Dear Parents

Welcome to Term 4. The coming weeks will be about social interaction, emotional and student wellbeing. Besides learning, part of the day will be ensuring the importance of each teacher devoting time to listen their students about how they are feeling and addressing any anxieties they might have. This will be an essential part of their return to normal schooling.

The best learning environment for students is in the classroom and we are looking forward to welcoming back our staff and students in Term 4. We know that while there will be excitement, there will also be some anxiety and uncertainty about being back together at school.

Recent evidence shows that very little COVID transmission happens between children in school settings, and only a very small number of children who contract COVID-19 get seriously ill. However, to support school safety we are requiring all staff on site to be fully vaccinated,

We have worked with NSW Health on our COVID-safe plan to return to school sites and have developed effective practices to support this, including staff vaccinations, mask wearing, reduced mingling of staff and student groups, ventilation in classrooms and continued good hygiene and cleaning.

Students are reminded daily to follow strict hygiene practices like:

∙ regularly washing hands

∙ not sharing drinks or food

∙ coughing or sneezing into their elbow, or else using a tissue which should be put in the tissue bin  straight away

∙ using their own bottle for drinking –bubblers at this stage are turned off 

Reminder:

Students will return to face-to-face learning at school in the following order:

∙ from 18 October –Kindergarten, Year 1

∙ from 25 October – Yrs 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6

School attendance

All students should be at school on the date indicated for their year group, unless:

∙ they have a medical certificate which says they can’t return to school due to a      condition or illness

∙ they are currently unwell

∙ they have been asked by NSW Health to self-isolate.

Masks will be mandatory for all staff while they are indoors and outdoors on school sites. Masks are strongly recommended for primary students both indoors and outdoors.

Students should bring their own masks where possible, but schools will have back-up supplies just in case.

Classroom doors and windows will remain open and fans and air-conditioners will be set to use outside air, where possible.

Schools will continue to receive additional cleaning in line with advice from NSW Health. We have a plentiful supply of soap, hand sanitiser, toilet paper, paper towels and disinfectant . 

Break times, Arrivals and Dismissals- please refer to Mr Hoctor’s section of the newsletter.

Staff Changes

Miss Figeuira will be on leave from 25^thOctober week. Miss Phillips and Mrs Crofts will teach Year 1 until Miss Figueira’s return.

Miss Phillips – Monday and Tuesday

Mrs Crofts – Wednesday, Thursday and Friday

Mrs Pulbrook our wonderful P.E. teacher will be retiring at the end of the year. She has been an amazing colleague, organiser and promotor of sport in our school. Her preparation for Friday lessons, carnivals and sporting opportunities for our boys and girls has been exceptional. The school will miss her.  I wish her every best wish for time with family and friends in the next chapter of her life.

I also wish to announce that I will be retiring at the end of the year after 45 years in Catholic Education. My nine years at St Patrick’s has been a wonderful experience. I am proud of our many accomplishments. I have enjoyed not only your generous support but your friendship as well. Hopefully with restrictions further lifted I will be able to connect with you personally before the end of the term.

Special thanks to our Parents and Friends Association who have represented our community so well and have achieved so much.

I have been privileged in working alongside the most amazing and dedicated staff and students.  I have truly felt each day has been a blessing here, enjoying working with our boys and girls in the classroom, on the playground, everywhere.

Please keep me in your prayers for the next stage of my life’s journey.

The process of finding a new Principal will occur over the next few weeks and I wish her/him every best wish for the future and know that they will be part of an amazing group of staff, students and parent community.

Blessings and stay safe for the coming weeks ahead.

Mrs Anne Duggan - Principal