Covid-19 School Operations Update

Face Masks:

While recommended, face masks are no longer required in any school setting. Any students or parents who wish to wear a mask may do so, including those who are medically at-risk.

This means students in Years 3 to 6 and visitors are no longer required to wear face masks.

Extension of the rapid antigen testing program for schools:

The Victorian Government has announced that it is extending the rapid antigen test (RAT) screening program for the first four weeks of Term 2.

RATs were sent home with children on Tuesday and families will receive a further allocation this Friday.

The screening recommendations will remain the same as last term i.e. primary and secondary schools – recommended to test at home twice a week.

Household contacts:

Students who are household contacts of a COVID-19 case are no longer required to quarantine. They can return to school as long as they undertake rapid antigen tests (RAT) 5 times within their 7-day period and wear face masks indoors if they are aged 8 and above unless they have a valid exemption.

If any household contact returns a positive RAT result during this period, they must isolate for 7 days and not attend school.

Vaccination requirements for visitors to schools:

Parents, carers and other adult visitors (not performing work) are no longer required to show evidence of two doses of COVID-19 vaccine.

Vaccination requirements for visitors and volunteers performing work:

However all parent volunteers must have received their booster shot i.e. be triple vaccinated and must provide evidence to the school.

Stop, Kiss and Drop Signs

We are taking them down!

Finally, with the further easing of restrictions, we are able to open up our classrooms.

So what does this mean? As of the beginning of next week:

Classrooms will be open by 8:45am each morning whereby parents are welcome to come into learning communities with their child upon arrival
Hand sanitising stations are available at the entry of each learning area for use prior to entering
Our children have become very independent in unpacking their bags and changing their readers and so on, so PLEASE continue to allow them to do so
Parents are welcome to stay for morning prayer. This is a prayerful time so we expect all attendees to be respectful. During prayer, younger siblings are not to wander the room and also must maintain the prayerful reverence.
At the conclusion of prayer, children will simply wave goodbye which is your cue to leave.
The morning 'drop off' provides a wonderful time to form relationships yet if you need to speak in depth with your child's teacher, please organise an alternative meeting time.
At the end of the school day, parents are welcome to catch up quickly with classroom teachers should the need be
Masks are recommended indoors should social distancing not be able to be maintained

Mothers' Day Breakfast & Stall

Mothers' Day celebrations are on!

On Friday, 6th May we will celebrate all the mothers, grandmothers and other special ladies in our lives with our annual Mothers' Day events.

From 8:00 am until 8:45 am breakfast will be served. There will be a selection of pastries, danishes and fruit from which to choose and of course, we will have the coffee van on-site.

Around 9:15am our Mothers' Day Stall returns. Students will have the opportunity to go shopping and purchase from a range of gifts to spoil their mums come Sunday. Gifts will range between $2.00 - $5.00 so there will be something for everyone.

If anyone is interested in assisting on the Mothers' Day Stall and and you are available between 9:00-11:00 am on the day, please submit your details via the following form by next Monday 3rd May. Please note that all volunteers must hold a valid Working with Children Check and have up-to-date vaccination status i.e three (3) doses of COVID-19 vaccine.

https://forms.gle/MYi366MiCDsfgnRU7

Winter Uniform

Over the next two weeks, children can commence moving into their winter uniform. It is expected that all children will be wearing winter uniforms by 16th May which is the first day of Week 3.

Uniform items can be ordered through the school office. You can locate the Order Form on our website via the following link: https://www.cckingsville.catholic.edu.au/enrolment-information/uniform/

The easiest way to order is to complete the form and email it to info@cckingsville.catholic.edu.au

You will then be contacted to arrange a payment and pick-up time.

Alternatively, you can drop off your order form in person at the school office.

Please note that uniform requests may not be able to be purchased during busy times or on the same day.

SunSmart - School Hats

In line with our school SunSmart policy, based on the recommendations of SunSmart, children do not need to wear hats during morning recess, lunch and outdoor activities from the end of April until mid August.

So at the end of this week you can pack them away in a safe place ready for mid-August when we will return to our No Hat No Play policy. You may wish to give them a wash in between.

Student Portfolios

We hope you have taken the opportunity to celebrate with your child their Term 1 achievements as contained in your child's portfolio.

It is important that the portfolio be returned to school this week so that we can continue to compile samples.

God bless

Anthony Hyde

(Principal)

Awards and Celebrations

April