From the Principal

WELCOME BACK PREP TO YEARS 2

Congratulations to the students and teachers on the easy manner that the students have settled back into school routine. It has been so pleasing to walk in and out of their rooms and see them engaged in their work in a happy and friendly environment. The welcoming staff have made them so comfortable, ensuring their connection to school was positive. They have also enjoyed the full reign of all the playground areas and the fun of playing outside in the fresh and clean air.

We now all eagerly wait for the return of the Years 3-6 students.

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the students who have been taking part in Distance Learning at school for the last eight weeks without the comfort of their homes. They have embraced this responsibility with pride and integrity.

An immense "Thank you!" to all the families that embraced the Distance Learning with ease whilst at the same time carrying on with life as it eventuated. I think everyone can take a big sigh of relief and be proud of how the last eight weeks were carried out.

WE ARE ALL TOGETHER NOW

The staggered times according to surnames continue, with entry and exiting the school grounds, and parents leaving at the gates.

STAGGERED RECESS AND LUNCH TIMES

The children will also have staggered recess and lunch times.

HEALTH, SANITISING AND WASHING OF HANDS

The additional sanitising and washing of hands have become part of the daily routines which the Junior students have embraced with ease. It is hoped that this heightened standard of hygiene will become normal to overcome the usual illnesses that can take place during the year.

The school has also escalated the cleansing and sanitising of all areas during the day in line with the current health Department recommendations to ensure the safety of students and staff at school. Please refer to the images below so that you can have a sense of what we do.

Everyone is checked when they enter our school

On entry, every day, everyone has their temperatures taken

Everyone sanitizes before and after using the lift

Use drink bottles as no water taps available

Staff sanitize before and after using the photocopier

Students wash their hands before and after eating

Students wash their hands before and after going to play

Staff daily log of all handwashing, cleaning and sanitizing

Ms Overbury does a full daily clean after recess

Preps know how to soap and clean their hands

All laptops are fully sanitised before and after use

Tables are cleaned many times throughout the day

All teachers carry their PPE bags at all times (Personal Protective Equipment)

Arriving at school and saying goodbye to our parents at the gate

Or, do you enter through the yellow triangles?

At the end of the day children are met at the gates

FEAST DAY

Next Friday the school will be celebrating the Feast of St Anthony of Padua in a very different way. We will be gathering together in prayer in a virtual manner in each classroom. The one thing that will remain the same is that we will honor him as our Patron Saint and seek his guidance and support as a teacher of the church.

St Anthony has always been known for helping people who seek help in finding things. I would like to take a quote from one of our students who wrote to me during the last few months and referred to St Anthony. It may also be a "time for us to pray to him and ask to help scientists find a cure for the Coronavirus." Sally School Captain 2020.

I hope that next week brings back some normality to all the households as school embraces all the students once again.

Have a safe long weekend.

Sincerely yours

Margaret Carlei

Principal