STAYING CONNECTED NO. 19. 2021 - ST MARY MACKILLOP PRIMARY ...

Wednesday 28 July 2021

                   Staying Connected No. 19. 2021.
Dear Families,
It was wonderful to see the smiling faces of the children as they returned to school this morning. I
greeted hundreds of children out the back this morning and they were all genuinely pleased to be
back at school this morning. I spoke to a lot of parents also who were as excited as their children to
see the kids back at school.
I wonder how COVID will impact long term on our children. We grew up never worrying about
Lockdowns and Remote Learning. Life was simple for us. I am a generation ahead of most of you and
I can say life was even more simple for us back in the 60’s. In many ways, our children today have so
many more complications to work through and sometimes worry about. Our job as parents, in my
case as a grandparent and educator is to ensure we simplify the life for our children. We need to
switch off screens and allow our children to play. We need to let them build, dig, climb a tree,
throw a ball, ride a bike, go to the beach, go for long walks and play in the park . We need to take
our children on picnics and day trips when we can.
I recently took my grandchildren to the Jurassic Park Lego Exhibition at the Convention Centre. That
was an excursion I can highly recommend. It was exciting and hands-on. In fact, it took a real effort,
and a few tears, to get my four-year-old grandson to leave. He was enjoying the activities so much!
SMMPS Discovery Learning Curriculum allows our children to engage in rigorous learning activities
that allow them to play, discover, explore, build, problem solve connect and evaluate. All in a
developmentally appropriate way.
The kids at SMMPS get a good deal and I am proud of what we offer our children in genuine
relational setting.
It is good to be back with the children at school, where they should be.

RETURN TO SCHOOL RESTRICTIONS as published by Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS)
The Victorian Government has announced new arrangements for schools in Victoria from
Wednesday 28 July 2021. A summary of key changes and advice is provided below.

Based on advice from the Victorian Chief Health Officer, schools in Victoria will return to face-to-
face learning and teaching for all students from and including Wednesday 28 July 2021. Outside
School Hours Care (OSHC) programs operating in schools can also resume full operations from
this date also.

New arrangements for face-to-face learning

As part of planned changes to keep our schools safe and reduce the impact of any future
outbreaks, schools will be required to implement COVID-safe behaviours. These include the
following strategies to promote physical distancing, minimise mixing between groups and limit
access to school grounds to only those providing essential services:

•    All staff must wear a face mask at all times indoors and outdoors when at school (except
     when engaged in teaching), including in staff rooms
•    Staff should observe physical distancing, limit mixing in staff rooms and offices, and
     conduct all-staff meetings and professional development online
•    Density limits of 1 person per 4 square metres apply to staff areas such as staff
     lunchrooms and areas accessed by the public, such as reception areas
•    To prevent the congregation of parents at school gates and allow safe entry, where
     necessary, schools should consider staggered start and finish times, and/or separate
     entrances for different grade or year levels
•    Non-essential visitors should not be allowed into school grounds
•    Break times should be staggered where possible to ensure cohorts of students remain
     apart
•    All school gatherings such as assemblies and school events should be deferred or held
     remotely
•    Interschool activities are not permitted at this time.

School camps, outdoor education programs and overnight stays can take place across Victoria
with no travel restrictions. Bookings must be limited to single schools. Multiple schools can
attend camps providing school groups remain separated and do not share common facilities at
the same time. Mixing of staff and students between different schools is not permitted.
Incursions are not permitted, but excursions can take place with students from single schools
only.

There has been no change to the face mask advice, which will continue to apply to all school
settings, including any OSHC programs:

•    School staff and secondary school students aged 12 or older must always wear a face
     mask indoors and outdoors when at school, including when attending an OSHC program,
     unless a lawful exception applies.
•    Children under 12 years of age and students at primary school are not required to wear
     face masks when at school, or when attending an OSHC program.
•    Face masks are mandatory for all school staff and school students aged 12 or older on
     public transport and when in taxis or ride-share vehicles. This includes travelling to and
     from school on public transport or in a vehicle with others not from your household.

Teachers and education support staff are not required to wear face masks while teaching, but
those who wish to do so, can.

So, at SMMPS we will abide by these directions.
•    We have considered staggered start and finishes. We do not think staggered start and
     finishes are necessary at this moment. Please do not congregate at the gates for longer
     than is necessary to drop off or collect your children and practice social distancing.
•    Please try to avoid coming onsite. If you must, please wear a mask and practice social
     distancing.
•    Do not enter any classroom or building without being invited in by a staff member.
•    If you need to attend the School Office, please QR Code in.
•    Parent/Teacher/Child Conversations are scheduled for Tuesday 10 and Wednesday 11
     August. These now must take place remotely. Bookings will be made available online
     next week.
•    PSG’s will take place remotely. Contact Sandra Lind if you need to meet onsite. In some
     instances, Sandra may contact you. We have an exception from MACS in regards to
     PSG’s if necessary.
•    SCHOOL CLOSURE for MONDAY 16 AUGUST will be postponed again. We need to
     ensure our commitment to continuity of learning is paramount. We do not know when the
     next Lockdown will occur, so let’s keep the kids at school whilst we can.
•    PMP will run without parents. Whilst we sincerely appreciate parental support. MACS
     has told us no parents in classrooms at this time. Sorry!
•    NO Assemblies or Interschool Sport are permitted.
•    The Parents Group meeting will take place remotely, next Thursday 5 August @
     2:30pm. Anthony D’Amico will forward an invite to all parents who have already
     responded.
•    Other calendared events will take place, unless restrictions are extended or we are
     in Lockdown.
If other restrictions are imposed we will notify you immediately.
I sincerely apologise for any inconvenience, but as the people of the State of Victoria, we
ought to stand proud. We’ve beaten Delta twice now (no other jurisdiction in the world has done
so). If we follow these rules and other rules as directed by the State Government we will keep
our community and our children safe.
Keep well and safe everyone.

Anthony McCluskey

Principal

TERM 3
            Thursday 5 August
      The Parents Group-meeting online
      (Invitations will go out next week)

              Sunday 8 August
        St Mary MacKillop Feast Day

    Tuesday 10 & Wednesday 11 August
Parent Teacher Child Conversations (Remotely)
             Sunday 15 August
          Feast of the Assumption

             Monday 16 August
       School Closure Day (Postponed)

  Monday 23 August to Friday 27 August
                 Book Week

            Tuesday 24 August
         Year 6 Open Door Program
   6.00pm and 7.30pm (More details soon)

    Monday 06 to Friday 10 September
           Book Fair (New dates)

           Friday 17 September
             Last Day of Term 3
         Students finish at 1.00pm