Principal's News

Dear Parents / Carers,

Little did we predict last week when promoting plans for the new term that things would turn around so quickly.

However, in very little time, the children were unplugging chargers and packing chromebooks ready for

the eventuality of Remote Learning. We are inspired by the flexibility of both students and teachers and the support of our families in remote learning. Teachers reported great attendance at Google Meets yesterday.

We thank all parents and grandparents who once again find themselves trying to balance home life, working from home themselves, housework and more and, as we have said from the beginning of Remote Learning last year, all of us can only do our best.

The snap lockdown and Remote Learning, as you know, will extend beyond midnight tonight. In news that has just been announced by Premier Dan Andrews, the lockdown in Victoria and therefore Remote Learning for schools will now continue until midnight next Tuesday 27 July. These decisions being made are for the health and safety of us all. We will continue to communicate with you as any further updates come to hand.

School remains open only to the children of essential workers where they cannot work from home and where no other supervision arrangements can be made.

Could parents who are picking up their children by car at the end of the day during this time please collect from the front of the school in Hart Street?

ATTENDANCE

Please continue to let us know, via PAM, email: office@shcolac.catholic.edu.au or phone 52 315292 if children are unwell. Teachers will be informed and it will help us adjust our learning expectations. For the children who are attending school that arrive late or are picked up early, could you please report to the Front office?

TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIAL MEDIA

Technology opens up great opportunities for learning and communicating, for which we are extremely grateful particularly in times of remote learning. We do, however, encourage parents to check exactly what platforms their children are using in non learning times and to be mindful of the age restrictions on them. Platforms such as “Snapchat” are not recommended for primary aged children as they are not considered to have the required maturity to use them responsibly. This lack of maturity sometimes presents in the use of unkind words to and about others and this has the potential to cause great upset. Inside the newsletter today, Emma Rogers, our Wellbeing leader, has added some great ideas for the positive use of screens.

Our booking for the ‘Digital Tattoo’ program addressing Cyber Safety has unfortunately been postponed again. However, we aim to reschedule when able, as we believe Leigh, the excellent ‘Bat Force’ presenter, has much to offer in this area. We have worked with Leigh before in a ‘Primary to Secondary Transition’ workshop and loved the engaging style used with both students, teachers and parents. Some of you who have older children may remember the evening with Leigh over at Trinity a few years back.

TRINITY PERFORMANCE

We are pleased to have been invited to the dress rehearsal of the Trinity performance ‘We Will Rock You’ scheduled for next Wednesday 28th July. All going to plan, our senior students who are not involved in Greater Western Football and Netball on that day will walk over to Trinity in time for the 11:00am start. and return around

1:00pm in time for lunch.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

Sacrament of Confirmation and Eucharist: Due to the current COVID 19 situation it was unfortunate that the students in Year 3 and 4 were unable to attend last weekend’s Commitment Mass. As information regarding restrictions comes to hand, candidates and their families will be notified via PAM of future arrangements.

When life seems to knock you down, roll over and look at the stars.

Julie Leonard - Religious Education Leader

2021 National Consistent Collection of Data

Our NCCD team and staff are in the process of finalising our submission for the National Consistent Collection of Data. This is where we identify students in our school who have received adjustments or 'help' at school in the last 12 months (August to August) because of a disability. Thank you to the parents and families who have been working with us to ensure all of this work is complete. This has included attending meetings with teachers, signing of student Individual Learning Plans/documents, and providing us with letters and reports. Please find attached to this week's newsletter further information for parents regarding NCCD.