Dear Parents/Carers,

Welcome back to you and your family for the final term of 2020. With great anticipation, I pray that our school community can use these next ten weeks to reflect on what has been a challenging year, and to take a sense of hope into next year. While there have been, and continue to be, significant changes to the way we all operate and interact with one another, I have been inspired by the way so many people throughout the world have adapted and sought ways to ensure the required physical distancing with others does not impede a spirit of generosity, care, love and forgiveness.

Excursions

As mentioned in a letter posted on Compass last Friday, the most recent changes to the COVID directives in line with NSW Health include capacity for excursions and camps to go ahead. This seems a positive step, however is proving to be incredibly difficult to organise in such a short space of time. With so many schools trying to book venues and transport, we have made the decision to focus this term on organising excursions for Year 5 and Year 6.

Therefore, if you have a child in Kindergarten-Year 4, you will receive a refund on the ‘Excursion’ component of the school fees for this year. Parents of Year 5 and Year 6 students will receive information directly about plans for those grades.

COVID Restrictions

As per the directives that appear in the Catholic Education, Diocese of Wollongong site (link), NSW Health is continuing to focus on limiting adults in being on school sites, limiting congregations of students in learning spaces, reducing the size of staff gatherings and maintaining good cleaning and hygiene practices. Therefore, many of the procedures that were in place in Term 3 are continuing. These include:

• Drop-off and pick-up arrangements remain the same
• Meetings with parents (including the P & F) need to be via telephone or Zoom
• A cleaner on-site every day during school hours
• Hand sanitisers provided in key areas of the school

There is also the need for all of us to attend to our own health and the health of the students. You are reminded that children should not attend school if they are unwell and you should seek medical advice.

Book Week

The Australian Book Council of Australia is holding this annual event next week. In our Newsletter you will see some information about how our school will be celebrating this, including an opportunity for the children to dress up on Friday.

Wishing you a safe and fulfilling week,

Paul Moroney
Principal

Happy Birthday to the following students and staff who are celebrating their birthday this week and during the holidays, September 26th - October 16th

Week 2 Uniform Focus - Sports Shoes

There was a noticeable improvement in student uniforms from the first day of the term.  Thank you so much to all the mums and dads who organised new haircuts, shoes or socks during the break.  Next week students will be able to receive a token if they are wearing predominantly white joggers with white shoelaces.   

The policy states: Sports shoes must be supportive joggers, not canvas shoes or gym boots.  They must be predominantly white with white shoelaces.

If either you or your child is anxious about their joggers, please contact the school office.

Sports Uniform Days

Clothing Pool will be open this Friday 16th October from 8.30am in the school hall. Cash and eftpos accepted. 

Please remember to adhere to good social distancing and hygiene practices and don't attend if you have cold/flu like symptoms

The “NSW Police Legacy Child Safety Handbook” is a comprehensive resource to assist parents, carers as well as teachers on a range of topics essential to child safety.  Over the past 8 years most NSW primary schools have received hard copies of this most important child safety handbook and have distributed them to the parents and carers of their pupils.

The handbook has been updated to include key messages about COVID-19 safety and bush fire safety given the unprecedented fires we experienced earlier this year.  

The updated online edition (link below) also includes important content updates from: NSW Ministry of Health, NSW Police Force, Fire and Rescue NSW, Rural Fire NSW, Transport for NSW, Sydney Trains, NSW Department of Family & Community Services, eSafety Commissioner and NSW Office of the Children's Guardian.

Child Safety Hub website – http://nsw.childsafetyhub.com.au/handbook/

Just a reminder that due to Covid restrictions Children are unable to bring in any type of food/gifts for sharing with their class. There is the option of purchasing Zooper Doopers from the canteen, Just give the canteen a couple of days notice to ensure they have enough, you can order through the office and a bill will be sent home.

Thank you for your understanding with this matter

Due to COVID restrictions parents are currently not allowed on school grounds. We also need to limit the amount of visitors that come into the office, so please only come into the office if necessary.

  It is important that you let the office know as soon as possible, via email or phone, if you are picking your child up prior to dismissal (including time).  We can then arrange to have them in the office ready for you. Please note we are unable to arrange collection of your children during break times (11.15am-12 & 1.15pm-2pm) without prior notice. Please do not enter late arrivals or early departures into compass, this needs to be done by the school office.

Thank you for your assistance with this matter.

Of an afternoon there is no kiss and drop/pick up area in the car park, Parents must park in the designated car spots and walk into the school to collect their children,

thank you for your understanding and cooperation with this

If your child is away from school it is important to let the school know as soon as possible with a specific reason, e.g. what type of illness they have, If you are filling in a note on the Compass app, please add an explanation in the details/comments box .

It is really important to keep your child at home if they are unwell, this will help with the spread of illness. In the current COVID 19 climate ,if you child displays cold/flu symptoms you will need to get a medical clearance for your child to return to school 

If your child has a covid test, please notify the school when they have the test and as soon as you get your results please forward these on to the school.