HUNTER Catholic school students will not return full time to classrooms until June 1, as part of a plan that will give teachers and families more "breathing space and planning time" than their public school counterparts.
Director of Schools Gerard Mowbray wrote to families on Wednesday about the Catholic Schools Office (CSO) plan, following Premier Gladys Berejiklian's announcement public school students would return full time from next Monday.
"We already had a well thought through plan in place and I didn't want to sort of fairly suddenly change that plan," Mr Mowbray said.
"This also allows schools time to plan and manage the logistics of school operations and have arrangements effectively in place including cleaning, hygiene and staffing regimes."
The CSO told families on April 29 it would maintain staggered school attendance, combined with home learning, until at least May 29, when it would review the situation.
Mr Mowbray has since told families that from next week, year 11 and 12 students will attend full time. In years seven to 10 schools - including San Clemente High and St Pius X - students will attend two days per week.
In schools that span years seven to 12, students in years seven to 10 will attend one day a week.
Mr Mowbray said while this meant grades had different attendance dependent on their school, it ensured that schools were consistently increasing activity and moving towards full capacity.
Primary schoolers will attend three days.
The plan comes after the Independent Education Union (IEU) NSW/ACT revealed the results of its COVID-19 Workplace Preparedness survey.
Data showed 25 per cent of 251 Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle respondents said supplies were either not available or have limited availability, 40 per cent said there was insufficient capacity to ensure physical distancing, 40 per cent said there was insufficient preparation for enhanced cleaning or there was more work to be done and 71 per cent said they were not at all or only somewhat confident about their health and safety.
IEU Hunter organiser Therese Fitzgibbon said there was "still a level of angst out there among teachers".
Mr Mowbray said the diocese had allocated $2.2 million to its schools for additional cleaning, hygiene products and casual staff, plus to support normal operations.
"We have provided schools with some significant financial resources and we have provided access to the provision of particularly cleaning and hygiene resources that allow their very reasonable apprehension to be addressed."
He said at-risk staff with medical evidence could continue to work from home and would be managed on a case by case basis, but most were anticipated on campus by term three.
He said the CSO expected some families would consider June 1 "a bit premature" and encouraged them "to make a decision based on what is best for their individual situation".
He said they would be supported to transition "in the best possible way".
"We respect that and we work with that," he said.
"It's a pastoral approach, not punitive... those kids won't be abandoned."
12 NOON
HUNTER Catholic school students won't return to classrooms full time for another two weeks, with the exception of years 11 and 12.
Director of Schools Gerard Mowbray wrote to families on Wednesday and said Catholic schools wouldn't reflect the Premier's plan of having all public school students back full-time from next Monday.
"The NSW Government has advised individual educational jurisdictions may vary its time of return and the Commonwealth's stated aim remains to have schools fully open on 1 June," he said.
"We are in a clearly articulated position of transition in weeks three- five and we will continue on this trajectory.
"Catholic schools in the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle will resume full face-to-face teaching on 1 June."
Mr Mowbray's letter said as of next week, year 11 and 12 students will attend their schools full time.
In schools that span years seven to 12, students in years seven to 10 will attend one day a week.
In schools that span only years seven to 10, students will attend two days per week.
Primary school students will attend three days per week.
"Schools will implement this framework and will be in touch directly with parents and carers to communicate the local school arrangements," he wrote.
"Existing health precautions will remain in place.
"This framework enables schools the time to plan and manage the logistics of school operations for a full resumption of teaching on 1 June."
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