Dear Families,

Next week we begin the staggered return to school for our students. I am sure that you all are very excited to be returning to SJV albeit across a couple of weeks!! For the students, the opportunity to resume learning in the classroom and to see and reconnect with all their friends and teachers is vitally important. To our parents / carers thank you for the support you have given your child/ren and the teachers

I remind you again of these dates:

PART TIME RETURN TO SCHOOL

Please note the following:

Week beginning Monday October 18th

Preps are at school Monday Tuesday and Wednesday

Year 1/2 are at school on Thursday and Friday

Year 3-6 remote learning at home

Week beginning Monday October 25th

Preps are at school Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday

Year 1/2 are at school on Thursday and Friday

Year 3/4 are at school on Tuesday and Wednesday

Year 5/6 are at school on Thursday and Friday

Week beginning Monday November 1st

Monday 1st - School Closure Day ( Assessment and Report Preparation)

Tuesday 2nd Nov - Melbourne Cup Public Holiday

Wednesday 3rd Nov - Preps and Year 3/4

Thursday 4th Nov - Year 1/2 and 5/6

Friday 5th Nov - ALL STUDENTS

Dropping off & Picking up your child/ren

Unfortunately parents / carers are not able to come into classrooms/buildings.

Please drop off and pick up your child at the gate(s). Masks must be worn.

Back Gate: Social Distancing

If in St Johns Way, dropping off /picking up in the kiss and drop off area you are not allowed to exit your vehicle.

Should you be parking in surrounding streets and walking your child to the entrance gate please spread out. To accomodate this and ensure appropriate social distancing some parents may need to come inside the gate area.

Please explain to your children that you will not be able to take them to the classroom. We will have some staff who will assist children to get to their class should they be particulary anxious.

STUDENTS -WEARING OF MASKS

As per the Chief Health Medical Officer, the Students in Year 3 to 6 are required when at school, to wear a Mask when indoors. Year P-2 are encouraged to wear masks but it is not mandated. This strategy is to assist in keeping a cap on the transmission of the virus.

Closure Days / Public Holidays

Please note the following important changes

As students will be gradually returning to school from the 18th October we have decided to make some changes to our Closure Days and to the end of term arrangements.

Please note the following:

We will be postponing our Faith Formation Closure Day which was to be held on Friday 29th October. This will now be a school day. As a staff we are however mandated to have completed a number of hours in Faith Formation Professional Learning so the new date for our Closure Day is Friday 26 November.
We will be postponing our 2022 Planning Day on Monday 6th December. This will now be a school day.

School Closure Days

Monday November 1st (Cup Eve) Staff will be planning and preparing for Semester 2 Reports
Tuesday November 2nd (Public Holiday)
Friday November 26th ( Staff Faith Formation)
Term 4 concludes for students on Wednesday 15th December at 2:30pm.
Thursday 16th December - (Staff Planning & Handover Day for 2022)

There are of course several restrictions which could change. At this stage, current restrictions do not allow for excursions, incursions onsite, interschool sport, outside music groups, liturgies within the church, assemblies, or parents / carers coming onsite.

SCHOOL CONCERT

As you are aware we are unable to have our Whole School 2021 Concert as planned. The current restrictions are such that we are unable to sing, nor are we able to gather as a Level or whole school

Further our specialist and class practice times are limited as we will only all return to school on November 5th.

So at this stage the arrangements for the performance of a concert are uncertain.

CHANGES TO EVENTS AND TO DATES

The following were placed in last weeks newsletter but we wish to remind parents to note:

PREP 100 DAYS

This will take place NEXT WEDNESDAY 20th OCTOBER. All Prep students will be onsite on the Wednesday and we feel that they will be able to enjoy the celebrations of the day together. There will be a range of activities across the day, but we ask that our PREP students dress in the theme '100 Years Old'. Prep 100 Day Home Projects are very welcome. Unfortunately parents and carers can not attend, but photos will be taken of the day and posted in our Newsletter.

P-2 SWIMMING PROGRAM IS CANCELLED

MACS have advised us that Swimming Programs in schools can not go ahead. In line with current restrictions we are cancelling the P-2 Swimming Program that was to begin on Thursday 28th October. Families that have paid in full will be contacted and a refund organised. All other P-2 families have been rebated their Swimming Levy.

SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM

The Sacrament of Confirmation planned for October 11th and 12th has been postponed. The Sacraments of Eucharist and Confirmation will take place this term. The dates for these celebrations will be based on when Government Health Authorities and the Archdiocese allow the Church to be opened. Fr Eric has indicated to the school that these Sacraments will take priority once the Church is opened. First Communion will take place first and then the Confirmations. For all enquiries please contact the Parish Office. Ph 9546 3831

HOUSE ATHLETICS CARNIVAL

We are hoping that the House Athletics Carnival will go ahead. If it does go ahead it will now need to be at school. The event can not be a whole school event but may be able to be undertaken in smaller groupings. We are hoping for the 18th and 19th November, subject to Restrictions. Prep -2 Athletics will take place on the 18th November and Year 3-6 on the 19th November. At this stage no parents / carers are allowed to attend.

YEAR 6 GRADUATION

As was the case last year, the Graduation will be recorded. The date will be determined but most likely in early December. Further information will be sent to Year 6 families in due course. The traditional Guard of Honour we hope will be able to take place on the last day of term. We will keep you informed as to whether parents / families can be onsite.

PREP 2022 PARENT INFORMATION EVENING / TRANSITION PROCESS

The Prep Parent Information evening planned for Tuesday 26th October will go ahead online. Information about a Google meet will be sent to you closer to the date.

The Transition/Orientation Sessions are still in the calendar, but we will let you know more details closer to the dates.

Current COVID Restrictions

There are several restrictions. At this stage, current restrictions do not allow for borrowing library books, excursions, incursions onsite, interschool sport, outside music groups, liturgies within the church, assemblies, level gatherings, or parents / carers coming into classrooms.

These restrictions could change and we will let you know accordingly.

MACS SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT SURVEYS

Surveys were sent via email yesterday

The Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) is asking all schools to complete a survey. The survey is not about COVID but about how community members feel about their school; its strengths and areas for improvement. The parents, all staff and students from Year 4-6 are able to complete a survey. The surveys are confidential. Our results will be benchmarked against all other primary schools.

The Survey closes on the 28th October.

FROM THE PARISH.....

Please read our dedicated page form the Parish in regard to the Parish Fundraiser/ Raffle

Birthdays

We acknowledge the following birthdays from Thursday 14th October - Wednesday 27th October

Happy Birthday! We hope that you enjoy your special day!