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Well we have light at the end of the tunnel, with the easing of COVID-19 restrictions and students returning to school.
This time of lockdown has been tough, but from this tough time, many positive things have started to grow and flourish. Think of the new things you have learnt. Personally, I have learnt how to work in TEAMS as opposed to working with a team! The students have developed skills in self-guided learning and research. They have discovered new skills in IT and applied them. They have engaged in collaboration through their online learning. They have discovered how important it is to be persistent and resilient when things get tough and work can be challenging. They have discovered they can soar as high as they like when it comes to online learning. Students have discovered Youtube channels that promote creativity and artistic skills.
Some examples of amazing self-directed learning achievements during this lockdown are that some kindergarten students now know all their single sounds and some basic sight words and are engaging in writing simple sentences with correct punctuation and spelling. Some Year 3 students now have automatic recall of all their multiplication tables right up to 12x. A number of students in Years 4 and 5 have demonstrated outstanding skills in the areas of being organised and persistent, submitting work in a timely and efficient manner, thus also displaying amazing self-discipline and a desire to be always learning and owning that learning.
So, as we come together for full time schooling again from June 1, we eagerly await and anticipate the new learning opportunities that the remainder of Term 2 will bring. Learning something new is hard work, but so much fun when it is mastered.
Looking forward to the weeks of fun for the remainder of Term 2!
Take care and continue to stay safe.
Mary-Anne Jennings
Principal of St K’s whose learning intention for term 2 is mastering “Flipgrid”.
Things to remember as we return to school during COVID-19
Things to remember as we return to school during COVID-19.
- Parents and visitors are still not permitted on site.
- Pick up times are staggered – K,1,2 with no siblings finish at 2:45
Years 3-6 plus families finish at 3pm
- Entry and exit to the school through the Andrew St gate.
- No canteen facilities
- No bubblers – students MUST bring a drink bottle
- Students to bring their own pencil case with stationery items included
Some changes that have been imposed:
- No assemblies
- No contact sport or games
- No excursions
Lunchtime play
- No soccer because it is a contact sport
- Bring a handball that we can wash after use
- Bring a skipping rope
Hand hygiene
- Students will wash their hands throughout the day. They will follow up with sanitizer. Hands will be washed before and after eating, before and after play, before and after visiting the toilet, after using a tissue.
- All classrooms have hand sanitizer.
- All classrooms have tissues.
- All desks are disinfected daily for extra hand hygiene.
Healthy eating to promote learning and positive behaviour.
- Children need healthy food to provide energy to learn.
- Healthy food helps fight viruses
- Foods with lots of sugar can cause children to be easily distracted, inattentive and fidgety (you may have witnessed this during home learning) – please restrict packing of roll-ups, lollies, Tiny Teddy biscuits or similar, LCM bars.
- Pack healthy snacks and lunches – sandwiches, wraps, salads, carrot sticks, cucumber pieces, rice cakes, cherry tomatoes, cheese and crackers, cabanossi, diced apple, mandarins (see article at the end of this newsletter for more ideas)
Toilet cleaning
Our toilets are being cleaned twice a day, along with handrails and other hard surfaces the children touch frequently. Toilets are cleaned by a contractor from 12-2pm each school day and again before school starts the following day.
Winter uniform
All students are to be in full winter uniform from June 1. Sports jackets are only to be worn as an extra layer on very cold days. Navy jumpers are to be worn on a Monday-Thursday with the regular uniform. Ties are worn by both girls and boys. Friday is sports day where the tracksuit can be worn. We have great pride in our school, and this is reflected in the wearing of the correct school uniform. Please ensure that you follow the school uniform policy and do not wear coloured hats, beanies or scarves to school. Jewellery is restricted to one set of studs or sleepers in the ear, 1 watch and 1 plain gold or silver bangle only. No fancy earrings or decorative bracelets. Hair ribbons and scrunchies are to be navy only.
Sick children
At this time sick children are not to come to school. If you suspect your child may be coming down with a virus or a cold or something else, please check their temperature before sending them to school. It is much easier and safer to keep them at home rather than leave work early to pick up a sick child from school. Signs of your child not being able to attend school due to illness include:
- Persistent cough
- Sneezing
- Runny nose
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Conjunctivitis
Children should be free of any fevers, vomiting and diarrhoea for 24 hours before returning to school. Seasonal cold and influenza will also increase as the cooler weather sets in, so we ask all parents to work with the school to ensure we limit the spread of all illness. Remember we are all in this together, keeping each other safe and stopping the spread of viruses at this tricky time.
Messages from the Assistant Principal
Feedback Loop- the importance of learning from the past to inspire our future!
At this week’s staff meeting we shared insights and considered how we can use the learnings from the current crisis to inspire our school community towards further growth and improvement.
These are the insights our school community have shared with us:
- We have strengthened opportunities for connection and relationships with families. We have had to navigate new ways to connect
- The learning of new tech! (eg. Teams/zoom/emails)
- Innovation and new ways of learning have been explored and implemented; incredibly exciting! Having a passion for innovation for teachers and students alike
- Recognising students’ competence in self directing their own learning
- Promoting play; rich tasks and open-ended experiences
- Providing choice for students (how they might choose to present their work- eg. powerpoint /video)
- Promotion of student skills to organise and self-regulate
- Working in partnerships between home and school to sustain the fabulous school culture at St Kevin’s.
It is time to celebrate- I have some fabulous photos to share with you; our school community have a lot to be proud of.
This week we are celebrating Families Week. It would be great if across our community we could spend the remainder of this week making moments matter, times really do pass quickly and we can’t get those precious, enduring, wonder moments back. Those moments you’re your child needed you, reached out, or showed you how much they love you… because they wanted you, your help. Truly as they get older as parents we do not rate as highly. So, this week, let us reflect on the importance of our families and take the time to make moments matter.
I found this prayer to share with you
Timeless God, in our families and school we have ways of showing care for each other.
We are called to reach out to family members, our school, neighbours, community members and people in our world who experience hard times.
Help us to make each moment count and to make time for things that bring refreshment
To sit and dream
To chat to our family and friends
Help us to make a difference, to pray and to rest,
To notice the wonder of your creation,
To look into one another's eyes,
To ask hard questions
And to wait for the answers
Help us to make time not to hurry,
Fill this day with miracle moments
When life makes sense, help us see clearly
Give us moments when we embrace you alive in our lives
When we hear good news,
When we forgive and are forgiven
Give us moments of real honest and moments of deep awareness
Let there be moments when we are moved to tears,
And moments of laughter pouring from our soul
Let there be moments of gratitude and moments when we behold your face
Be with us throughout this day, gentle God.
Make the rhythm of our day keep pace with the cadence of your love.
“Let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action” 1Jn 3:16-24
Yaama,
Next week is National Reconciliation Week, 27 May to 3 June.
This year’s theme is ‘In This Together’. How appropriate given the current situation we are in right now!
Why these dates?
National Reconciliation Week (NRW) is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.
Australia celebrates National Reconciliation Week from 27 May to 3 June every year. These dates commemorate two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey – the 1967 Referendum acknowledging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and the High Court Mabo decision, respectively.
National Reconciliation Week is preceded by National Sorry Day on 26 May. National Sorry Day helps people come together to reflect on the past but also talk about what is needed to bring healing to the Stolen Generations, their families and communities.
I think the following message from Reconciliation Australia captures the essence of the importance of National Reconciliation Week.
National Reconciliation Week 2020 Our theme for #NRW2020 – In this together – is now resonating in ways we could not have foreseen when we announced it last year, but it reminds us whether in a crisis or in reconciliation we are all in this together. Reconciliation is a journey for all Australians – as individuals, families, communities, organisations and importantly as a nation. At the heart of this journey are relationships between the broader Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We all have a role to play when it comes to reconciliation, and in playing our part we collectively build relationships and communities that value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, histories, cultures, and futures. The logo for National Reconciliation Week (NRW) 2020 is based on artwork created by Biripi/Bunjalung woman Nikita Ridgeway entitled, “Reconciliation, a continuing journey of growth and togetherness.” The artwork’s design elements represent Australians together on a national journey of reconciliation while paying homage to the past and recognising the present. Reconciliation is a continuing journey of growth and togetherness. |
I encourage you to view this excellent short video clip from Reconciliation Australia.
Our History, Our Story, Our Future
Next week in their classrooms the children will learn about Reconciliation and participate in a variety of fantastic and engaging educational activities to enhance their knowledge and understanding. We will also have a Prayer Service in each classroom to give thanks and praise to our Creator God, to pray for all in our school, parish and wider Australian community, and to bless us on our reconciliation journey because we are ‘in this together’.
Take care, and God bless.
Phil Taylor
Aboriginal Education Teacher
National Simultaneous Storytime
Next Wednesday, all students will be participating in National Simultaneous Storytime. We will join the rest of the nation to enjoy the wonderful story called Whitney and Britney Chicken Divas!
Library Borrowing
Could all students please return their library books to school next week as we will need to complete a process of sanitisation. We will inform you of a new library borrowing process in the coming weeks.
Remember to keep up with your Premiers Reading Challenge!
Dear current OOSH Parents,
Can parents please check their child's Before and After school care bookings using the parent portal? Some changes were made due to Covid 19 restrictions and therefore may not reflect what days you require care for your child/ren. Hope to see you all back at oosh soon.
Thanks Emily
Any further questions please contact Emily on 0418 963 812