Our last term for 2020 has started well. The students and staff have returned from the two week break ready to learn. During the next six weeks the teachers will finalise assessments and prepare the second semester reports. I hope all families had a good break.

Last night Year 6 students receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation participated with their parents in a Zoom meeting. Traditionally, this meeting has been run in the school hall but due to COVID19 was organised through Zoom. Mrs Mathieson and Mrs Callaghan produced a YouTube video which involved Father Leo and themselves explaining the various signs and symbols as well as organisational details. The Year 6 teachers have commenced revising with the students what they learnt earlier in the year about the Sacrament of Confirmation. Father Leo will Confirm the students in class groups on 31.10.2020 and 1.11.2020. Due to COVID19 restrictions, only the two parent/carers, sponsor, Year 6 candidate and brothers/sisters can attend. Our thoughts and prayers are with these Year 6 students in the two weeks ahead.

The Zoom meeting for parents and students making their first Holy Communion is on next Wednesday evening 21 October 2020 at 7pm. The link will be shared with parents next week. Thank you to Mrs Mathieson, Mrs Koczka, Mrs Callaghan and Father Leo for preparing for this meeting. The students will receive their First Holy Communion during the Sacrament of the Eucharist masses on Saturday 21 November 2020 and Sunday 22 November 2020.

Thank you again to parents/carers who participated in the survey for the ‘Principal Appraisal’. On 29 October 2020, a panel of representatives from the Catholic Education Office Wollongong will visit the school and conduct interviews with some students, staff, parents and Father Leo to validate information collected. These appraisals occur every four years and give valuable feedback to me. A small representative group of parents have agreed to be interviewed. Thank you.

Our last Staff Development Day (Pupil free) for 2020 will be conducted by Zoom for all staff on Monday 23 November 2020. This professional development day will be led by Beth Riolo from the Catholic Education Office and will focus on ‘Laudato Si’, the inspirational ecological work from Pope Francis. As there will be no staff present at school due to the Zoom meeting, students will need to remain home on that day. Thank you for your assistance.

At this stage, the newsletter will still come out each fortnight. The next newsletter will be in Week 3.