking bays. These include some of the grassed verge areas at the front of the school, and at the back of the Pre-primary building. This ensures the majority of the main carpark is available for parents and visitors.
Construction Traffic
Project contractors will minimise their movements during the morning and afternoon peak school traffic times. Please drive slowly and be patient at all times. Please take extra care at the footpath crossover at the entrance of the school carpark.
Do not ‘stress’ about students being a little late for class if there’s a bank up of traffic.
Let’s focus on getting all students to class safely and calmly. Take care and take a deep breath.
Out-of-School Care Buses
The drop-off and pick-up point for the Out-of-School Care program has been moved to the front of the Administration building. This area will be marked with traffic cones.
Please keep this space free for the Out-of-School Care buses and for our Year 5/6 swimming lessons due to commence tomorrow. Thank you
Fencing and Construction Site
Please do not enter this area for any reason.
I understand it is frustrating not having a current access point at the back of the school, or from the oval.
We did request an access point from the back of the school/oval for families; however, this request was declined due to strict occupational health and safety measures for the rebuild project.
Rebuild Project Stage 1 to Stage 2
The current operations and changes are of a temporary nature.
In Term 4, we will need to pivot and adapt once again as we progress from Stage 1 and into Stage 2. Teachers and students will move into the new kindergarten buildings and playground area, as well as the new general classroom block on the hill.
Further information will be provided when needed.
Ideas / Concerns
We need your eyes and ears in assisting us to successfully manage the school rebuild project.
Please share your ideas and or report any concerns via an email – hillarys.ps@education.wa.edu.au
Communications
Ongoing CONNECT notifications will be provided to keep all families informed. Previous and current notifications and information is available on our school website.
Stay safe everyone and thanks for your anticipated patience and support
Best regards
Trevor Mitchell
Principal
01/02/22