Bushfire Season

Dear Parents & Carers,

Our school is in a bushfire prone area and is listed as Category 2 on the NSW Department of Education’s bushfire risk register.

To ensure the health, safety and welfare of students and staff, the department has determined that on days when NSW Rural Fire Service declares a Catastrophic Fire Danger Rating for the Blue Mountains, our school will be non-operational for the following day.

We recommend that you monitor advice from our school which will push notifications to you on Sentral advising that the school is non-operational. We also recommend that you stay up to date with bushfire and grassfire activity by using the Hazards Near Me app (set a watch zone for your school area), and by monitoring local media. You can also review fire activity and alert levels on the RFS website.

The Fire Danger Rating does not mean there will be a bushfire, but rather weather conditions that could pose a high risk for a bushfire event. The measure is proactive to ensure staff, students and the community remain safe.

Our school will inform our school community after 4pm if there is a change to the operational status of the school for the following day.

To assist the school in contacting all families if required, please ensure that you have provided the school with up-to-date contact details of parents/carers and also your child’s additional emergency contact details (separate to parent/carer details) this information is only accepted via email. Students will not be released regardless of their relationship with that person, unless they are listed as an emergency contact on the school system.

Further information on up-to-date communication of school operations, can also be found through:

We recommend that all our families follow the advice of the NSW Rural Fire Service and ensure that your family knows what to do if there is a fire. It can take as little as five minutes to make your plan. Discuss it with your family so you know what you will do in the event of a fire. www.myfireplan.com.au

Blaxland East Public School has a Bushfire and Grassfire Response Plan in line with departmental policies.

Please contact the school on 02 4739 1579 if you would like any further information about this matter.

Kind regards

Mrs Belinda Wraight

Rel. Principal