Principal's Update

Principal's Welcome

The children continue to settle in well after remote learning. We noticed that our wifi was slow yesterday. It is a good problem to have. The opportunity to improve the use of Macbooks and iPads for our Years 3-6 children has been evident since they have returned. The staff have used this time to up skill and explore different uses for technology. Our F-2 have banks of 10 iPads in each room and if needed, they can form a class bundle for 1:1 use.

There has been some sickness this week. We appreciate the communication parents/carers have had with the teacher and/or office.

As many people are aware some children across the country are unable to attend school due to COVID 19 and ongoing concerns due to an existing medical condition. Schools make the necessary arrangements to continue a different style of remote learning for each individual. Part of the communication is connecting children with their peers via video conferencing maybe once a week. For St. Luke's we are using Google Meet if this process is required. 

School Video

If you click on the above heading 'School Video' you will be able to view this. Thank you to our very talented students and wonderful Mrs Johnson. Mrs Johnson brought all the videos and photos together. Mrs Findlay organised the children and worked behind the scenes. Well done!

School Procedures

The afternoon pick-up is going well. A-M 3:00pm-3:15pm and N-Z 3:15pm-3:30pm. The morning is going well internally. The issue is the amount of traffic around 8:45am wanting to turn right onto the Goulburn Valley Highway. There is no quick fix to this.

Uniform

As mentioned last week it is winter uniform. This means pants/trousers for the boys on non-sports days. Hair below shoulders must be tied back for girls and boys. No lines/zig zags cut into hair, other than a part in the hair line. 

Reports

These will go live on PAM next week.  A cover letter will be uploaded to PAM on Monday. These Semester Reports will look differently across the state.

Building Update 

(Click on the heading to view)

We met again yesterday for our fortnightly meeting. The architects have been going through the 10 Expressions of Interest. They will be notified if successful/unsuccessful in the shortlisting process to be part of the tender process (Stage 2). 

We are approximately 1 month behind in proceedings and we have catered for this in the timeline. Tender documents should be ready around late July.

The video and photos have been on Facebook and PAM.

Communication

As we cannot communicate in person for most meetings please continue to phone or email your child's teacher. or the office for general enquiries. Office hours are 8:30am-4:00pm.

Parenting Ideas

What are children watching?

Rescheduled Pupil Free Days

As these were cancelled for this term, we will communicate any days for Terms 3/4 asap. Melbourne Cup Day is a Public Holiday. We will wait and see if the state government makes the Monday a public holiday. If not it will be a Pupil Free Day on the Monday. 

Conclusion

The current climate has placed limitations on what we can do as a school. Important community support such as our SVDP appeal (St. Vincent de Paul) is on hold. We will notify parents on what we can do and when. Unfortunately, COVID-19 doesn't mean that there is a decrease in those living on the streets. We keep them in our prayers and we will help as directed by charities and organisations.

Staff will be celebrating mass next week at school during the scheduled staff meeting. For many of us (school community), we have not been able to attend mass for some time. It will be a special time.

As this is the final newsletter for Term 2, I wish everyone a safe school holiday period. Please remember that school finishes this Friday at 2.15pm. 

David Keenan

(Principal)