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Dear Parents and Carers,
As the vast majority of students continue to learn from home, I once again express my deep gratitude for your contribution to supporting the safety of our students, staff and school families.
Today, the NSW Premier and Education Minister announced that a return to face-to-face learning will begin from Monday 25 October. While media sources are reporting the how and when students will return to school, I have been advised that a letter from Catholic Education outlining the details, will be available to share with the school community later today.
As learning from home continues the Catholic Education Office COVID-19 Response Team has provided the following information to help you understand the reason schools are urging all families to keep their children home at this time if they are able to.
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Is COVID-19 affecting children and young people? |
Yes. NSW Health data shows that cases in children aged 10-19 are higher than all other age groups except for those aged 20-39. The NSW Chief Health Officer, Dr Kerry Chant, has said “we are seeing more infections from children spreading, which is not the characteristic we had observed with previous strands.” A recent Sydney Morning Herald article explained that “children aged under nine are increasingly testing positive to COVID-19 in NSW, with 44 cases of the contagious Delta variant detected in one day and young children accounting for almost 15% of infections in the past fortnight.” (Source: Forty-four children test positive to COVID-19 in a day in NSW, 12 August 2021) |
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What COVID-safe measures are in place to protect students and staff? |
We continue to follow all the recommended COVID-safe practices for a Level Four school. However, NSW Health continues to remind us that any time anyone leaves their home and comes into contact with people from other households, their risk of contracting COVID-19 is increased. NSW Health has confirmed that more than 70% of COVID-19 transmission in the current outbreak occurs within households. This means that if one person in a household contracts COVID-19 there is a very high probability that the rest of the household will also become positive. To keep yourself and your family as safe as possible, you should only send your child to school for supervision if it is absolutely not possible for them to learn from home. |
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Why are schools open for supervision if it’s safer to keep children home?
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The decision by NSW Health to allow schools to remain open for supervision is to ensure that those students who have absolutely no option to learn from home (e.g. the children of frontline health workers and others in similar circumstances) can continue learning while the stay-at-home order is in place. The NSW Government continues to reinforce the message that the safest option for everyone in the current circumstances – and the best way to avoid contracting COVID-19 and passing it on to your loved ones – is to stay home except when you absolutely must go out. |
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When can I send my child to school for supervision?
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The current Public Health Order makes it clear that it is only acceptable to “leave home for education if it is not possible to do it at home”. In line with this government directive, families are only able to send their children to school at this time if there is absolutely no option for them to learn from home. The following would be considered reasons why this may be the case:
Students have access to the same learning materials and experience whether they are at school or at home, and there is no advantage for students who are supervised at school. |
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What if my child wants to go to school?
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We understand that many students are missing school and their friends. However, their safety and the safety of all students, staff and school families must be our shared priority right now. It is also important to remember that normal school activities are not taking place, the vast majority of students are learning from home, and very few teachers are on site each day. Schools are required to only have the minimum number of staff on site to provide supervision for students only. This is to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission and protect the staff and students who have no option but to attend school. |
If you are planning to send your child to school for supervision, but have the option to keep them home, I am asking you to reconsider for the safety of your child, the members of your household and for our extended school community.
Just like you, many of our staff have school-age children at home and they are very aware of just how challenging it can be to balance working from home while supporting a child’s remote learning.
Thank you for how understanding and support during this incredibly difficult time.
Stay safe and go gently.
Yours sincerely
Andrew Heffernan
(Principal)
SOCIAL JUSTICE SUNDAY - Sunday 29th August
The Social Justice Statement this year is titled: Cry of the Earth, Cry of the Poor. The Statement calls us to listen, hear and respond to the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor through practical action. When one part of the Body of Christ is wounded, the other parts care for the afflicted part so that all can be healed and made whole. What affects one affects all, as everything and everyone is connected. It is clear that the signs of our times call for urgent action to defend, protect, and restore the earth and the dignity of the human person, especially those places, creatures, and people who are most vulnerable. People are more important than profits, and the beauty of our natural world is a precious gift to us and to the generations who will follow.
Prayer:
Lord, when we listen with your ears we hear:
the bush grown more silent, the birdsong less vibrant, the stream’s sluggish ripple.
Have mercy and open our ears.
Lord, when we look with your eyes we see:
the soil depleted, the sky smudged, the oceans rubbished and the great currents slowed.
Have mercy and help us to see.
Lord, when we look with your eyes we see:
the workers who struggle to get by, the women subjected to violence, the people who are excluded.
Have mercy and help us to see.
Lord, when we listen with your ears we hear:
the sound of hungry children, the distress of the mentally ill, the silent pain of homeless women and men.
Have mercy and open our ears.
Send your Spirit upon us Lord to renew our sight, to restore our hearing, and to reclaim your reign of justice for all people and peace for creation.
AMEN
WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR CREATION - Wednesday 1st September
Pope Francis has established 1 September as the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, encouraging the Catholic community around the world to pray for our common home.
The day is inspired by Pope Francis' landmark encyclical Laudato Si’, which calls on "every person living on this planet" to care for our shared Earth.
He calls us all to celebrate this opportune moment to “reaffirm [our] personal vocation to be stewards of creation, to thank God for the wonderful handiwork which he has entrusted to our care, and to implore his help for the protection of creation, as well as his pardon for the sins committed against the world in which we live.”
This World Day of Prayer also falls at the beginning of the Season of Creation, which runs until 4 October, the feast of St Francis of Assisi. This is an ecumenical season dedicated to prayer for the protection of creation and the promotion of sustainable lifestyles.
How to respond to the World Day of Prayer
There are many ways to respond to Pope Francis’ call to care for the gift of God’s creation – why not take some time out of your day on 1 September to walk in your local park or take a few moments to thank God for the flowers growing in your garden?
You might like to click here to listen to Pope Francis:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19v0A19DDXs&t=71s&ab_channel=LaudatoSi%27Movement
Collages made with things from nature that Year 4 have made this week for our RE Unit - The Goodness Of Creation.
Congratulations to the following students for receiving Merit Awards for Term 3, Week 7.
Each year, schools and public libraries from all over Australia spend a week celebrating books and Australian authors and illustrators. The theme for Book Week 2020 is ‘Old Worlds, New Worlds, Other Worlds’. Book Week extends from 21-17 August and has been celebrated across the week in many and varied ways in all online classes.
Today, in a simple way all students were invited to dress up as their favourite book character. While there isn't a book week character parade this year, the teachers were very keen to celebrate in some way, the wonderful world of books. Perhaps you might consider sharing your favourite childhood book with your children at this time!
Year 5
This week, Year 5 have created Book Week videos for their Year 2 buddies. They were asked to choose a CBCA Book Week winner or a favourite book and video themselves reading it for their buddies.
Year 6
Thank you to everyone who sent in their photos, everyone submitted some really incredible entries, capturing a dog running, trees blowing in the wind or the movement of the ocean. Each of these scenes came alive within your photographs.
This weeks category 'Movement' has closed and we are excited to showcase all the photos submitted and announce the winners.
Don't forget to enter your photos for the final week competition — Creative.
- Week 8: Creative (Closes Friday 3rd September at 9:00am)
Category Descriptions
Colour (closed)
Everyday we are surrounded by colour. Colour is so powerful it can affect your behaviour, moods and thoughts. In Week 5 your challenge is to brighten the mood by showing us some colour in your world.
Faces (closed)
Portraits are one of the most common styles of photography. A portrait aims to capture the mood and personality of an individual or group. In Week 6 your challenge is to be as creative as you can in sharing a face (or faces) of someone in your family.
Movement (closed)
Photographs mid-movement can provide a perfect moment in time, capturing moods and emotions while eliminating distractions from the shot. In Week 7 your challenge is to capture a precise moment in time of something or someone mid-movement.
Creative
Careful observations and out-of-the-box thinking has helped create some amazing creative photography. There are no rules or guidelines for this category. In Week 8 your challenge is to experiment and intentionally capture a moment or object by doing something different.
Rules
- Photograph to be taken by yourself.
- Can only enter one photo for each category.
- Photos can be taken on any device, e.g. iPad, phone, digital camera.
- Photos can be taken from any angle.
- Do not submit photos of family members/public without their consent.
- Photos to be used by St John’s Catholic Parish Primary School or CEDoW online, social media and/or advertising.
Goodluck.
Fight Cancer Foundation’s Footy Colours Day is a national fundraising campaign held during the month of September to support kids living with cancer. Students are encouraged to wear their favourite footy team’s colours, for a donation that can be made online. Every dollar raised supports Fight Cancer Foundation’s education programs to help kids with cancer continue with their education during treatment and recovery.
- Stage 3 Cricket Gala Day planned for the 7th October has been cancelled.
Understandably, many questions may arise and it is hoped that frequent school communication via Compass, assists you in clarifying your concerns. Teachers will respond to emails and phone calls in a timely manner during school hours (8:00 am – 3:00 pm) only. Requests for technology support can be made via the form below.
If you need a break from...'I'm so bored'...here it is!
Check out these amazing free online activities on Kidsbook. The fun ranges from Science to Surfing, Yoga to Art – they've got the kids covered, so you can take a break.
Kidsbook makes booking kids activities simple. It's an online Marketplace where you can easily find and book activities all in the one spot. And the great news is, they’re running the 'Kidsbook Free Activity Festival'* until next Friday 3 September.
*Not all activities on the Kidsbook Marketplace are participating in the Kidsbook Free Activity Festival. Full terms and conditions here.
We know that connecting with people is difficult during the COVID-19 pandemic, and we're looking for projects that help people connect with their neighbours safely. We’re looking for ideas which will bring people together and help neighbours get to know each other. We are open to projects that could be online, creative ways of connecting without meeting up, or face-to-face projects for a time in the future.
Individuals and Community Groups are invited to apply. The Connecting Neighbours Grants are now open click here for more information.
A neighbourhood could include a street, a few houses, a group, or a place where you socialise.
https://wollongong.nsw.gov.au/book-and-apply/apply-for-a-grant/connecting-neighbours-grants
Applications Close Monday 27th September 2021