From the Principal
Coronavirus
Dear Parents,
Principals are receiving daily directions from the Catholic Schools Office on minimising the risk of spreading COVID -19.
I will continue to update you with information as it comes to hand. The safety of our children & families is our priority. Our aim is to prepare not to panic!
Thank you Mrs Burton
Cancellations due to the Coronavirus
School Assemblies
Masses
Excursions
Parent Teacher Interviews (By phone or reschedule in Term 2)
No school sporting events outside school
Coronavirus 19
The important things each and everyone of us can do to help manage the spread of the virus are:
Wash your hands regularly and thoroughly.
Sneeze into your elbow or a tissue - then dispose of the tissue and wash your hands afterwards.
Keep students at home if they are unwell.
The Australian Government, Department of Education and CSNSW released the following guidelines for NSW schools. Practice social distancing.
Social distancing is:
avoiding crowds and mass gatherings where it is difficult to keep the appropriate distance away from others
avoiding small gatherings in enclosed spaces, for example family celebrations
attempting to keep a distance of 1.5 metres between themselves and other people where possible, for example when they are out and about in public place
avoiding shaking hands, hugging, or kissing other people
avoiding visiting vulnerable people, such as those in aged care facilities or hospitals, infants, or people with compromised immune systems due to illness or medical treatment.
As a result of these guidelines, the following proactive measures have been put in place for all schools in the Armidale Diocese.
No school assemblies,
No school Masses, as school masses are also attended by members of the community including the elderly, schools are instructed to not attend mass.
No school excursions:
All school excursions, overnight stays and camps are cancelled until further notice.
No sport events: all sport events outside school are cancelled until further notice.
CSNSW have advised that they are temporarily ceasing until further notice all Polding / MacKillop / CCC events including our selection trials and all school events.
PDHPE within schools will continue to run as usual.
The current advice from the Australian Government is that schools will not be closing. However it is important that we are prepared for school closures. St Patrick's Staff are currently working together to prepare for curriculum to be done at home if necessary.
One way that students will learn at home if school closes will be using technology devices (eg. Laptop, Chromebook) with the internet for online learning. If families do not have the technology & the internet then the student will receive other learning material. The school will need to collect family information on their availability to the internet & IT.
Mrs Pittman will be sending families an email asking about your access to the internet & if your child will have a computer at home they can use should school close.
Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Please read the letter updating families on the current status of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in NSW and to advise you of the approach currently being undertaken by Catholic Schools within the Armidale Diocese.
Parent Teacher Interviews to be rescheduled by phone or in Term 2.
Due to the current Coronavirus we need to reschedule Parent Teacher Interviews for Term 1.
Interviews can occur by a phone interview or to be held in Term 2. Mrs Pittman will contact all families who have already booked interviews to reschedule or make a time for a phone interview with classroom teacher.
Walcha Show
Congratulations to all of our children & families who participated in the Show on the weekend.
Our children had a large number of very successful entries. Well done! It was wonderful to see
the St Patrick's families involved across all of the show events. Congratulations to all the 1st, 2nd, 3rd & Highly Commended winners.
Bulb Drive
After the glorious rain received across most of our district everything is greening up and gardens are coming back to life. Forms for the P&F fundraising Spring Bulb Drive are due this Friday 20th March.
Thank you Vanessa for coordinating the the bulb drive.
Easter Raffle
The St Pat's P&F will also hold their annual Easter Raffle. The P & F are asking every family to donate an Easter theme prize (no matter how big or small as we bundle them up ) to the front office by Friday, April 3 and we will draw the raffle on Thursday, April 9. Raffle ticket forms will be going home soon. Mrs Pittman has a box in her office for the Easter donations.
SCHOOL FEES
Thank you to our families who have already paid the first of the School Fees for 2020.
Fees are due on 31 March
NAPLAN
The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is held in May each year for Year 3 and Year 5 students. NAPLAN tests assess student knowledge and skills in Writing, Reading, Conventions of Language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and Numeracy. The results of the tests provide information for students, parents, teachers and principals and can be used to improve student achievement. Please take the time to read the linked information brochure for parents and carers.
In advance of taking NAPLAN Online, students, teachers and parents are invited to use the public demonstration tests to familiarise themselves with the type of questions and related functionalities available in the NAPLAN Online assessment. Some of the key features include a range of question types, onscreen tools, timers and interactive navigation.