Dear Parents/Carers,

Covid-19 has continued to strongly influence how we do things at St Michael’s Nowra. Last week I informed parents that the planned Staff Development Day scheduled for next Monday 24 August 2020 had been postponed until Term 4. This means that school will be open every day until the school vacation. We look forward to all students attending school next Monday.

Yesterday the school had two Zoom ‘Reconciliation’ meetings for Catholic students in Year 2 and their families. Due to Covid19 directives regarding the gathering of students and parents, traditional meetings are on hold until the NSW Government allows restrictions to be lifted. All meetings where possible will continue to be held via Zoom. In the two meetings for the Sacrament of Reconciliation yesterday, a video featuring Father Pat, Mrs Mathieson, Mrs Butler and me was shared with the families who joined us online. Thank you to our Year 2 teachers, Mrs Butler, Mrs Boyton, Mr Taylor and Mrs Callaghan who have commenced teaching the sacramental program in preparation for the students receiving Reconciliation over four nights in the church from Monday 7th September to Thursday 10th September.  We are still awaiting clarification regarding the Sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist (First Holy Communion).

Early in the week, schools were informed of mandatory Covid-19 measures to put in place. From today, the following will occur:

• Student hands to be sanitised when entering the playground and leaving classrooms in the afternoon. Staff on gates to spray each student’s hands as they enter in the morning. Students who arrive before 8.15am are to sanitise their hands from a table outside the office and immediately sit down on the wall outside the office area.
• Any parents/carers who need to enter the school grounds will report directly to the school office. If collecting a student, the office will arrange for the student to come to the office rather than the parent/carer going to the classroom.
• Following sickness with flu-like symptoms, students and staff are required to be free of symptoms AND present a negative COVID-19 test, which must be sighted by the school, before they can return to school.
• Students will now stay within their relevant cohort (i.e. class, year group or stage) for all learning activities. Unfortunately, this means that The Kindergarten and Year 6 buddy program will not be able to continue.
• Singing, chanting and use of wind instruments in group settings is not permitted. The music recorder program will not be able to continue and singing can no longer occur at school at any time.
• Parent/teacher meetings must be held online, except in very limited circumstances.
• All professional development undertaken by staff will be online, except where compliance depends on a face-to-face component, and there will be no mixing of staff from different schools.
• Only incursions/external providers essential to curriculum delivery are permitted. The present gym program in PE can continue.
• Playgroups – including Transition to School Through Play – are not permitted. This will affect our Kindergarten orientation program in Term 4 and we are awaiting further advice.

School gates will close at 8.40am each morning when the staff welcoming the students and providing sanitiser move to their classrooms. Entry to the school will be through the small gate after pressing the button on the left hand side. Sanitising stations will be set up on each side of the gate to allow visitors to sanitise their hands when entering and leaving the school. These will be in place from next week.

I am sure additional directives will be put in place to safeguard our families, students and staff. From a managerial perspective, the additional measures are further reminders of the new normal. If they safeguard all of our school community, the effort is worth it. I am available to clarify these directives. Thank you for your understanding.

The new Mobile Phone and Smart Watch Policy was shared with all families yesterday. It commences today. In short, if your child needs to bring a mobile phone or smart watch to school, it will be placed in a container on the teacher’s desk in the morning and will remain in the school office during the day. It will be returned to the classroom in the afternoon, in time for dismissal. Thank you for your support with this.

Assemblies

From this coming week, the online school assemblies will be combined infants and primary. If you have not had a look at our recent assemblies, there have been a number of additions including the acknowledgement of birthdays. The teachers and Mrs Callaghan have done an amazing job producing these regular assemblies. They are certainly worth looking at each fortnight.

School Crossing Alert – Osborne St

I ask parents who drive down Osborne St through the student crossing to take great care. Council are trying to fast track our application for a ‘lollypop’ person to be on the crossing which presently has red flags on either side. However, some motorists are not stopping at the crossing when the red flags are displayed. This is in fact breaking the law.

I have included two excerpts from  Roads and Maritime Services.

School Carpark

The school carpark has improved except for one ongoing problem. On the attached map I have indicated the area which is to remain free so that cars can leave the carpark from the north end. Please let anyone know who picks up your child as it does cause chaos at times.

Drink Bottles

Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the bubblers are not in use. We encourage all students to bring a drink bottle to school each day. These can be refilled at our drinking station.

Thank you for your ongoing support during these challenging times. Despite many obstacles, our students continue to remain resilient and most respectful at all times. They are a credit to you.

Yours in Faith and Virtue,

Mr Christopher Paton