Principal's News
Dear Parents/Carers,
The curse of living in “interesting times” eh? As I write today’s newsletter I read there are 3 new locally acquired COVID cases in Melbourne, which sounds a bit better than yesterday, however who knows what lies ahead.
Victoria has fought and won earlier skirmishes with this enemy and by the number of people going to get tested, by the wave of Victorians rolling up their sleeves to be vaccinated and by the manner in which Victorians are following the MEDICAL ADVICE, I am confident that we will again win this round in this ongoing battle with our common enemy.
School remains open to those children whose parents must work and no other arrangements for their care can be made. Our staff have suddenly changed gears to a Remote Learning teaching model and report excellent co-operation and attention to the tasks set by their students.
A very big “Thank you” to parents and grandparents who once again find themselves trying to balance homelife, working from home themselves, housework and goodness knows what else.
As we have said from the beginning of Remote Learning last year; All of us can only do our best. No one on the planet can do more than their best (despite some sports stars assuring us they gave 110%).
We are all hopeful that the Lockdown will end on Thursday night but we should all prepare ourselves for longer. Only a week ago we were all enjoying freedoms that the rest of the world were envious of. We will get back there again, it may take an extra week or so but we will get there. Please note, there will be no canteen if we are back at school on Friday.
CATHOLIC EDUCATION WEEK
Maybe it’s the “Hot Dog Day that is the jinx? Unfortunately last week’s celebrations of Catholic Education Week were cut short. The Religious Education Leaders of our local schools had worked very hard with Fr Michael to organise what was to be a truly joyful celebration of our identity as Catholic schools, which has had to be shelved for now, AND we missed out on Hot Dog day again. - Very disappointing.
However, the rest of the week was a lot of fun, particularly Thursday where we all enjoyed dressing up in historical costumes to mark 200 years of Catholic Education in Australia. Again, a very big thank you to parents and carers who had the children looking fantastic and to our staff who very much entered into the fun of the day.
A special mention to Jeremy Richardson who went that extra step in shaving his head to complete the Friar Tuck look - now that is commitment!
END OF DAY PICK - STUDENTS ATTENDING SCHOOL DURING REMOTE LEARNING
Could parents who are picking up their children by car, please collect from the front of the school in Hart Street.
ASSESSMENT CONVERSATIONS
Assessment Conversations are a very important part of the way in which we report to parents on their children’s progress at school. These meetings involve parents, teacher and student for the initial part of the conversation, before the student leaves and the adults have the opportunity to speak together without the child’s input.
Our teachers will give parents a brief written report at the end of this meeting, however it is the Conversation where most of the reporting will be done.
The Assessment conversations will commence on Tuesday, June 15th and will conclude on Tuesday June 22nd.
Parents are asked to schedule interviews with their child/ren’s teacher(s) via PAM. Bookings will open TODAY from 3:30 p.m. Interviews will be held in the school’s multi-purpose room.
ENROLMENTS Parents are reminded that Enrolment Application Forms for Foundation students for 2022 are due. Please drop them in to school at your convenience.
DIGITAL TATTOO
Our school is excited to be partnering with the Barwon Adolescent Taskforce to present some important education sessions for students (Grade 3 -6), their teachers and their parents concerning the opportunities and dangers that exist online for our kids.
Unfortunately, due to current restrictions, we have had to postpone these sessions. They will be re-scheduled for early Term 3. Watch this space for details!