Dear Parents and Carers

This week, we welcomed back our students to the school grounds and classrooms for normal face-to-face teaching and learning.  It was great seeing all of our students walk onto school grounds.  It was obvious by the smiles on their faces that they had missed the social interaction available by attending school.  Their teachers were as equally excited to have them all back. Some classes have moved into new learning environments and they are adjusting very well.  Most of our school community have viewed our ‘Happy’ video which was posted on our school Facebook page but is also attached to this newsletter.  It was a wonderful celebration of the joy we are all feeling to be back at school.

It is a credit to you all for the way in which your children have conducted themselves over the Remote Learning period and to then return to school with positive attitudes ready for business as usual.  We appreciated your support and partnership during this short term change in education.

As the whole school is back now we will continue to implement good hygiene practices and we ask that parents adhere to the social distancing restrictions placed on schools. These are reiterated further in our newsletter. Parents can come to the lawn area near the school office to drop off and pick up their child/ren.  The classrooms will not be open in the mornings. Students leave their bags outside and move to the play area.  We appreciate your observance of these restrictions which benefit the health and safety of our school community.

All students will need to wear their full school winter uniform (including ties) starting Monday 1^st June next week.  We have published the winter uniform requirements further on in this newsletter.  Our school uniform is reflective of the pride we take in our school .Please note hats are to be worn all year around and we have noticed quite a few students have come to school without their hats.  Our school policy is’ No hat no play’.

St Mary’s has been provided with additional funding from the Catholic Education Office in 2020 due to the ongoing effects of the drought.  This funding is to support families experiencing the effects of the drought in our school community. We have provided a $317.60 fee remission to all families effective immediately for Term 2 fees.  Statements have been posted this week which reflect this generous reduction. No child should be denied an education in a Catholic school due to financial reasons.  Please contact Mr Nielsen if you wish to discuss this matter further.

Finally, on Tuesday we observed National Sorry Day.  This day marks Australians all coming together and sharing the steps towards healing for the Stolen Generations, their families and communities.  We are so fortunate to have Uncle Bernie as a special member of our school community and he surprised the children with an online visit to our morning assembly this week.  He was very emotional when talking to our students about our indigenous brothers and sisters who were taken from their families and placed in institutions or other homes.  We were moved by his heartfelt tribute and appreciated him speaking to us all.

Enjoy the weekend everyone. Stay safe and well.

Ange Scott

Assistant Principal