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Dear Parents and Carers,
We are looking forward to welcoming back our Kinder, Yr. 1, Yr. 2 and Yr. 6 students next week. Having students return to face-to-face learning is very important to maintain their wellbeing, their education, along with their social networks. We also understand if siblings need to return - students in Yr. 3, 4 & 5 will still do online learning whether they are at school or at home.
The health and wellbeing of our students, staff and our wider school community is given the highest priority and we continue each day to take measures to minimise the risk of COVID-19. The re-opening of schools reflects the need to have students return to the classroom to support their wellbeing and minimise educational disadvantage. As such, now that the ACT/NSW Government has declared that schools are safe to open we are once again obliged to ensure that the requirements of school attendance are met.
Staff and visitors to our school must wear a face mask. Students in Years 3 to 6 are encouraged to wear a mask at school if they are comfortable doing so (at the discretion of the student and their parents/carers). Children in Kinder to Year 2 are not expected to wear masks as they are likely to be worn incorrectly and may present a choking hazard. If, however, you would prefer your child wear a mask, we will support your decision.
Children who are unwell must not attend school and should stay home and get tested. If they attend school while unwell, we will contact you immediately to collect your child. In circumstances where children have other medical reasons for recurrent symptoms, a letter from the GP is sufficient to allow return school without a negative test.
For the time being, parents are restricted from coming onto school grounds. Drop off and pick up will be at the top gate. We will ask the older sibling of the family to meet the younger sibling/s on the basketball court. When we see you, we will call your children to meet you at the top gate.
If you have any questions about the return to face-to-face teaching please get in touch with me via email or call the front office.
Sport Polos
Our new short sleeve polo has arrived and are selling extremely well. You might need to get in quick if you want one for this term.
Class Placements 2022
The teaching staff and Leadership Team will soon begin the process of creating the class groups for next year (Yr. 3 to 6). When compiling classes, teachers are asked to take into consideration several factors; learning styles and abilities are of first concern; social challenges and special needs are also a high priority. To ensure the best learning environment for all, the teachers will determine which students should be together. This process takes many weeks. If you have a specific request regarding class placement that you would like to discuss with me, please contact me to set up a time to discuss the request. If you made a particular request last year, you would have to make a time with me again – the requests do not carry over from year-to-year. I do not take requests for specific teachers.
*There will be no change to class lists following our Step-Up afternoon in Week 11*
Dedicated school buses and revised interim bus timetable from Monday 25 October 2021
Transport Canberra’s dedicated school bus services will recommence on Monday 25 October 2021. This includes ‘S’ trips that divert into schools.
Timings have changed for dedicated school services and the regular timetable. We are strongly encouraging families to check their school pack and plan ahead.
Special Needs Transport continues to run for those families that need this service.
A range of COVID Safe measures are in place to help keep students safe on public transport. Please remind families to familiarise themselves with these measures and talk to their children about them prior to the return to school.
From Monday 25 October 2021 buses will run to a revised interim timetable. This timetable is a similar frequency to the timetable that has been running over the past two months, but with some changes to timings to allow better connections for school students.
Light rail is continuing to run to its regular frequency but will see an increase in frequency from Monday 1 November 2021. This will assist with physical distancing on board. Customers will benefit from extended afternoon peak frequency on weekdays and increased frequency on Sunday mornings.
Consider walking or riding to school – or using a Part way point
Parents and carers may also consider alternative ways to get their children to school. If they live close by, they can take advantage of the warmer spring weather and walk, ride or scoot to school!
Part way points are also a great way to get some exercise into children’s days for families that live a little further away and this also helps to ease congestion around schools. Parents or carers can simply drop their child at a point, or park and walk the rest of the way with them.
Park safely and legally
All 40km/h school zones are in place between 8am and 4pm Monday to Friday. Speed limits in school zones are there to ensure the safety of children by allowing motorists extra time to stop in an unexpected situation.
Parking across pedestrian crossings, corners, verges and double parking can block kids seeing the road.
School packs and timetable information
The revised interim timetables and school packs are now available online.
For enquiries customers are encouraged to visit www.transport.act.gov.au or call 13 17 10.
Yours sincerely,
Julie Wiley
Principal
Sacrament of Confirmation
Paperwork went home last week for those children who are interested in preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation. In this paperwork is information about how the Sacramental preparation will run this year to comply with health regulations. Please contact me if your child is interested in preparing for the Sacrament but you have not yet received the relevant paperwork. Enrolment for the Sacrament will take place after the 9:30 am Mass at St Thomas More’s on Sunday 31st of October. The celebration of the Sacrament will take place on the weekend of Saturday the 4th of December and Sunday the 5th of December. Notification of the exact time will be sent closer to the time to ensure we comply with COVID restrictions.
60th Anniversary Cookbook
The first draft of our 60th Anniversary Cookbook is complete. Thank you Melissa Kirk (Year 5 parent) who has put this together for us. We are hoping through the sales of our cookbook to raise enough money to fund some meals or school supplies for the children of the Good Shepherd Sister Kindergarten Centre in Bangkok. Thailand is the focus country for Mission Month this year. Traditionally during October Catholics all over the world join together to support and celebrate global missionary work.
Thank you Miss Anh
This term during Remote Learning the children have been completing activities from ‘Religious Education Grids’. The grids have focussed on different Religious Education concepts and scripture passages. Miss Anh has been providing ‘Scripture Reflection Videos’ which help the students and staff to reflect on the meaning of chosen scripture. Thank you Miss Anh for your thought provoking reflections.
Yours in Christ,
Samantha Mance
Religious Education Coordinator