15 May 2020

Email Us

Dear Families

With a further easing of restrictions today by the state government, there is a feeling of a return to a more normal routine, at least at school. The four-phase return, designed last month by Catholic Schools NSW and the state government, is moving quicker than initially planned. At present we are in Phase 1, one-day a week for students but will move to Phase 2 in Week 5. In Week 6, we will begin Phase 3, which is the full-time return for all students, adhering to social distancing measures and hygienic practices. At some time in the future, we will enter Phase 4, which will be school life as normal!

This week’s arrangements have gone smoothly. Teachers have thoroughly enjoyed having the students in front of them and interacting with them in person, rather than through a device. Thank you again for your assistance with this. There is light now at the end of the tunnel but I do request that we adhere to the arrangements as outlined in yesterday’s communication until we enter Phase 3.

The Catholic Schools Office is informing schools on assessment and reporting procedures for Semester 1. We will keep you updated as more information comes to hand. At this stage, a modified report is planned, along with the possibility of some form of parent teacher interview.

The NSW Office of Sport has advised that all athletic carnivals are cancelled up to the beginning of Term 3. At this stage we are awaiting news on whether the next level of carnivals are to proceed so that we may organise a modified carnival.

We look forward to Week 6 when all students are back. If your family decides that for health reasons you do not wish to the children to return to school, we ask that you contact the school office to discuss how the school may support you during this time.

God bless

Michael Gallagher
Principal

2020 Terms

Friday 3 July: End Term 2
Tuesday 21 July: Term 3 Commences
Thursday 24 September: End Term 3
Monday 12 October: Term 4 Commences
Wednesday 16 December: End Term 4 for students

Please note that dates may be subject to change. Remember to check your Compass App for any updates.

Phased Return to School Dates

Monday 18 May: BLUE Colour House

Tuesday 19 May: GREEN Colour House
Wednesday 20 May: RED Colour House
Thursday 21 May: GOLD Colour House
Friday 22 May: Teachers at school, planning for further learning and monitoring student progress. Also, contacting parents or students where necessary.

Week 5 25-28 May: Two colour houses for two days each
Fri 29 May: Students with working families only and teacher preparation

Week 6 1 - 5 June: All students return to school full time

Students are to wear their sport uniform on their allocated day.
Students attending on days other than their allocated day are to wear their winter uniform.
Parents are requested not to come into the school playground. Drop off and pick up will be via the drive through zone in the car park.
If your child is showing any sign of illness, please keep them at home. Any child showing symptoms will be sent home.

THIS WEEK'S BIRTHDAYS

Happy Birthday to the following students who celebrate a birthday this week.

14 May: Vitoria L and Jacinta W
15 May: Ryan W and Thomas D
17 May: Lucy W

SCHOOL NEWS

Enrolments 2021

Do you have a sibling starting Kindergarten in 2021? Enrolments are now open.

Regards
Julia Postle

Religious Education

DEVELOPING FAITH IN OUR CHILDREN.
Teachers in Catholic Schools have always acknowledged parents as the primary educators of their children. Lessons children learn from their parents include: healthy habits, manners, safety, reading and counting. Learning from home also includes lessons in faith.

We all know children learn far more from what you do rather than what you say. If children see parents engaged in prayer they too will pray. If children see their parents act with charity they too will learn to be generous.

Developing faith at home includes praying. Prayers are usually associated with prayer before bed, in the morning or before meals. It also includes praying as a family. Prayer could simply be reading a Scripture passage or viewing a video and discussing its message to your family.

Developing faith at home includes noticing and celebrating creation and life around you. This could include taking the opportunity to share family stories and communicating the specialness of each child in the family. It includes noticing nature and developing a sense of wonder and awe at creation itself.

This link provides a moment to pause and pray. Prayer by yourself is wonderful but prayer with your child is wondrous. This hymn gives the message “Do not be Afraid” and is performed by David Hass.

Please feel free to browse the following web site. It might open a conversation about faith in your home.

Primary URL
Username: dbb.cso.nsw
Password: 42wishHAVE
EXP: 19/07/2020

Link to a user guide for Understanding Faith.

Our Diocese has implemented a series of Zoom coffee morning and Zoom wine meetings to reflect upon and discuss spirituality in the home. Click here for information.

Yours in Catholic Education,
Mrs Kerrie Wetzlar

COVID 19 Procedures for Students

Students are to:

Wash their hands when arriving at school
Wash hands after recess, lunch and sport activities
Bring their own water bottles. Do not drink from bubblers.
Sneeze or cough into their elbow
Not to touch their face
Not share cups, food, drinks or utensils

COVID 19 Procedures for Parents

Do not enter the school. Please drop children at the gate.
If you have been given permission to enter the school, sanitise hands before entry.
Late arrivals and early leavers will be entered by the office staff.
Keep students at home if unwell.

COVID 19 Procedures for Visitors

Sanitise hands before entry into the school
All visitors required to sign in using the Compass device. When finished wipe screen with antibacterial wipe/spray.
Complete the questionnaire

Scholastic Book Club - closes today

Scholastic Book Club closes today. To order from this issue click on the image below or go to:
Scholastic.com.au/Book-Club/virtual-catalogue-1/

Place your order on LOOP as normal. We will receive your order here to our school like normal. Once your order arrives, we will contact you to arrange for collection:
Books will be delivered to your child’s classroom for them to take home when they are next at school.

Premier's Reading Challenge

With more and more students staying at home now and public places closing in reaction to the coronavirus, families are finding themselves with a lot of time together at home. This is the perfect opportunity for all children to challenge themselves in the Premier’s Reading Challenge. There have been some changes to the rules since April 15 so please check the l ink.

All students have their own personal login. Once logged in they can check if the books they have at home are on the booklists. It is more accurate to use the actual booklist checklists than the general search option. Students can search for a book using title, author or category. The student site is a very useful tool too.

Please enter completed books immediately onto the student’s online reading record.  At present, it is quite difficult to access hard copies of books but we are able to access some very good online eBooks.

Login Id: SKMV | Password: school
and:
Story Box Library   | username: stkieransmv |   password: school

Insights - Michael Grose

Michael Grose is a former teacher and one of Australia's leading parenting and educational writers and speakers. He is the author of nine books for parents, plus 'Parenting Ideas' which offers a wide variety of parenting and educational resources from renowned experts including himself.

We would like to share one of his articles with you: Establishing a personal learning centre at home.

Parent Hub

The Catholic Schools Office Broken Bay has launched The Parent Hub COVID 19 to support parents and carers during this unprecedented time. The Hub includes information on Home Based learning, fee relief, wellbeing, working from home and other helpful resources. To access this site click here Parent Hub.

PARISH NEWS

All Masses Have Been Postponed

For all Parish Bulletins from the Catholic Community of North Harbour please click here.

Parish Masses Live Streaming Link or via YouTube.

WALKING THE WAY

Walking the Way

This is a school-based initiative in the Catholic Diocese of Broken Bay, designed to encourage parents in their sacred task of accompanying their children on their journey with God. There are four elements:

Book and Video
E-Bulletin
Parent Gatherings
Annual Retreat

To access their latest E-Bulletin please click here.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Free Online Workshops from CatholicCare

CatholicCare’s ‘Growing Big Lives’ series will be delivering 2 of our 4 workshops online FREE. Please click on the links for further information. Workshops are targeted for parents of primary school ages children.

Workshop – Family Relationship | Friday 22^nd May | 10am-11am
Workshop – Mental Health | Friday 29^th May | 10am – 11am

To register email: intakefs@catholiccaredbb.org.au