Dear Parents and Carers,

Next Thursday 25 June 2020, you will be able to access progress reports for the first semester for students in Years 1-6. Due to the Coronavirus outbreak, traditional direct instruction has been limited. Determining academic mastery has been challenging in remote learning environments as conversations, observations and assessments have also been limited. This Interim Report reflects the engagement in learning undertaken during classroom and remote learning over the course of Term 1 up until the middle of Term 2, 2020. The Key Learning Areas of Religious Education, English and Mathematics have been the focus for many of the classroom and remote learning experiences delivered during Terms 1 and 2 and will be the only areas reported on.

For the last ten or more years, schools have reported on student progress and their achievement, against a five point scale, twice per year. Due to the current circumstances and the need for schools to teach remotely, valid assessment of student learning has been challenging. Therefore, student engagement in learning in the three Key Learning Areas will be the focus of the reports for this semester only. We will return to the previous report format  at the end of the year. Every school in the Wollongong Diocese will use this interim report format. Parents of students in Years 1-6 will be able to nominate for a telephone interview with the classroom teacher. These interviews will occur in Week 10 of Term 2 and/or Week 1 of Term 3. These interviews will be booked using the Compass portal. Further instructions of how to access the portal will be shared with you towards the end of next week.

Students in Kindergarten do not receive a formal report until the end of the year. Parents of students in Kindergarten will be able to nominate for a face to face interview with the classroom teacher. These interviews will occur in Week 10 of Term 2 and/or Week 1 of Term 3 and further instructions of how to access the portal will be shared with Kindergarten parents towards the end of next week.

This week letters have been sent home to parents of students in Year 2, 3 and 6 regarding an update about receiving the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Eucharist (First Holy Communion) and Confirmation in 2020. Due to the COVID-19 restrictions, every Catholic diocese in Australia has had to delay the planning for receiving these Sacraments. It is anticipated that the students will receive the Sacraments at some stage during the next two terms. This is good news and further details will be shared as soon as more information is received.

Yesterday a representative from the Catholic Education Office Wollongong was on site to observe and give feedback on our afternoon dismissal procedures. While the concept of early pickup at 2.45pm for students in Kindergarten, Year 1, Year 2 and Year 3 was commended, the social distancing of parents/carers on ‘God’s Grass’ and other parts of the front playground was considered a concern. For the next week, a staff member will circulate on God’s Grass to remind parents to remain 1.5 metres apart. I also ask parents to remind each other. Our local area has remained remarkably safe from COVID-19 due to the efforts of many and we all need to continue to observe this universal safeguard. Thank you for your assistance.

Yours in Faith and Virtue,

Mr Christopher Paton