Welcome to the final school term for 2021. As we indicated last week, Kindergarten and Year 1 students will officially all return to face to face teaching this Monday 18 October 2021. All other students will return to face to face teaching from 25 October 2021. “A year like no other” is an expression that I have heard numerous people in the community use and in many ways it does sum up the impact on families, schools and society as a whole. Within the education sector, remote learning has had a mixed impact on students, parents and school staff. Remote learning has worked for many students and families, successful only due to the efforts of parents, school staff and student commitment. For other students, both in the Shoalhaven and around the world, remote learning has not been as successful as sitting within a classroom and engaging in face to face teaching. As educators and parents, we have all mastered technology and skills that will remain with us beyond the pandemic. There will certainly be a place for Zoom parent meetings in the future, depending on the nature of the meeting. SeeSaw and Google classroom will continue to have their place as the future unfolds. 

As the school prepares for the arrival of the Kindergarten and Year 1 students back to school, the Catholic Education Office Wollongong (CEDoW) has worked closely with schools to ensure the wellbeing of students and staff is a priority in the weeks and months ahead. As there will only be a maximum of eight weeks of formal face to face teaching left in the 2021 school year, each grade has been planning collaboratively to ensure that essential learning outcomes in English and Mathematics have been clearly identified, aligned to the provision of wellbeing support for the students as they return to school. The teachers and school staff are excited about the return of the students for face to face learning but are aware that for some students it will be a challenge. CEDoW has supported school staff through the provision of a framework and resources to allow the transition back to school to be as enriching as possible. Members of the school leadership team have met with each grade for a full day to ensure the essential learning and wellbeing supports are in place. I am very grateful to all of our school staff for their commitment and dedication to students, families and each other. 

Amongst the excitement of returning to school is the need to congratulate families on surviving the pandemic, particularly the COVID19 restrictions and public health orders. As an educator, parent and grandparent, I have witnessed first hand the successes and challenges that the restrictions have placed on families and school staff. I can only say, “Well done to all of you”. To the parents who have worked from home and supervised remote learning at the same time, what a mammoth effort from you and what an achievement for your family. The knowledge and insights about your child’s learning that you have gained will assist their successful transition back to school. To the families where both parents were essential workers and students had no other option but to attend school, thank you for your contribution to supporting the care of people and keeping the economy moving. To all of our staff who still physically attended the workplace and worked remotely, thank you. CEDoW is in the process of finalising the format for student progress reports for the second semester of 2021. Further information about the format of the reports will be shared with you once determined. 

Earlier this week all families received a compass alert about ‘Wellbeing Friday’ which will occur in most homes tomorrow. The message from the school: 

This week is World Mental Health Week, which we will officially recognise this Friday with our second St Michael’s Wellbeing Day. The day will run in the same way as it did last term, with students able to select activities to participate in from the wellbeing page of the remote learning website.

As this day will also mark the final day of remote learning for our Kindergarten and Year 1 students,  it also provides an opportunity for students to do things to promote their own wellbeing, as well as siblings and families to do things together where possible. 

We thank you for your ongoing support in helping our students and staff to navigate this challenging period and look forward to celebrating our return to onsite learning and teaching very soon.

During remote learning, two sacramental programs have continued to be taught. The Year 2 students have been prepared to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation which will most likely occur over a number of evenings in November in the school hall. The Year 3 students have been prepared to receive the Sacrament of Eucharist through their ‘First Holy Communion’. These masses will occur in the school hall on Saturday 20 November 2021 and Sunday 21 November 2021. A zoom meeting for parents and students in Year 3 occurred last week. The school is in the process of finding out what the Public Health Order directives are regarding vaccination requirements for adults attending the sacramental programs. Good luck to all of these students and their families in the months ahead. 

Next Wednesday 20 October 2021, there will be a Year 4 2022 1:1 iPad Parent Zoom information Meeting regarding the program for next year. This meeting is for the present Year 3 parents and will detail some significant changes to how the program will be managed in 2022. All Year 3 families are encouraged to attend this zoom meeting. 

Yours in Faith and Virtue,

Mr Christopher Paton