Principal News

                                                                                                                                Tuesday 14th July 2020

Term 3 Return to Distance Education

Dear Parents and Guardians

Those of you who follow our school’s Facebook page (SACRED HEART PRIMARY SCHOOL PRESTON), will have seen a posting from yesterday of our staff preparing for a return to “distance education” as of next week. 

Again I would like to express my sympathy for all our families and students, having to return to offsite learning. Whilst completely understanding the need for our Premier’s decision, I also realise that this again will be a challenging time for all our families. 

Some solace for you all can be found in the fact that you all played your role in distance education with great care, patience and skill. We know this because of the way our students were able to step straight back into the classroom with minimal transition period. We also know that you did a great job from the zoom and google meets that took place and from the work your children did.

Again this period of distance education cannot fully replicate the learning that takes place in the classroom. That does not mean it will be any better or worse. By its very nature it will again be simply different, and all parents and guardians are to be comfortable with this.

The same protocols and procedures for distance education are in place for this term as they were for last term. A small group of staff will be at school each day during this period of distance education. Students of parents who are unable to work from home and/or do not have a suitable adult to supervise them of a day, are very welcome to attend school as normal. We also have a cohort of students who we will request attend school some days for wellbeing issues. The teachers have been making phone calls to these parents and guardians these past two days.

In order to ensure that we can plan for students attending school as of next week, I ask that parents and guardians inform me if their child/ren are attending school and on what days by email by Friday

mtierney@shpreston.catholic.edu.au

As in my previous letter, I sincerely hope that we can continue to work together during this period so that any concerns we have about our students, your children are alleviated as best we can. Again I would like to remind all parents and guardians, every one of you despite the challenges and uncertainty, did a magnificent job last time.

Please stay safe.

Yours sincerely

Mark Tierney

Principal