Principal's Message
Dear Parents, Guardians and Friends,
I trust everyone is keeping themselves safe and well in a year that is certainly the strangest I have ever lived through. We have returned to a most unusual week. Another week of 'school holidays' for students and a return to work for the staff to get things in place for the next five weeks (at least I would say) of remote learning. The staff have prepared take home packs that will support the digital curriculum they will provide during this period. We have taken note of our own reflections on how remote learning worked last semester and on the feedback provided by parents and collated by our Family Schools Partnership Leader Rikki Winduss. The staff have been incredibly busy preparing to make this remote learning period as productive as possible for your children. Please do your best to support your child but as I wrote recently "Being Perfect isn't really an option!". This period of time is stressful for all involved and if not completing a set task at some stage is the best solution for your family then please choose to do this!
As shared recently, for those students who must attend school during this period due to parental commitments are to enter and exit through the front gate on Austin Road. They will be temperature tested at the front gate by a member of leadership and then signed in by another staff member on entering the school buildings. At pick up the duty teacher will bring the students to the front gate at 3.30pm for pick up. Obviously for those attending Happy Kids BASC, arrangements will continue where they are brought across to the school as a group in the morning and then move across from the front gate in the afternoon. For parents requiring an earlier pick up, or needing to enter the school to come to the office, please phone the school office and arrangements will be made. Students who are attending school are not required to be in uniform.
For all students Wednesdays will only have an on-line welcome session from class teachers before lessons for the day from the specialists. We had feedback at this slightly less academic day was much appreciated last term so we will continue it for this period.
A final reminder that Parent Teacher interviews are on Wednesday 22 July 2.00-6.30pm and Thursday 23 July 3.45-6.30pm. Just this once they will be on-line. These meetings are for 10 minutes commencing at the set time you select on www.schoolinterviews.com.au Enter in the code jcasy. Then go in and select the timeslot/s that suit you and you will receive a confirmation email. In the days before the interviews the class teachers will email out an online meeting invitation. I will close the interview timetable at 3.30pm on Monday 20th July.
The building project has been signed off and will commence on Monday 27th July. This should see it completed hopefully before Christmas as has been originally planned. I am obviously hugely excited regarding this as it will modernise the school for the future. That said, I feel it has been affirming to hear from builders and architects what good condition and how well the school is presented. I think this is a real credit to past and current staff and community for their passion in ensuring the learning spaces for the students have been kept as attractive as possible.
Our sign is currently down at the front of the school. In the longer term I would like to see an electronic sign placed there but the Brooking family have removed our old one and are having it modernised. Having seen the mock ups for the new design I am sure it will brighten our front entrance considerably.
Here is a prayer you may wish to share at home with your family
A Prayer to Combat the Coronavirus Pandemic*
Most Merciful God,
We come to You in our weakness.
We come to You in our fear.
We come to You with trust.
For You alone are our hope.
We place before You the disease present in our world.
We turn to You in our time of need.
Bring wisdom to doctors.
Give understanding to scientists.
Endow caregivers with compassion and generosity.
Bring healing to those who are ill.
Protect those who are most at risk.
Give comfort to those who have lost a loved one.
Welcome those who have died into Your Eternal Home.
Stabilize our communities.
Unite us in our compassion.
Remove all fear from our hearts.
Fill us with confidence in Your care.
(mention your particular concerns and prayers now)
Jesus, I trust in You.
Jesus, I trust in You.
Jesus I trust you.
Amen
Look after yourselves and let your light shine!.
May God Bless you.
Rod
School Attendance and Unexplained Absence
Please ensure you contact the school before 9:30am if your child is going to be absent or late by leaving a message on 9786 4736 and press #1.
If you are running late (after 9:00 am ) please attend the office to sign your child into school.
As per our policy this will be our morning routine for absences:
Parents will be contacted as soon as practicable on the morning a student is absent via a phone call or text message.
If parent does not reply or is unreachable the emergency contacts will be contacted by the school.
If there is still no response, and the school feels that the child is in danger, the police will be contacted.
Ongoing unexplained absences or lack of cooperation regarding student attendance will result in a formal conference being organized. Unresolved attendance issues will be referred to D.H.H.S.
This is a legal requirement.