Well we are coming the end of an extremely busy term. It is reassuring to end the term on a better note than we started. I am incredibly proud of the students and the resilience they have shown with so many disruptions and changes. I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank each and every member of staff. The work that they have achieved in the last term and a half is nothing short of remarkable. Everyone has displayed tenacity and persistence especially with new ways of teaching and learning remotely. They have all displayed flexibility and perseverance with many changes to school life and classroom teaching. This semester has been unprecedented in expectations and variations. We have maintained a calm presence in order to support students and families. We weathered the storm by constantly adjusting the sails. Thank you to each and every member of staff – your contribution has not gone unnoticed. Thank you and enjoy a well-earned break in the holidays.
This will be the last newsletter for this term. The school term finishes next Friday 3 July. School will resume for staff only Monday 20 July and for students Tuesday 21 July.
NAIDOC Week
NAIDOC week has officially been moved to 8-15 November.
“The National NAIDOC Committee has decided to postpone NAIDOC Week 2020 (5 July - 12 July) in the interest of safety for our communities. This decision was not taken lightly.” (naidoc.org.au)
We will now plan our celebrations for November. I would like to acknowledge that pre COVID19, we would normally spend next week celebrating the culture and language of our traditional owners, as NAIDOC week would have been 5-12 July.
NAIDOC Week is an Australian observance lasting from the first Sunday in July until the following Sunday. The acronym NAIDOC stands for National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee. It has its roots in the 1938 Day of Mourning, becoming a week-long event in 1975. NAIDOC Week celebrates the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Reports
Reports will be sent home Wednesday Week 10 (1 July). They will be a very brief overview of your child’s progress in Literacy and Numeracy so far this year. As data collection this year has been so heavily disrupted, assessments are based on nine weeks of face-to-face teaching and eight weeks of remote learning. There will be an English comment and a Mathematics comment. There will also be future English and Mathematics goals.
Term 3 - What’s happening?
With the gradual relaxation of restrictions, the following activities are allowed to continue or recommence in the school during Term 3:
• Scripture/Ethics
• Canteen – a modified menu and online lunch orders only (no breakfast) more information to come next week
• Didgeridoo lessons
• All school sport and activities including competitions aligned with current health advice
• In school events (choirs, sport, debating, public speaking,)
• Incursions not already permitted involving external adult providers maintaining distancing and hygiene aligned with the health advice of the day
• P&C meetings – strong preference for on-line where possible
• Parent/teacher meetings – where these need to take place. Strong preference for on-line where possible
• Official visitors and dignitaries (consistent with current protocols)
• Staff meetings can be held taking into account physical distancing and maximum numbers in a space according to current health guidelines, or use on-line technology
• Practicum teaching for tertiary education students
We will endeavour to uphold social distancing guidelines where possible.
Unless advice changes, our current practices will remain in place.
One of the main concerns is adult to adult transmission. We are very fortunate to be in Stockton as throughout all of this there has not been a recorded positive case. We too are doing our part by putting plans in place for everyone’s safety and health. Can I please ask you, as parents, carers and community members to follow the following guidelines so that we can continue to do our part.
- No adults are to enter the site unless you are an essential visitor.
- If you are dropping your child at school late, please phone the office from your car or the front gate and we can welcome the child at the gate, organise a late slip and ensure he/she gets to his/her classroom
- If you are picking your child up early, please phone the office from your car or the front gate and we can arrange for your child to come down to the office and walked to Clyde Street gates.
- If you need a uniform, especially as the winter weather is here, please phone the office, pay over the phone and we will arrange for the uniforms to be given to your child to be taken home.
- Our gate entry and exits are for students only. I know this is difficult and I appreciate that a lot of people are anxious. Pick up time in the afternoon is tricky, as we are trying to escort 284 students safely off the site. Please work with us and the plan in place so that we are not worried about lost children or anxious little ones.
The plan is as follows
- Preschool families sign in or out at the front gate and a staff member will let your child in or out as needed.
- Students with surnames starting with A-I will come to school and leave school via Monmouth Street gates
- Students with surnames starting with J-R will come to school and leave school via Lomond Street gates (near the canteen only)
- Students with surnames starting with S-Z will come to school and leave school via Clyde Street gates
- Students going to OOSH in the afternoon meet OOSH staff under the COLA
- Students catching a bus to school enter via Monmouth Street gates and students catching a bus home walk to meet a teacher at Monmouth Street bus gate
- Students walking or riding bikes to school or home from school leave through the gate that best suits.
Practices for everyone
• Stay at home when unwell. Staff (and students) are expected to stay away from school when unwell or if they become unwell during the day.
• Wash your hands regularly and thoroughly.
• Maintaining good personal hand hygiene is the single most effective way to reduce the risk of transmission.
• Maintain respiratory hygiene. Cover your cough or sneeze through coughing or sneezing into your elbow or tissue, and then disposing of tissues immediately. Always wash your hands after you have coughed, sneezed or blown your nose.
We will try to follow all the guidelines moving forward to endeavour to keep illness at bay. Thank you for your ongoing support of these recommendations.
Cleaning
The school is receiving additional daily cleaning. Throughout the school day there is enhanced cleaning of high-touch areas and other hard surfaces, including door handles, light switches and handrails. There is also additional cleaning of toilets and the topping up of supplies like soap and paper towel. The school has a good supply of soap, hand sanitiser, toilet paper and paper towels.
Attendance at school
Regular attendance at school is important for students to be able to reach their potential. Our school is required to record the reason for any absences. Students are only to be absent when they are sick or have a valid reason for missing school. If your child is sick you can notify us via the Skoolbag app or send a note in when your child returns to school. You can download the App on Apple or Android devices.
Have a wonderful holiday! We will see you Tuesday 21 July for hopefully a far more settled term. Take care
Kind regards
Ms Jodie Holt
Principal
