Covid-19 updates

Wow! This week we have really been smacked around by Covid-19 with many students, families and staff being impacted. We have had between 94 - 117 students away each day this week, though not all of those have been with Covid- 19 and between 6 and 11 staff members away as well. It has been a very challenging week all round but I am so proud of our team who have all pulled together and gone above and beyond to support continued learning while maintaining as much consistency and routine as possible. We are hoping this week has been the peak and we are getting back to normal from here on. :)

Early finish for Prep and Year 1 students

Next week was due to be our last week of the staggered finish for our Prep and Year 1 students but we are finding it such a success with the students and with our carpark so we are going to continue it for the rest of the term.

Currently Prep and Year 1 are finishing 10 minutes early and are assembling in the hall to disperse to OSHC or to waiting parents. The flow of benefit has been that many of our parents and these students have been able to leave before 3.00pm, freeing up much valuable space in our carpark and drop off. Once the Years 2-6 students finish at 3.00pm, we are seeing almost all children picked up by 3.15pm with traffic flowing quite smoothly. If you have children in Years 2 - 6, try to not get here until 3.00pm (allowing many of our Prep and Year 1 families to leave) and you’ll find the traffic quite easy to handle.

School Uniforms

I have noticed a number of students (even Preps) who are not wearing the correct school uniform. Of particular concern is shoes. Shoes need to be all black without any other colours, or patterns. They need to have black laces (or velcro) and be shoes that children can be active in ie. they don’t have to be leather academic shoes; joggers are a great option. Another concern is earrings. Please ensure students wear plain studs or sleepers, not earrings with dangly bits that can be a safety risk during active play. 

Season of Lent

Next week we begin the Season of Lent with Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday. Shrove Tuesday is also known as Pancake day because traditionally that was how people in Jesus’ time would cook up all their tasty foods (sugars, fats etc.) and eat them as a type of pancake in preparation for Lent which is a time of sacrifice. Most people will make a promise to either give up something (make a sacrifice) or a promise to do something that helps them be a better person up til Easter which marks the end of Lent.  Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent. We will celebrate Lent in classrooms or year level groups this year with a special liturgy (prayer service) and children will be given the sign of the cross and a blessing from the ashes of last year’s Palm Sunday celebration. Fr Clement will be here to share in the celebration with some class groups. 

Have a fabulous weekend.

Cheers

Penny