Dear Parents and Carers,

As we conclude Term 1 this week I would like to express my sincere thanks and gratitude to our parent community for the support and encouragement we have received throughout this ongoing COVID-19 situation. In whichever way you have assisted your child to remain connected to St Michael’s Nowra we are all extremely grateful.

In addition, I would like to convey my deep appreciation for the St Michael’s staff. The last two weeks have seen us establish a new way of ‘being’. We have made many decisions, learnt from our mistakes, endured frustrations, entered into robust discussions and reflected deeply on our educational beliefs both personally and professionally. This has been the basis of our planning during these last four days, which will aim to provide students with a fully developed remote learning experience from the start of Term 2. The remote learning option means that the school will not be delivering face to face lessons until we are instructed to return to ‘school as normal’ by the State and Federal Governments through Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong.

At this stage schools will remain open, unless we are instructed otherwise, for students where there is no other alternative. For non-working parents, students will, in most cases, learn remotely from home. Whether students are at home or physically at school, the teaching and learning will be the same for all students. The planning we have been doing this week has supported us to be in a position where we are able to respond rather than react as much as we can in a time of truly fluid and rapid change. The use of “Zoom” (video conferencing) will become a regular way of connecting with the students, enabling them to remain in contact with the teaching staff. We will be sending to all families a “Zoom” policy to guide its safe use for students and staff. Parents will need to go through the “Zoom” policy with the students and respond using a google survey. Towards the end of the second week, the school will be contacting all families through compass to update on remote learning arrangements for Term 2 and to share the ‘Zoom” video conferencing policy.

As we head through Holy Week we will be entering a very different Easter season. In the story of Holy Week, we witness the journey of Jesus to the cross. We see Jesus in all humility, choosing to surrender himself for the good of all creation. In walking the path he did, Jesus entrusted himself completely into God’s loving care and mercy. He shows us how to fall into the arms of God, trusting in God’s absolute goodness. In many ways the anguish, loss and frustrations we are currently feeling because of the pandemic is in fact our own Good Friday. Our faith reminds us that through every Good Friday there is an Easter Sunday. There is that eternal hope of new life - that time where the love of God will be right before our eyes and where our faith will continue to be revealed as a true gift.

The Liturgies of Holy Week are intended to be a public profession of belief in Jesus and His mission, however, COVID-19 restrictions prevent us from going to Church. Therefore, the Vatican has asked Catholic bishops around the world, both in the Latin rite and the Eastern Catholic Churches, to provide congregations with resources to support personal and family prayer during Holy Week and Easter. This will be the first time in my life that I will not be attending the Liturgies of Holy Week.  The ceremonies of Holy Week will be celebrated privately by Bishop Brian Mascord and made available on the Diocesan website so they can be viewed and prayed.

Diocese of Wollongong

As we journey through these times of sadness, of anguish and loss we must remember Christ’s statement in the Gospel: “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 

Yours in Faith and Virtue,

Mr Christopher Paton

Please see the attached letter from Nowra Coaches.

Please contact the Nowra Coaches office to obtain further information regarding these changes on 02 44 235 244 or email rail@premierms.com.au