Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome to the new 2021 school year.  A special welcome to all new members to our community; the new students and families in Years 1-6, the new Kindergarten children and the new members of staff.  (A full staff list for 2021 has been included in this newsletter).  Although we were all living with the restrictions of a pandemic, I hope that Christmas and the Summer break brought opportunities to celebrate and relax with family and friends, although somewhat smaller than in previous years.

As you were informed last week, Mrs Jo MacFetters (Assistant Principal) is currently on sick leave after recent surgery.  Your prayers are requested for Mrs MacFetters as she begins her recovery.  Welcome to Mrs Dulcie Ryman, who is the acting Assistant Principal while Mrs MacFetters is on leave.

Congratulations to Ms McKenzie (Year 4 Gold) and her husband Greg, who are expecting their first child.  Ms McKenzie will commence maternity leave at the end of Term 1. 

As our community, state, country and world continues to cope and live with Covid-19 our school processes are continually reviewed so as to comply with all laws.  As a result, the arrival and dismissal procedures for students that were implemented for most of 2020 will continue into 2021.  Parents are asked to say goodbye to their child at the gate and to not enter the school playground.  If for any reason that you need to enter the playground you are not permitted to stay and stand around and talk.  Similarly for dismissal each afternoon; the children will be ready to come to you as soon as you enter the school playground.  When restrictions ease further, we will review our processes and procedures and make the necessary changes.  When Kindergarten commences school next week we will have some processes in place which will be communicated beforehand to the parents so that their Kindergarten child can be brought into school in a safe way for the community.   Also the school bubblers are permitted to be used, however we encourage all children to bring their own water bottle to school each day.

This year the ‘Meet and Greet’ interviews for Years 1- 6 will be held on Tuesday 9th February 2021 from 3.00pm-6.00pm in the School Hall.  This will be an opportunity for parents and children to meet and talk with their class teacher.  These interviews will be optional, however parents/carers may request an interview with their class teacher via the phone instead of meeting face to face.  Due to the current situation regarding Covid-19 restrictions we will be implementing strict processes as to how best manage parents meeting with teachers.  The interviews will be held in the School Hall, with us all strictly monitoring the number of people present in the Hall at any one time.  Parents will be asked to sit and wait in the Undercover Area, socially distanced from each other.  Masks will be highly encouraged for all adults to wear.  Parents will be only allowed to enter the school property 5 minutes prior to their scheduled interview.    More details will be sent to you regarding this and how to book an interview with your class teacher and register your attendance.  Please note that this is not a parent/teacher interview but an opportunity for you to discuss with the class teacher your child’s needs, strengths, interests and how they best learn.  A Student Information sheet is being sent home this week. Please complete and return it to school so that the information can inform the discussion between the class teacher and parents.    Kindergarten parents will be provided with an opportunity to meet with their child’s teacher later in the term.

A reminder that our school day commences at 8.30am and that all children should be at school by this time to commence their day.  Similarly no child should be dropped off at school before 8.00am as there is no teacher on supervision until 8.00am.  This year a school morning assembly will only occur on Monday mornings where we will pray, acknowledge country, sing the anthem and acknowledge birthdays as a community.  Every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday mornings the children will line up and when the bell sounds they will go directly to class with their teachers.  All awards (Merit Awards, Stewardship Awards, Principal Awards, School Badges) will be distributed at the Friday afternoon assemblies. At this stage parents are not permitted to attend these assemblies.  

At the beginning of the new school year parents are also reminded about the importance of some of our school rules and procedures to ensure the safety of EVERYONE.  Parents are reminded that if you are running late in the morning, your child requires a late pass from the Front Office.  This pass is generated by the computer and is maintained for the school attendance records.  Your child needs to be accompanied to the School Office by an adult.  Similarly in the afternoon, if you are running late or anticipate being late (after 3.10pm) a phone call to the office is appreciated so that we can assure and inform your child as to what is occurring.   Children who have not been collected by 3.10pm will remain in the Front Office until they are collected.  An adult must come into the School Office to collect their child.  Children will not be allowed to leave the Office area unaccompanied by an adult. 

Congratulations to the 2021 Student Leaders:

School Captains:      Sienna Harley and Oscar Gilbert

Red Chisholm House Captains: Alanna Shipley and Nicholas Augustine
Blue Polding House Captains: Sienna Marelic and Nathaniel Leal
Green Marcellin House Captains: Ruby Lipscombe and Aman Pulikot
Gold MacKillop House Captains:Indianna Keegan and Chase Finn 

These children will receive their leadership badges at our opening of the year school Mass.  Details are still being finalised as to how we will celebrate the opening of the school year. Stay tuned for details.

2021 Sport clothes are worn:

Wash Hands
Social Distancing
Stay Safe

Philip Barrington 
PRINCIPAL