From the Principal's Desk
CONGRATULATIONS ST BRIGID'S STAFF
I am pleased to inform you that the St Brigid's staff have well and truly met the Public Health Order a head of time and ALL 29 staff members have received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccination. The staff are committed to ensuring all members of our community remain safe and healthy.
WELCOME BACK KINDY AND YEAR 1 STUDENTS
We are so excited anticipating the return of our Kindergarten and Year 1 students this coming Monday. It will be wonderful to see their beautiful smiling faces! We look forward to once again engaging in face-to-face learning, striving for excellence in faith, learning and well-being.
FACE MASKS FOR STUDENTS
The level 3 restrictions clearly state that masks are strongly recommended to be worn by all students, at all times, indoors and outdoors. Please assure your child that we will support them if you choose to send your child to school for the staged return wearing a face mask.
SUMMER UNIFORM
We welcome the students back to school in full summer uniform. Sports uniform will only be worn ONCE a week this term on a Thursday.
GIRLS’ SUMMER UNIFORM
- Green check dress with red tie or bottle green culottes with white peter pan collared shirt
- Short white fold down socks
- Black leather shoes
- Green school hat
- Green school bag
- Green school jumper or cardigan
- Red or bottle green hair ties
BOYS’ SUMMER UNIFORM
- White short sleeve collared shirt
- Grey stubbie shorts
- Short turn over grey socks with school stripes
- Black leather shoes
- Green school hat
- Green school bag
- Green school jumper or cardigan
RETURN TO FACE-FACE LEANRING
Under the new timeline announced by the NSW Premier, students across the state will now return to face-to-face learning according to the following schedule:
- 18 October 2021: Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 12
- 25 October 2021: All remaining year groups
To assist us with a smooth transition back to face-to-face learning, we seek your ongoing support and request that students continue remote learning and do not attend school before their scheduled return date. Of course, supervision will remain available for those students who have no option to learn from home during Week 3, Term 4. However, students who return before their scheduled week will continue remote learning under supervision and will not participate in face-to-face learning.
COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS DURING THE STAGED RETURN
During the staged return, our school will follow the prescribed NSW Health Level 3 / Level 3 Plus restrictions, which apply across NSW. These COVID-safe settings will remain in place until we receive direction from NSW Health that restrictions can be eased.
For details regarding the activities that are not permitted or must be modified please read through the Level 3 restrictions. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the school and we will be happy to provide further information.
Please note the following arrangements that will be in place at our school from 18 October 2021 until further notice:
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Drop off and pick up |
Morning drop off will be from 8:35am - 8:50am via the car zone. Alternatively, students walking or riding to school will enter via the pedestrian gate in Vickery Street. On arrival the student/s proceed directly to class.
Afternoon pick up will commence at 2:55pm - 3:10pm. The car pick up zone is the safest option and the preferred mode of dismissal. However, if you absolutely need to walk to pick up your child/ren, please wait outside the gate at Chrysalis Park at 2:55pm and adhere to the Level 3 restriction guidelines. Please ensure that you are physically distant (1.5m) from other adults and not mingling. Students riding their bikes from school will exit through the gate in Chrysalis Park. |
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Separation of students by year/cohorts |
Students will be learning, playing and interacting in their class groups only. There will be no mingling of class groups at any time. |
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Staggered breaks for recess and lunch |
Due to the size of our school, staggered breaks will not be necessary, however, we will only use the oval for recess and lunch breaks. Each class group will be allocated a designated area to eat and play. There will be no mingling of class groups. |
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Face masks |
Staff: Masks will be worn by teachers and staff at all times, indoors and outdoors. Primary students: Masks are strongly recommended to be worn by all students, at all times, indoors and outdoors. Some exemptions apply. Please see the Level 3 / Level 3 Plus restrictions for more detail about face masks. |
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Cleaning |
Enhanced daily COVID-19 cleaning arrangements (with a focus on high-touch surfaces) will remain in place until further notice. |
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Responding to a positive case of COVID-19 |
CEDoW has an established process for responding when a member of a school community tests positive for COVID-19. In the event this occurs, we will work closely with the Catholic Education Office and the Public Health Unit to rapidly inform impacted families and ensure we complete all required steps to safely reopen. |
While under Level 3 restrictions, parents and carers must:
- follow the physical distancing advice and avoid gathering outside school gates
- adhere to mask-wearing requirements in accordance with the Public Health Order
- remain outside school grounds (some exceptions apply for vulnerable students or students with a disability)
- When an exception allows a parent or carer to enter school grounds, they must sign in using both the Service NSW QR code and the CEDoW Quick Sign-In iPad
VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS
From 18 October 2021, only staff who have received two doses of an approved COVID-19 vaccine or have a medical contraindication certificate will be permitted on school grounds. Please click here for more information regarding the application of the Public Health (COVID-19 Vaccination of Education and Care Workers) Order 2021 in Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong schools.
There is no requirement for students to be vaccinated before returning to face-to-face learning.
If your child has a medical vulnerability that you believe will prevent them from returning to school according to the staged return timeline, please contact the school as soon as possible to discuss your circumstances.
NSW Health strongly urges all students aged 12-15 years to receive two doses of either Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines as soon as possible.
- There is currently sufficient supply of the Moderna vaccine to community pharmacies and the Pfizer vaccine to General Practitioners. Bookings can be made via the Vaccine Clinic Finder. Depending on location, bookings are available within the next few days.
- COVID-19 vaccination is the best protection against severe illness and also reduces the risk of spreading COVID-19 to others. Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 now will help to protect both you, your family and your school community
The following fact sheets regarding the Moderna vaccine and young people are available:
- Commonwealth Government fact sheet
- Children aged 12-15 years require parental or guardian consent to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. For more information, see the COVID-19 vaccination FAQs for parents and guardians.
VENTILATION
All CEDoW schools have been supported by the Catholic Education Office to complete a school ventilation review. The results—including any identified adjustments—will be addressed in line with advice from NSW Health and the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS).
The advice from NSW Health and the NCIRS when it comes to ventilation of classrooms is that simple measures are the most effective. Opening windows and doors when possible and using fans to direct outdoor air in and opting for outdoor learning improves the ventilation of classrooms and learning spaces.
Ventilation is just one of a series of COVID-safe measures in place at our school, which also include:
- Service NSW and CEDoW check-in systems
- Vaccination of staff and adults in the community
- Face masks
- Staggered timetables, pick up and drop off
- Restricting access of visitors, including parents/carers, to essential personnel only
- Use of outdoor spaces
- Good personal hygiene and social distancing
- Staying at home if unwell and getting tested with even the mildest of symptoms
These are all measures to help keep schools safe and we seek your support with the implementation of these measures to assist in keeping our school and the wider community safe.
OTHER ORGANISATIONAL MATTERS
Please ensure your child has everything they require to start the term in the most successful way.
- Pencil case with all the necessary equipment in good working order
- iPad and headphones in good working order (Year 2-6)
- Drink bottle with their name on it
- Crunch and sip container with their name on it
- Lunch box with their name on it
- 1 roll of paper towel per student
- School hat with their name on it
- Summer uniform worn Monday – Wednesday and Friday
- Sports uniform only worn on a Thursday (Gymnastics program will commence in Week 5 for 6 weeks)
ACTIVITIES NOT PERMITTED OR ON HOLD – AS DIRECTED BY NSW HEALTH
Schools will stop the following activities during school hours or within school grounds:
- Singing, chanting, group repetition and choirs
- Sport (except for sport within existing PDHPE classes)
- Emergency drills
- Inter-school activities and carnivals and all community events
- Assemblies
- School performances, productions, concerts, speech nights and award presentations
- Excursions, camps, field trips and principal-endorsed activities for students
- P&F activities, including meetings (unless held online only)
ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECT - BUSH TUCKER GARDEN AND DRY RIVER BED
Following another successful application for a $2000 environment grant from CEDoW we completed the proposed projects this week.
The Djeera Bush Tucker Garden is an environmental project which addresses a number of Key Learning Areas. Named in recognition of the Dharawal people’s name for Mt Keira, the foothills at which St Brigid’s Catholic Primary School sits. The Dharawal people have an ancient tradition of utilising the plants in their environment for food and medicine and for their stewardship of the land.
The Djeera Bush Tucker Garden addresses the environmental issues of sustainability and land management.
The Woolyungah Dry River Bed is named in recognition of the Dharawal people’s name for Wollongong, meaning five islands. The Dharawal people are distinguished as fresh water or salt water people depending on whether they occupied the coastal regions or the plateaus and inland river valleys. The Woolyungah Dry River Bed relates to the ephemeral nature of water within the Australian landscape and the power of water to shape the land into river beds on a seasonal basis.
and let perpetual light shine upon him
May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Amen.
