Orara High School

Opportunity Innovation Success

Telephone02 6652 1077

Emailorara-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Students: Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions for Students

If you have a question that is not featured on the FAQ page, please complete our student FAQ form and we will provide an answer on the FAQ page.

 

COVID-19

 

Question: Why should I take this seriously?

The following is an open letter written by Dr. Trevor Cheney, a local GP in Bellingen:

To our teens and school attenders – to help understand why there is a fuss…

So everyone’s talking about the Coronavirus.

Some are getting a bit worried.

Others are seeing it as a big media mash up joke, and feel pretty safe “’cause it’s only the old people that are going to get it.”

Well you might need to know that the people who look after you when you’re sick or hurt or distressed – the doctors, nurses, pharmacists etc – aren’t laughing. We’re pretty worried and we need you to think carefully and help.

This virus is new. It is confusing and nothing like it in your experience – it’s actually the same for most of us. It is about to hit our – your – town.

People throw around statistics like it has 1-3% mortality. That might not sound much, but all the people who have spent their lifetimes studying this kind of stuff predict there might be 19 000 cases in Australia by Easter, and overall up to 5 million people in Australia by the end of the year. Most will be mild and recover ok, but that means if natural spread is allowed then 50 000 to 100 000 may die in Australia once it’s run its course.

You might think “that’s not me”, but then it might be your grandmother with a heart problem or your parents if they smoke, or your mate’s single mum who needed some surgery and special medicines. And it might be because you brought it home, shedding virus over the house, while feeling quite ok. This kind of thing happened only last weekend to someone’s Gran.

But it might also mean another 100 000 to 300 000 people really badly sick, and needing intensive care beds.

Which means Coffs Harbour Hospital will be quickly overloaded, and the broken arm or leg you or your mates got surfing or skate boarding will not be able to be fixed, the car crash your boy/girl friend got injured in is at the end of a long lime of ambulances and who knows what might happen while waiting – you may wait around in pain for a week before we can get to you.

Or we health workers may be sick too, and just not be available to sort out your infected ear or scary little rash.

We know this virus is about to hit us.

We know that if the spread of virus slows right down we can cope.

We know that we need you to take it seriously, to wash your hands, to do the “social distancing dance”, even wear a mask if you have a cough.

and if you’re sick – step up quick for assessment and testing.

And if you get it – get really serious about the isolating for 2 weeks.

None of us, young or old, are super beings, But we can have a superb response.

 

Question: Are there any cases in Coffs Harbour?

We are unable to answer this question with accuracy and do not want to speculate. This question would be best directed to NSW Health.

 

Learning

 

Question: How am I supposed to learn from home and what is my responsibility as a student learning from home?

  • Establish and follow a daily routine for learning. We will be following our usual at-school timetable.
  • Identify a safe, comfortable, quiet space in your home where you can work effectively and successfully.
  • Regularly check for announcements and feedback from your teachers.
  • Complete tasks with integrity and academic honesty, doing your best work.
  • Do your best to meet timelines, commitments, and due dates. 
  • Communicate proactively with your teachers if you cannot meet deadlines or require additional support.
  • Follow the normal school rules - the student behaviour code.
  • Collaborate and support your classmates in their learning.
  • Comply with the departments' student use of digital devices and online services policy. The best way for you to know what is expected of you is to read the site Digital Citizenship.
  • Seek out and communicate with your teachers as different needs arise.

 

Question: How will I know when to do my work for each subject?

From Monday, 30th March, you and your teachers will follow the usual at-school timetable. The period times are as follows:

  • Period 1: 9:12 - 10:02
  • Period 2: 10:02 - 10:52
  • Period 3: 11:25 - 12:15
  • Period 4: 12:15 - 1:05
  • Period 5: 1:38 - 2:28
  • Period 6: 2:28 - 3:18

Remember, we run our timetable on a fortnightly cycle. This means we have a 'week A' and a 'week B'. You need to know which week we are in:

  • Term 1, week 10A begins Monday, 30th March
  • Term 1, week 11B begins Monday, 6th April
  • Term 2, week 1A begins Tuesday, 28th April
  • Term 2, week 2B begins Monday, 4th May
  • Term 2, week 3A begins Monday, 11th May
  • Term 2, week 4B begins Monday, 18th May
  • Term 2, week 5A begins Monday, 25th May
  • Term 2, week 6B begins Monday, 1st June
  • Term 2, week 7A begins Monday, 8th June
  • Term 2, week 8B begins Monday, 15th June
  • Term 2, week 9A begins Monday, 22nd June
  • Term 2, week 10B begins Monday, 29th June

You are expected to log into your Google classroom for the class you would normally have for each period on each day, engage with the learning material provided, ask questions of your teacher when you need assistance or clarification, and complete and submit the set tasks.

 

Question: I've finished my work before the end of the period. What should I do now?

Some learning experiences may not take you the full 50 minutes to complete. If you finish before the end of the period time, it is an opportunity for you to further explore the content or topic you are learning beyond the minimum the teacher has set for you, take a break, do some exercise or physical activity, communicate with friends appropriately, complete some chores or undertake a relaxing activity or hobby until the beginning of their next period.

 

Question: Why do I have to wait until the beginning of each period to do my work; why can't I just complete all of it at once?

Teachers will be following their at-school timetable. This means they will be working with one class at any particular period or time, meaning they are not available to work with other classes.

We want to continue a routine and structured approach to your learning to provide continuity, consistancy, and normalcy.

 

Resumption of normal school

 

Question: Is there any idea about when school will be recommended to go back?

As of Friday, 27th March, there has been no communication from the government about when school will resume normal operations.