Queen of Peace Parish Primary School Newsletter

From the Principal

Dear Parents and Guardians

                                   

We are very excited to begin bringing the whole Queen of Peace school community back together again from next  Wednesday 3 November.

It has been a very calm and smooth transition back to school over the last two weeks. There is nothing better than the sound of children playing and learning at a school.

All students will be expected to attend school as normal. This means if you choose to keep your child/children home following the whole school return to on site schooling, we can no longer support remote learning from home. Please appreciate that it is not manageable for teachers to continue with the same remote learning together with  learning at school for children. 

This same approach is being taken by all Catholic and government schools in Victoria.

To support the health and wellbeing of all students and staff, our school will continue an enhanced cleaning routine and will encourage frequent handwashing. If your child is ill or is feeling unwell, they must not attendschool. They must remain home and seek medical advice. 

Please maintain 1.5m distance from other families while waiting at drop off and pick up points.

Parents are not permitted on school grounds. Parents and carers are not permitted to enter the school grounds. It is important to contact the school by phone or email beforehand if you wish to make an appointment.

Drop off time, before school:

Drop off time is between 8:30am and 8:45am. Students cannot arrive at school earlier than 8:30am.  All gates will be open: hall, art room, Kowhai Close and the skate park.

Pick up, after school:

Pick up time will be 3:15pm for Prep and their siblings (2:45pm on Mondays) and 3:30pm for Year 1-6 (3pm on Mondays). Parents who have children in Prep and siblings in other years must wait at the drop off area in front of the art room. The teachers will bring the Prep students out .

Parents of students in Year 1-6, please ask your child to meet you at a designated spot. If you are parking in the car park you must leave your car and collect your child in front of the hall or art room. Children are not to walk into the car park without an accompanying adult.

All gates will be open: hall, art room, Kowhai Close and the skate park.

COVID Safety

As our students return in greater numbers next week, I want to reassure all families that we will continue our many COVID safe practices including the following:

  • all staff are fully vaccinated
  • ventilation is a priority with windows and doors open
  • Air Purifiers are in all learning areas
  • hand sanitiser is readily available
  • regular hand washing is encouraged
  • P-2 students are welcome to wear masks (Yr 3 - 6 students and staff are required to wear mask while inside)
  • social distancing remains a priority when possible
  • staggered recess and lunch times
  • all visitors to the school grounds (including contractors, cleaners, external service providers, volunteers, parent helpers, etc) will need to be fully vaccinated
  • Our school cleaners perform extra cleaning duties every afternoon. This includes extra cleaning of high touch surfaces. Teachers will also be cleaning surfaces regularly during the day
  • Drink bottles - students must bring a water bottle to school each day with their name clearly marked
  • Canteen-  please see 'News from Around the School' section for an announcement 

We understand that some families may feel anxious about this move back to classroom teaching and learning. I can assure you that this decision has been taken on the basis of the best health advice available to our state.

More information about the return to school and coronavirus (COVID-19) can be found on the CECV website, which will continue to be updated.

Thank you for your continued support and patience during this time. I hope you all enjoy your long weekend and get to enjoy time out with family and friends.

We look forward to welcoming students back to the classroom.

Parent & Friends Association  

Thank you to the parents who nominated for executive roles on the P&F for 2022 at our AGM on Monday.

President: Fay Forde

Vice President: Melissa Bartolo

Secretary: to be filled

Treasurer: Megan Johnson

Social: Linda Roncelli

Fundraising: Jessie Nassar

Grounds: Justin Magro

I particularly would like to thank the members of the Executive committee this year: Melissa, Megan, Ronnie, Karina, Jenny, and Justin.

The next P&F meeting will be held 21 February 2022.

 

Darren Gibbons

Principal