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CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF CATHOLIC EDUCATION IN SALE
Our school is a place of faith and learning
Dear Parents and Families,
Please know that we look forward to the return of students and junior staff next week. We understand that the past six weeks have been challenging and appreciate your continued support and patience as we prepare to welcome children back to school.
As you are aware:
- Students in Foundation, Year One and Year Two are to return to school next Tuesday, May 26th 2020; and
- all students are to return on Tuesday, June 9th 2020.
To ensure a positive and safe return for students, we will be introducing a series of protocols and practices to ensure the safety of all students, staff and visitors on site. Our guidelines have been adopted from governing authorities, including the Victorian Health Commissioner and DOSCEL.(Diocese of Sale Catholic Education Limited). These guidelines have been established to protect the health of our school community and the wider community.
Please know that these guidelines will be reviewed regularly to ensure the safety of all members of the school community. These details were shared yesterday and have also been included in this newsletter.
Just a reminder, children will be wearing their Winter uniform during Term 2 and Term 3. All students are to be in their Winter uniform by 9th June.
We also remind children to bring their drink bottles to school. Bubbler taps will be removed and replaced with tapware to allow for extra hand washing spaces. There is also the opportunity to refill drink bottles if necessary.
On a brighter note, please know that we welcome Miss Kayla Holmes to our staff. Miss Holmes will be teaching Year 2A. We look forward to Miss Holmes sharing her skills with us. We thank Mrs Allison Arnup and Ms Lori Field for their work in Semester One whilst teaching Year 2A. Their commitment to teaching and performing their leadership roles is to be commended.
We encourage our junior students to have a restful weekend as they prepare to return next week. We acknowledge that some of our children and parents may be anxious about their return. Please take time to discuss morning and end of day arrangements specific to your family, with your children. Our goal is to ensure that the transition back to school is a positive and safe experience for all.
We praise our Year 3 to Year 6 students for their efforts thus far and pray for them as they continue with Remote Schooling.
Take Care and God Bless,
Anita and staff
Arrangements for Foundation - Year 2 return to school
As previously advised, the Victorian State Government has announced that Victorian school students will begin a phased return to classrooms.
Monday, 25 May, will be a student free day to support all school staff to prepare and complete the necessary planning for a successful transition back to school. Remote Schooling will not take place on this day and all students will remain at home.
From Tuesday, 26 May, all Foundation, Grade 1 and Grade 2 students will return to classroom learning.
Students in Grades 3 to 6 will continue Remote Schooling at home until Tuesday, 9 June, except for:
- children of parents who cannot work from home;
- children who are not able to be supervised at home and no other arrangements can be made; and
- vulnerable children.
If you intend for your child in Grades 3 to 6 to attend on site schooling from 26 May due to one of the reasons listed above, we ask that you continue to contact the office.
On Tuesday, 9 June, all students will return to classroom learning and will be expected to attend St Thomas’ as normal.
Where parents, guardians or carers choose to keep children home instead of returning them to classroom learning, St Thomas’ will no longer be required to provide a Remote Schooling Program. However, St Thomas’ will endeavour to provide an extended absence work program and your child will be marked as absent from school.
We ask all parents, guardians and carers to keep their child at home if their child is unwell. Upon on arrival to school or during the school day, if your child becomes or is unwell, you will be contacted and required to come and collect your child.
If your child is experiencing signs or symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough or sore throat), it is recommended that appropriate medical advice is sought. Your child should not be sent to school.
We would also like to inform parents that the school will not be conducting temperature checks of students, staff or visitors to the school. Instead, the school will be implementing known controls, such as good hygiene measures.
While medical advice states that physical distancing is not required for students during classroom activities, St Thomas’ will be implementing control measures including:
- designating drop-off/pick-up points for parents
- designating specific play areas
- extending school cleaning programs during the school day, including cleaning school playground equipment after use
- limiting the number of visitors attending the school, including parents.
If parents, guardians or carers wish to meet with a member of staff, please contact the school on 51441332 to make an appointment, or email the staff member directly.
I wish to reassure you that the safety and wellbeing of our school community will remain our highest priority with these and other provisions being made for the safety of students and staff.
I appreciate that the transition to classroom learning will be a challenging time for all and I thank all our parents, guardians, cares and the wider school community for their hard work and support.
Further information is currently being prepared to facilitate the return to classroom learning and will be provided to you as soon as possible.
If you require assistance or additional support, please contact Anita Little or Allison Arnup.
Please note that all buses are cleaned at the end of the day or in the morning before leaving on a run, they are then cleaned immediately after last drop off and again at the end of the day. Buses with low numbers will keep some seats closed where possible. Some buses will supply hand sanitiser but not all. Students are expected to wash or sanitise their hands before getting on the bus and again when they get off the bus.
Sick students will not have access to the bus, if a child becomes ill at school please ensure a parent picks them up from school. If a student presents ill to the bus stop in the morning, the driver will contact the bus coordinator who will then contact the parents. They will NOT be granted access to the bus.
Please remind students travelling by bus of their obligations to social distance where possible and to always listen and follow the drivers instructions.
Here are some more great photos sent in from families and teachers showing some of our students in their remote schooling spaces and some of the work the students are doing. Our families are really enjoying these photos so please keep them coming! If you'd like to send in a photo please send it to reception@sttsale.catholic.edu.au
Liam's last week of remote schooling.
In Foundation, the students have been learning about addition and friends of 10. Indiana, from FB, added 8 and 2 to make 10. The students have also been learning about tally marks which Indiana used to help her to add.
Our students have been completing some amazing and creative art while remote schooling. Mrs Glover has shared some of the work she has received.
Mitchell
Tara
Scarlett
Milly
Harvey
Our neighbours, East Gippsland Art Gallery, are inviting youth to participate in a Snail Mail project. In which youth are encouraged to create a mini artwork or to write a letter, this will be sent out to someone a similar age in another area. They will also receive a letter back in response! Check it out here: https://www.
Do you like making and creating? Would you like to brighten someone else’s day?
Because you can, by sending a meaningful message to someone who has to stay home just like you.
East Gippsland Art Gallery is inviting children to participate in our fun and exciting Snail Mail Project.
You write a letter and make a small handmade gift to send to someone who lives far away and they send a letter back to you.
We know you are all creative kids but if you need an idea, start by introducing yourself and what activities you like doing.
Here’s a few handmade ideas to help you get started:
You could
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Draw a picture of yourself, your house, your pets
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Include your favourite recipe with a photo or drawing of the dish
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Write a list of the things you do to cheer yourself up
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Or list your 5 favourite songs or movies
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Make a collage of picture cut out from old magazines
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Create an origami animal to send
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Make and decorate a bookmark
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Design a card
Then pop it into an envelope.
The conveyance allowance is available to families who meet the following criteria. Students must:
- attend their nearest government or non-government school/campus appropriate to their year level at which admission is permissible
- be enrolled at a school/campus outside Melbourne’s metroplitan conveyance boundary
- live 4.8km or more by the shortest practicable route from that school/campus attended
- be of school age at the time of application, and reside in Victoria.
Families can complete an application form and submit it to their school.
For further information please go to www.education.vic.gov.au
TERM 2 - Wednesday 15th April - Friday 26th June
TERM 3 - Monday 13th July - Friday 18th September
TERM 4 - Monday 5th October - Friday 18th December
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
Term 2 | Monday 8th June (Queens Birthday) |
Term 4 | Tuesday 3rd November (Melbourne Cup) |
SCHOOL CLOSURE DAYS
Term 2 | Monday 25th May |
Term 2 | Friday 26th June |
Term 3 | Friday 4th September |
Friday 18th September | |
Term 4 | Monday 2nd November |
Friday 18th December |
We understand that due to COVID19, this is a very stressful times for you as parents/carers and for your children. Below is a list of support agencies that can be accessed by everyone in your family during this difficult time.
Changes to SEAL Application Timeline for Year 7 in 2021 due to Coroanvirus Pandemic
Changes to the application timeline:
- Applications are welcome and can me made at any time during Terms 2 and 3
- Closing date is Friday, September 11th
- Interviews will be held during term 3
- SEAL exam will be held on Saturday, October 10th
- First round offers will be made by October 23rd