Dear Members of the St. Cecilia’s School Community,

We have just completed our first week of our staggered return to school. It has been awesome! Some great weather has helped, but the atmosphere and excitement levels have been fantastic.

Thank you for the support, patience and dedication of our amazing parent community. Your calm and reassuring voice for your children has been instrumental during some immeasurably challenging times.

Thank you to our students. You have made us extremely proud. Enjoy your school and your friends and your teachers as you return. You have managed yourselves magnificently.

Thank you to our staff for helping our young people to keep learning before, during and after COVID-19 school closures. To our teachers, support staff and administrators for your commitment to our students and delivery of quality instruction. You have been simply amazing.

Almost every aspect of our professional lives changed due to this pandemic, and I am grateful for the way we responded. No matter how we move forward under the precautions that are still so necessary due to this disease, we know that we will never be the same.

We are acutely aware that some students (and parents) will be highly anxious over the coming weeks and months. This selection of resources (link below) will assist parents and caregivers in supporting their children’s mental health through the COVID-19 pandemic. They are designed to help parents to talk with their children about what they are seeing and hearing, develop new routines, and focus on the strategies that their family already uses to get through tough times.

Emerging Minds COVID-19 resources – printable summary

New School Website

For many parents, the first step in learning about our school isn’t through a school visit, but through the school’s website. What is the school’s culture, mission or priorities? The school website is the first place to get this information. And, just as when people meet, the first impression is often the last impression, and can quickly influence whether the parent of a prospective student seeks more information about the school.

The school website isn’t just for people who might becoming to the school—it’s a hub for students, teachers, administrators, parents and the entire school family.

Creating a website that is useful and that creates both an immediate and sustained impression is key.

We will continue to update and finalise our new website over the coming weeks.

Please on this link to have a look...

http://www.scgleniris.catholic.edu.au/enrolment

Mask Wearing

We are continuing to see a high number of coronavirus cases across Victoria.

I want to reassure you that St. Cecilia's is doing everything possible to contain and slow the spread of the virus, and ensure the health and safety of our whole school community.

To keep our school safe, and reduce students catching and spreading COVID-19, we have put a range of measures in place based on health advice from the Australian and Victorian governments.

These measures include encouraging vaccination of eligible cohorts, ventilation of indoor spaces, and a range of COVIDSafe measures including cleaning, regular use of hand sanitiser, increased use of outdoor spaces and the wearing of masks.

It is important that schools and the school community adhere to all of these COVIDSafe measures, not just the introduction of masks.

I am aware that some parents have concerns regarding mask-wearing. When worn properly, masks can play an important role in reducing the transmission risks of COVID-19 that could happen from common activities in school.

We know COVID-19 can be transmitted among children, and between children and adults. When teachers, staff and students consistently and correctly wear a mask, they help protect themselves and their friends, teachers and classmates from COVID-19.

St. Cecilia's is required to follow the directions of the Victorian Chief Health Officer, and our teachers and staff will be doing their utmost to ensure that masks are worn in schools for Years 3 and above, and to encourage mask-wearing for younger students.

The lawful exceptions for not wearing a mask are listed on the government’s Coronavirus Victoria website.

Thank you for supporting us to implement COVIDSafe measures at St. Cecilia's to keep your children safe.

Return Dates (next 2 weeks)

Monday 25th Oct - Foundation

Tues 26th Oct - Foundation, Year 3 and 4

Wed. 27th Oct. - Foundation, Year 3 and 4

Thursday 28th Oct. - Year 1 and 2, Year 5 and 6

Friday 29th October - Year 1 and 2, Year 5 and 6

Monday 1st November - Pupil Free Day

Tuesday 2nd November - Melbourne Cup

Wednesday 3rd Nov. - Foundation, Year 3 and 4

Thurs. 4th Nov. - Year 1 and 2, Year 5 and 6

Friday 5th Nov. - ALL STUDENTS RESUME

Fantastic School News

MY CHOICE SCHOOLS empowers parents to find good schools for their children. It uses publicly available records to assess academic performance, student equity, student-to-teacher ratios, school facilities, and more.

This year’s list of Best Primary Schools is available online at https://mychoiceschools.com.au/victoria/vic-levels/primary/.

According to this list,

St Cecilia’s is #8 Best Primary School in Victoria for 2021. It’s also the Number One Catholic school on this list.

This is a wonderful report about our school, and we congratulate everyone at St Cecilia’s whose skill, hard work and dedication has made this possible. We have always known that St Cecilia’s is a great school. It’s so good that My Choice Schools has recognised this too.

School Uniforms - a new way

Shortly, St. Cecilia's Primary School will be utilising Spartan School World for our school uniforms. This transition will take place over the following weeks. You will receive very detailed information and instructions very soon. We will not be providing a Uniform Shop onsite at St. Cecilia's commencing 2022.

For your convenience, items will be available for purchase several ways:

by visiting the Spartan shop
directly through Spartan by visiting their website
orders can be delivered to the school for collection,
or home delivery is available

In the meantime, next week we will be announcing a sale of existing stock here at school (Covidsafe) before we transition across to Spartan School World. More info to come...

A reminder that Summer Uniform period has commenced. We will have a few weeks grace knowing that many of the students have grown significantly and that some items of clothing are difficult to purchase at the moment (particularly school shoes). Remember - hats to be worn throughout Term 4.

Remember...

When we speak about our St. Cecilia school values, we speak of:

Faith

We live faith-filled lives and give thanks daily

Acceptance

We respect and embrace the community

Compassion

We care and do what is right and just

Excellence

We strive for and celebrate every success

Gratitude and Mindfulness

What are three things that went well for you today?

Who are you most grateful for and why?

What are you looking forward to most about tomorrow?

As always, we will keep you updated on any COVID related matters and thank you again for your understanding, flexibility and resilience.

Warm regards,

Marty

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