COVID-19 UPDATE AND REMINDERS

I thank you for your continued support of our COVID-19 Safety Plan. Below is an update from Catholic Schools NSW (CSNSW), following the COVID-19 cases in Victoria.

It is important that schools continue to follow the COVID-19 Guidelines. CSNSW wishes to highlight the following:

• Staff and students should not attend work or school if unwell, even with mild symptoms of COVID-19. Any person with any COVID-19 symptoms should be sent home and should not return until they have received a negative test result and are symptom-free.
• In circumstances where children have other medical reasons for recurrent symptoms a letter from their GP is sufficient to negate the requirement for a negative test. 
• Anyone who is unwell with COVID-19 symptoms are strongly encouraged to get tested and self-isolate until a negative result is received. 

Schools must be vigilant in implementing: 

• Personal hygiene, physical distancing, cleaning and record keeping practices at these events.
• Where possible to use outdoor areas, weather permitting or large open spaces to enable adequate physical distancing.
• All visitors to a school site must be well and symptom free, comply with sign-in arrangements, and the 1.5m physical distancing requirements.
• Staff and visitors to schools and offices should maintain 1.5m distance from other people where practicable. Avoid congestion of groups of visitors in specific areas where possible.
• All visitors to a school site must comply with sign-in arrangements. This includes the requirement to sign the school sign-in sheet where they acknowledge that they will comply with the COVID-19 requirements for visitors, contractors and service providers each time they visit. 

SCHOOL DISCO

A huge thank you to Claude S from Pro Sound and Lightning for supplying all the sound and lighting equipment for the disco in addition to his amazing DJ skills. Your generosity in supporting this event each year is very much appreciated. Thank you also to Rebecca A and Lucy H who coordinated this P&F event. There were also lots of parent vounteers supervising on the night- thank you for keeping the students safe and focussed on their dance moves!

STUDENT SPORTING ACHIEVEMENT

Edwina had a fantastic tournament at the 2021 Girls Hockey State Championships. She was named in the NSWPSSA State Girls Hockey Merit Team 2021.

Malachy also had a great tounament with MacKillop being undefeated and finishing top of their pool. Malachy scored the only goal of the semifinal which went into golden point. Unfortunately the team lost 2-1 in the consolation final to South Coast.

CEDoW ATTENDANCE POLICY AND ST BRIGID PROCEDURES

St Brigid's has recently reviewed its Attendance Policy and Procedures in line with the Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong (CEDoW) Attendance Policy (Attendance Policy).

Under this policy it states that it is the parents' responsibility for regular attendance and that they are legally obligated under the Education Act 1990.

Unsatisfactory school attendance is when:

• Regular absences without explanation occurs, this includes partial absences
• Explanations not accepted by the Principal
• Extended periods of absence without an explanation

Lateness is a partial absence which must be explained. All absences must be explained to the school within 7 days of the absence.

Permission to leave the school early must have been authorised in advance by the Principal or Assistant Principal in the Principal's absence.

Parents/carers must provide an explanation by phone, email, SMS or in person to the school:

• if your child is late for school, explaining this partial absence;
• if your child is absent for a full day from school, explaining this full absence; or
• if you are planning for your child to be absent from school, explaining this partial or full absence.

Medical certificates are required for extended absences due to medical reasons. Respiratory symptoms reporting must be followed in accrodance with COVID-19 procedures.

Acceptable reasons for a partial or full absence include:

• Medical illness
• Medical appointment
• Pre-approved travel. It is encouraged that travel is undertaken during school holiday periods
• Other explained absence i.e funeral, special event, religious ceremony or critical incident
• Domestic necessity i.e misadventure, unforeseen event, serious illness of an immediate family member
• Natural disaster
• Other school activity
• Elite Arts/Sport

If absent for 10 consecutive days parents/cares must request and complete the school Application for Extended Leave form.

From Term 3 2021, in accordance with CEDoW guidelines, attendance letters will be sent out twice per term in Weeks 5 and 10 to parents/carer via COMPASS, in regards to unexplained absences. Strategies will be adopted in accordance with the CEDoW Attendance Policy where attendance is unsatisfactory.

Thank you to all parents/carers of St Brigid's for your ongoing support in this matter and in ensuring the regular attendance and wellbeing of your child.

CATHEDRAL CAR PARKING

This is a great way to contribute to our best fundraising opportunity. This year we are working towards adding to our play equipment and hopefully purchasing a geoclimber. We also need to replace some flexible furniture items for the classroom.  

Can you assist at the upcoming events?

If you can assist with car parking at any of the above events, please click on the link below to add your name.