FAMILY WEEK

Role of parents and families highlighted during the bicentenary of Catholic education in Australia

Catholic schools across Australia will celebrate Family Week from 8 – 14 August 2021, to recognise the significant contribution parents, carers and families have made to the foundation, growth, and continuity of Catholic schools in Australia over 200 years.

Family Week coincides with the Feast Day of Australia’s First Saint, Mary MacKillop, who was a passionate educator and advocate for children and families, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

COVID-19 - STAY AT HOME UNLESS IT IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY

The number of COVID-19 cases continues to present a serious risk to the community, with the Delta strain impacting young people and children more significantly than previous strains of COVID-19. The Chief Health Officer, Dr Kerry Chant, continues to strongly encourage parents and carers to keep children home unless it is absolutely necessary for them to attend school.

Any student who is unwell, even with very mild symptoms, must stay home. Any student who attends school with any COVID-19 symptoms will be sent home and must present a negative COVID-19 test and be free of symptoms before they return. Thank you for understanding the importance of these measures in keeping our students, staff and school community safe. 

ESSENTIAL WORKERS IN THE COMMUNITY

Parents who are essential workers and need to leave home to work are required to register their child/ren for attendance at school each day using the google form sent out on COMPASS. It is absolutely crucial that registration occurs in the 12 hour time frame (7:00am-7:00pm). At 7:00pm each evening, staffing decisions are made for the following day based on student numbers and our supervision obligations. Please do not phone or email after 7:00pm to register. If your circumstances change after you have registered your child/ren and they will be able to learn from home, please communicate this via email or phone message.

You are required to have your child at school between 8:40am-8:50am. If you arrive after this time, you and your child must wait in the car and phone the office. A member of staff will come out to walk your child safely into school as the office door and gates are locked at 8:50am. 

COMMUNICATING WITH CLASSROOM TEACHERS

If you have any questions regarding your child’s online learning, please contact the classroom teacher using the preferred mode of communication at the following times. Teachers will be engaged in planning online learning tasks, feedback and supervising students of essential workers at other times during the school day.

PANDEMIC FATIGUE - CARE FOR YOURSELF AND THOSE AROUND YOU  

While we can all experience pandemic fatigue in different ways, it is possible to counter its effects. Look out for some of these signs in yourself and those around you and take practical steps to be kind to yourself, stay connected, check in with each other, and seek professional support when needed.

The National Mental Health Commission has developed resources to help individuals lookout for some of the signs of fatigue, and shares steps that people can take to be kind to themselves and overcome these feelings.

 

VACCINATIONS STRONGLY ENCOURAGED

The NSW Government is strongly encouraging teachers and school staff, along with all NSW citizens, to be vaccinated as soon as possible, with all adults now able to access the Astra Zeneca vaccine.

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