Dear Parents, students and the wider community,

Welcome back everyone! We nearly got a whole week of school on-site before we were directed into remote learning. It was disappointing that I could only send out the Seesaw regarding the change to remote learning at about 5pm last night but nothing was confirmed until the Premier spoke. Let us pray this lockdown is short and sharp, as promised, as people's livelihoods and lifestyles are impacted again.

A reminder that if your family fits the criteria for on-site learning and you need your child to attend school on Monday, Tuesday or any other remote learning day in the future please ensure you correspond with me beforehand. I need to ensure I have sufficient staff on-site as the staff have also been directed to work from home by the Premier to stop movement in the community. If your child/ren are attending onsite please sign them in just inside the double grey doors near the girls' toilets before leaving the school grounds. There is sanitiser there and remember to wear a mask and maintain social distancing.

Over the break we had work continue on the refurbished building. The ceilings of the decks are now lined and look 'finished'. The steps straight off the decks are in place and the handrails will be installed on Monday.

Some of you may have noticed the historical issue of condensation on the garden side windows of the junior block on those cold mornings. It has become apparent that this largely due to the high water table that exists under the building. I guess the school was once part of the Carrum Carrum swamp! Working with our architects we will be making some changes under the building through the addition of extra vents to seek to have more air flow under there. It is something that I feel must be addressed as over time that condensation will not be good for the buildings longevity.

Also over the holidays a small group of mums greatly improved the gardens at the entrance to the school. They certainly are beginning to look lush and I trust feet will stay off the beds in the future to give the plants a chance to establish. Many thanks to these parents and some of the students this week in also clearing the leaves away near our two beautiful deciduous trees near the adventure playground. They certainly can become a slip hazard near the steps if they remain there.

This lockdown has ensured that we could not have our Opening of the Term whole School Mass today, a Living Culture visit on Monday for the whole school by a Boonwurrong Elder on Monday and the excursion to Dream City for our Year 1/ 2 students on Tuesday. The staff responsible for the second and third of these activities are already working at rescheduling these for a future date as they are both important aspects of the students' learning. These dates will be shared with you as soon as they can be arranged. The VIT publicity shoot will also be postponed but we will look to reschedule again.

We are a school that has a uniform policy and correct uniform is expected, subject to any medical issues. I would like to thank parents for sending your children so well dressed and looking very smart to commence the term. Again I would like to remind families that with the girls' winter uniform white socks and stockings are not part of it. Runners are only to be worn on Sports Day.

Just a reminder again that our 'Hour of Power' mums who do so much with our gardens have requested that if anyone has any external doors at home we need to replace some on the back fence. We are not after the hollow ones as when left in the weather they split and peel as you would have noticed if you use the rear entrance of the school. Please contact the office if you can help with this.

We pray for our students and their families who are currently preparing for their First Holy Communion on Sunday 25 July. I am sure you will all join with me in praying that the Liturgy proceeds and we are all back in a more relaxed world by then!

God Bless

Rod Shaw

Principal

School Attendance and Unexplained Absence

Please ensure you contact the school before 9:30am if your child is going to be absent or late by leaving a message on 9786 4736 and press #1.

If you are running late (after 9:00 am ) please attend the office to sign your child into school.

As per our policy this will be our morning routine for absences:

Parents will be contacted as soon as practicable on the morning a student is absent via a phone call or text message.

If parent does not reply or is unreachable the emergency contacts will be contacted by the school.

If there is still no response, and the school feels that the child is in danger, the police will be contacted.

Ongoing unexplained absences or lack of cooperation regarding student attendance will result in a formal conference being organized. Unresolved attendance issues will be referred to D.H.H.S.

This is a legal requirement.

Dates For Your Diary

Term 3

July

August

September