Dear Parents and Carers,

Our first week of ‘Phase 1 Transition To School’ has worked quite well. Our overall numbers have continued to be significantly above the state average, but the teachers and school support staff have done an amazing job welcoming the students back. For many of the students it was an adjustment returning to school but they have generally settled back very well. Depending on the number of students at school next week, there may be a need for those not attending on their scheduled day to work with a different class in a different location, but we have managed to avoid this situation in most classes this week. Social distancing is the strong measure that all schools need to abide by during this transition phase. At this stage, Week 4 transition back to school will be the same as Week 3. As soon as we find out what Week 5 will entail, we will notify you immediately.

We do ask that if there is a non-working parent or carer at home next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, students remain home with you for the two days they are not scheduled to attend. On Monday and Friday, students of essential workers and those who need to be at school for various reasons will continue to be supported with remote learning at school. Please call the school if clarification is required. The school continues to appreciate the huge sacrifices that families have made during this period of remote learning and thank you for your efforts.

The strong directive that schools have been given is to safely manage social distancing when students arrive and depart each day. The morning and afternoon procedures have worked quite well this week. Here are the details again

Morning Procedures.

From 8.15am, students will be welcomed at the two main entrances (off North St and Osborne St) by a staff member. To maintain social distancing, parents and carers will say goodbye to the students at the gates and make their way off the property maintaining social distancing from other families. Staff will be on playground duty and the students will be cared for in the usual way.

Afternoon Procedures.

There will continue to be two pick up times for students again next week. Parents of students in Kindergarten, Year 1, Year 2 and Year 3 have the option to pick up their children from 2.45pm if that works for families. These parents will enter the playground and make their way to the area known as God’s Grass and wait until the students are brought out and seated within view of God’s Grass at 2.45pm. Parents will be asked to follow social distancing protocols when waiting for the students: 1.5 metres from the next person. Students will then be collected and walk with their parents down the bitumen playground, collecting siblings from Year 4, 5 and 6 on the way. Exit for all families will be via the two main gate areas (heading towards North St and Osborne St).

At 3pm all other parents will collect their children from outside Year 4, 5 and 6 as well as the younger ones if that works best for families. If parents of Year 4, 5 and 6 students arrive a bit early, they will be asked to sit on the seats near the front COLA or under the two big trees near the flagpole, again observing social distancing of 1.5 metres.

If it rains in the afternoon, students will be collected directly from their classrooms, with parents observing the social distancing of 1.5 metres from other adults. 

During the last week, the Year 6 teachers have been working on organising an ‘Assembly Video’ to be shared with parents each week. Mr Zamroz, Mrs Dempsey and Mrs Luxford have worked with some of our Year 6 students to organise a short assembly that will be shared with you. As we do not know when we will be able to gather in the school hall again for assemblies, this new model will be further developed each week. We look forward to acknowledging student achievements and milestones as the assembly format continues to develop. Congratulations to our students and teachers for the very first one which can be accessed through this link.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrjpKKQJn60&t=12s

Today we have acknowledged our own celebration of “World School Support Staff Day”. We celebrated the amazing work that school support staff do every day with a morning tea. Numerous students wrote messages to our school support staff. Here is a special prayer for our school support staff.

Yours in Faith and Virtue,

Mr Christopher Paton

It's time for a treasure hunt! Look under your beds, in your book cases, in your desks, and find those books you borrowed oh so long ago!

Recently the Catholic Education Office, together with Mr Paton has provided the children with an online resource for reading at home. To support parents in helping their children with reading at home, Nelson Cengage is offering some free webinars. The link below will take you directly to the page where you can register for the live events. The content is easy to follow, helpful information directed at parents in order to make home reading a more meaningful and enjoyable experience.

https://cengage.com.au/primary/pd/pd-sessions

Michelle Heffernan

Please see the PPT roster for Term 2. Students are to wear PE uniform on their allocated day.