Dear Parents,

The last two weeks of learning have certainly looked different for all of us. As a principal I am extremely proud of the way our staff have adapted to this learning style and for all their efforts in putting together, what I believe, are quality learning experiences for your children.

I am also extremely grateful for the way that you are managing to juggle not only your own work commitments and family commitments but helping to teach your children as well. Without the commitment that you have shown to our online learning platform it would not have been anywhere near as successful as what it has been.

I have been amazed by the various work samples I have seen from children of all ages across their OneNotes – poems with incredible imagery, creative prayers, mathematically precise nets of 3D shapes and positive attitudes towards giving challenges a go.

There are many positives coming out of such hard times!

As you know, all children will be transitioning back to school next week. Children from Kinder –Year 2 will be at school on Monday and Tuesday and our primary students in Years 3-6 will return on Wednesday and Thursday. It is going to be great to see whole class groups be together again. The teachers are counting down the days until they see all the children back together again; they are that excited.

Our focus over the next few weeks will be to ensure that the children feel safe and secure. We will re-establish routines, procedures and expectations to help them begin to return to ways that are familiar to them. Do not worry if your children have not managed to complete all tasks that have been set for them on OneNote.  Over the next few weeks the teachers will undertake activities that will help them to assess where the children are at in their learning in order to plan and deliver activities that are at their appropriate level.

We ask that when you drop your children at school over the next few weeks that you say goodbye at the Union St gate and let them walk in on their own. There will be staff both at the gates and on the playground to assist with this transitioning back to school each morning. Of an afternoon Union St gate will be open for parents to enter into the playground and collect their children. This is not the desired afternoon pick up arrangement – the most suitable would be Kiss and Drop however if you do need to come into the school we ask that you stay well apart from other parents in the playground and make your way out of the school grounds as quickly as possible through the Union St gate. 

In order to continue to look after the health and safety of your children and our staff we are well supplied with hand soap, hand sanitiser and paper towel in all our rooms as well as the toilets and playground areas. We will have our cleaners coming in twice each day to clean high use areas and there will be regular reminders and breaks for hand washing.

Please do not send your children to school if they are feeling unwell. For any child that presents as being unwell we are required to call the parents to come and collect them.

Dependent on the weather, your children can wear either their summer uniform or winter uniform for Weeks 3-5. We ask that all students be in their full winter uniform by Week 6, Monday 1st June.

At present, the canteen will remain closed until further notice.

If you have a child who is due to start school next year please contact the office for a 2021 enrolment form. Once plans have been finalised regarding school visits and interviews for next year we will share this information with you. In addition to this, if you know of any other family who has a child due to start school we ask that you let them know to contact us and we can send them an enrolment form.

Last week our school counsellor, Alicia Gibson, commenced maternity leave. Alicia and her husband, Adam, welcome their first child in a couple of weeks. We wish them all the best as a family.

Whilst Alicia is on leave Sharon Beckett is taking over the school counsellor/psychologist role. We are very happy to welcome Sharon into our community. Sharon has put together a simple well-being program, titled, “Ride the Well-being Wave!” This program is presented in the form of Power Points and will be shared with all the children each week. I will also share these through Compass with you and encourage you to go through them with your children as a supportive way of helping them adjust to what’s going on around them and to transition back to school.

Please also read the attached document “Transitioning Back to School” written by our diocesan Early Learning specialist, Kim Moroney.

To all the mums, I wish you a relaxing and very memorable Mother’s Day. Let’s hope this sunshine continues and you have a wonderful day with your families.

Take care,

Karen