From the Principal...
COVID-19
As a school, we are taking measures to reduce the spread of COVID 19. The actions we take now can help to manage its spread. The three most important things each and everyone of us can do to help manage the spread of the virus are:
Wash your hands regularly and thoroughly.
Sneeze into your elbow or a tissue - then dispose of the tissue and wash your hands afterwards.
Keep students at home if they are unwell. Schools have been advised to send staff or students home if they show signs of being unwell throughout the day.
In addition hand sanitiser and antibacterial wipes are available throughout the school.
If you are planning on travelling overseas or are welcoming overseas visitors, please let the office know via email smaadmin@arm.catholic.edu.au
The following school events have been cancelled or postponed:
- School Assemblies on Fridays for the remainder of Term 1 (20/03/2020 & 03/04/2020) - cancelled
- STEP Day at O'Connor for Year 6 on 02/04/2020 - cancelled
- Stations of the Cross - 09/04/2020 - cancelled
- Family Forum for Term 1 is cancelled
- School Masses/Student Participation in Parish Masses/Reconciliation until the end of Term 1 - cancelled
- Thursday afternoon Touch Football Competition - cancelled until Term 4.
- Armidale Autumn Festival Float 04/04/2020 - cancelled
- KidsLit Quiz - 19/03/2020 - postponed - date to be advised.
- Mary Poppins Performance for Years 2,3&4 - postponed
- P&F AGM - 25/03/2020 - postponed to Term 2 (Date to be confirmed)
- School Cross Country 27/03/2020 - postponed to Term 2 (Date to be confirmed)
- School Art Show - 08/04/2020 - postponed (Date to be confirmed).
- Personalised Plan meetings scheduled for the end of this term will be postponed to next term and may then be via phone.
The following Diocesan/Polding Sporting Events have also been postponed until further notice:
- Diocesan Winter Trials - 20th March, 2020
- NSWCPS Swimming - 25th March, 2020
- Polding AFL trials - 27th March, 2020
- Diocesan Touch Football Trials - 3rd April, 2020
- NSWPSSA Swimming - 6th April, 2020
In addition we have also been advised that the ANZAC March will not go ahead and the Eisteddfod has been cancelled.
Any contact/meetings between parents and teachers will need to be via phone or email.
Although current advice from the Australian Government is that schools will not be closing, it is important that we are prepared for one or multiple school closures. Principals and schools, supported by the Catholic Schools Office, are currently working together to prepare for curriculum to be delivered remotely if necessary. In order to be ready can parents of students who do not have a working device and/or access to the internet, please email me amcrae@arm.catholic.edu.au and we will organise accordingly to cater for these students.
If you have any concerns or queries please contact me via email amcrae@arm.catholic.edu.au .
Thank You!
Over the weekend we had an individual or group of people access the paddock and using paint they drew inappropriate pictures on grass, the basketball court and a wall. A huge thank you to David and Narelle Dowse who came in and remove it for us following a visit from the police to the scene.
NAPLAN - Year 3 & 5
The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is a point in time assessment of literacy and numeracy skills that are essential for every child to progress through school and life. Students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 participate in the annual NAPLAN tests in reading, writing, conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy.
Our school will be participating in NAPLAN Online between 12 and 22 May 2020.
Excessive preparation for NAPLAN Online is not recommended. Students can use the public demonstration site (https://www.nap.edu.au/online-assessment/public-demonstration-site) to familiarise themselves with the functionalities and types of questions they will experience in NAPLAN Online.
If you have any questions about NAPLAN Online, please contact your child’s teacher.