Dear Parents and Carers,

Our school is preparing for the return of all students this Monday, 25 May 2020 and all of our staff members have been fully briefed. We are looking forward to seeing all of the students and re-establishing the ‘new’ normal. As a staff, we are fully aware that some students may find the return to a mainstream school setting a challenge and all classes will be scheduling regular ‘wellbeing’ check-ins to assist the transition back. As I reflect back over the last 8 weeks I am very thankful to our teachers for their ability to design remote learning opportunities for the students, and I applaud the parents and carers who worked closely with the students to assist with the new way of learning. I am also very grateful for the extraordinary commitment that all of our school support staff have made to the students at St Michael’s. The pastoral care and learning support that the students have received from all staff members has been outstanding. 

As the students return, I wish to assure all families that the present practices regarding hygiene, cleaning and social distancing will continue into the future. The following specific measures are in place:

• Our school cleaners now come into the school for a number of hours during each school day to ensure all efforts are being made to provide a clean and safe environment. Toilets, frequently touched surfaces and bins are being cleaned a few times a day.
• Parents and carers will continue to follow the social distancing procedures introduced by the school for Phase 1. In the morning parents and carers will be met at the school entrances by a staff member and students will enter through the school gates on their own.  In the afternoon, there will be two pick up times (2.45pm and 3.00pm) and parents will maintain social distances of 1.5 metres as they follow a circular movement into and out of the school, supervised by school staff. 
• The school now has an isolation room for staff/students showing COVID-19 symptoms while they await assistance to depart the school and seek medical assessment
• First Aid/Sick Bay rooms are equipped with an infrared contactless thermometer
• There is contactless sign-in for all staff, visitors and contractors on the school through use of iPads
• Fixed playground equipment and sandpits will remain closed

Within the classrooms, students are allowed to work at the same double desk and in small groups, but all adults on the school site must maintain a distance from other adults and students. Thank you parents for your ongoing support as we return to school this Monday. 

Next week students will return wearing their full school winter uniform. We encourage all families to follow the school uniform policy which includes students not having coloured hair.

As a Catholic school, one of the big challenges has been the inability to engage in masses or larger liturgies and prayer services. A number of important events such as Holy Week (Easter), Mother's Day and days of significance such as ‘National Sorry Day’ have not been celebrated in the usual way. The inability to attend class, grade or Sunday masses has left staff and families in a state of Spiritual wilderness. Religion lessons have continued to be provided through remote learning and next week each class will experience liturgy in some form. Despite the inability to attend weekend masses, the church calendar has continued. 

Catholics in Australia will celebrate the Ascension of the Lord this coming Sunday. It commemorates Jesus Christ's ascension into heaven, according to Christian belief and is a Holy Day of Obligation. The following youtube clip gives a short explanation of the feast day and provides some insight into its significance. All students at our school will learn about the Ascension of the Lord through a religion lesson in their classroom. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmE4uon5OBk&autoplay=1&list=PL58g24NgWPIw5mZAZZggyowJf_WrJ7SCE

Once again, thank you to everyone for your ongoing support during these COVID-19 times. There is light at the end of the tunnel! 

Yours in Faith and Virtue,

Mr Christopher Paton