Dear Parents/Carers,

Recently our Prime Minister said that, for the time being, schools across Australia will look very different. How true that is! While our school site is eerily quiet, it is comforting to know that as a community we are doing all we can to support the government's initiatives to minimise the impact of the virus.

Having been along the Remote Learning journey for only a few days now, I would like to pass on our thanks to you for supporting your children at home by establishing some routines and expectations. The teachers have been impressed by the level of commitment the children have shown to their learning. It is important that they submit some of their work each day so that their teacher can monitor their progress and provide some feedback. At this stage we have not been given any certainty as to how long this mode of learning will continue, so that daily commitment is important.

Please contact your child's teacher via email, or the school office, if you need any support with the Remote Learning being provided.

For those parents who need to have their children at school, you can be rest assured that they are being well supported each day. They are participating in the same learning activities as the children at home and they are trying very hard with their work.

Attendance
You are reminded that if your child is not at school, they will be marked as engaged in flexible learning, which does not require notification from you. However, it is important that you contact the office if your child is sick so that the teacher does not expect work from them on that day.

We aim to give regular updates on Compass, so please keep a check of the app as often as you can. The latest information from the Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong (CEDoW) office continues to appear on the wesbite www.dow.catholic.edu.au/covid19

Staffing

Amanda Newcombe, who has worked in our school office for more than a year, has taken up a new position in the office at St Paul's Catholic School, Camden. I thank Amanda for her dedication to her work at St John's and wish her every success in her new role.

I continue to wish you and your family much peace and good health in this time.

God bless.

Paul Moroney
Principal

You are reminded of our Positive Behaviour for Learning (PB4L) grids that provide some expectations for the children as they work in this current model of Remote Learning. Please refer to the grids below, one for K-Year 2 and one for Years 3-6. The teachers will speak to the children next week about these grids in one of their videos so it would be good for you to be aware of their content. Please contact us if you have any questions.

It is important that we all play our part in the government's advice regarding social distancing. Therefore, we ask that if you are bringing your child to school in the morning and/or picking them up in the afternoon that you are mindful of keeping your distance from others (1.5 metres) and that you move out of the school grounds as quickly as possible. Of course this goes against our normal desire to create a sense of community, but these are unusual times that hopefully will not last too long.

Thank you for your cooperation with this.

Happy Birthday to the following students and staff who are celebrating their birthday this week, March 30 - April 5

PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT THE COMMONWEALTH BANK HAS CLOSED ALL SCHOOL BANKING UNTIL THE END OF THIS TERM