Principal's Report

The impact of the COVID19 restrictions is having a massive influence on the economy and job security.  Any school family who is experiencing financial hardship and needs assistance with school fees obligations is encouraged to contact me via 

email (principal@ssrowville.catholic.edu.au) to discuss how we can help at this time.

P-2 students have returned to onsite face to face teaching. 

Years 3-6 students who can learn at home must learn from homewith exceptions only in limited circumstances.

Years 3-6 students can return to the school site from Tuesday 9th June

 

Dear Parents and Guardians,

 

Today was an exciting day for the St Simon’s School Community as we welcomed back our Prep, Year 1 and Year 2 students to the school site for face to face teaching. The morning air was crisp as families arrived at the school gates and navigated the different entry points to the school very smoothly.

Our friendly school staff were ready and waiting to greet the students and parents, with many of the children showing visible signs of relief when they saw their teacher waiting for them.

Thank you to parents for working with the school in such a cooperative manner as we navigate this return to school time. 

It is important to remember that the school, in line with the health advice of the Victorian Chief Health Officer, is restricting the movement and interaction of adults on the school site as a measure that continues to support physical distancing for adults.

Any visit to the School office will need to be arranged ahead of time via email or phone.

Our new look Newsletter!

This week you may have noticed the school newsletter has been delivered to you in a different format.  I am very excited to present this new format to the school community as a way of continuing and enhancing our commitment to communicate with families in effective and efficient ways as partners in your child\ren’s education. 

A proof copy of the newsletter was previewed by the School Advisory Board at last week’s meeting and members were able to give some very positive and constructive feedback after a first impression experience.  

I welcome your feedback about the newsletter format via email, principal@ssrowville.catholic.edu.au.

Thank you to Anna Morgan who has been working behind the scenes to manage the migration of the newsletter to this new presentation.

 

Wellbeing Wednesday 20th May

It has been almost a whole week since we paused as a learning community for Wellbeing Wednesday.  The feedback received from parents, students and staff was that the day came at just the right time.  It was wonderful to hear all the different ways families celebrated Wellbeing Wednesday.  One thing that “the whole school pause” reminded us was how important it is to regularly lift our eyes away from the screens and\or devices in our lives.  

I hope the day provided our entire community with the opportunity to recharge our batteries and be ready to move ahead with our learning and teaching for the remainder of Term 2.

 

Enrolment 2021 - Existing Families: Spread the Word

During Term 2 the School begins the formal process of securing the following year’s Prep enrolment.  Thank you to those existing families who have responded to the communication regarding the enrolment of a sibling into Prep 2021.

“Word of mouth” is our biggest asset when it comes to building our enrolment so I encourage you to consider sharing with your family, friends and neighbours what you value the most about St Simon’s School. This is a way of promoting our school in the community and any family who is interested in enrolment needs to go to the school website and click on “Enrol Now” to find out more about the process.

 

Morning Drop Off Procedure (26th May - 5th June)

The clear preference is that parents\carers, ‘Kiss and Drop’ each morning with students entering the nominated gate entry. Please see map (below) for details.  

  • Families with more than one student at the school please use the youngest sibling gate entry.  There will be school staff to accompany and direct older siblings to their classroom area.
  • Students in Years 3-6 attending for pre-arranged onsite supervision please use the double gate between the school and church.

 Afternoon Pick Up Procedure (26th May - 5th June)

Students will be available for collection from 2 locations

  1. Prep Gate (near sandpit)
  2. Outside the Atrium near the double gates

Please make an arrangement with your children about where they will be picked up.

Students will be dismissed according to House Teams.  This will mean family units will be kept together ready for collection by a parent\carer.

The pick-up times will be staggered:

  1. 2:50pm Red House
  2. 3:00pm Blue House
  3. 3:10pm Green House
  4. 3:20pm Yellow House

· Parents of prep students will have a list sent home with their allocated house colour team.

· Students will be collected and supervised by school staff and taken to one of the two pick up locations.

· Students who are booked into afterschool care will be collected at the usual time by Beyond Edu Care staff.

 

IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT PARENTS ARRIVE PROMPTLY AT THE NOMINATED PICKUP TIME AND EXIT FROM THE SCHOOL SITE IN AN EFFICIENT MANNER TO PREVENT GROUPS OF PEOPLE CONGREGATING.  

 

The Crossing Supervisor hours of duty have been adjusted to accommodate the staggered dismissal of students.

The school is constantly reviewing the implementation of these guidelines and making adjustments as needed.

 

God bless

 

 

 

 

 

Tom Wursthorn

Principal

 

Catholic Education Today - Term 2 Edition

view this at cem.edu.au