Principal's Corner
Dear St John the Apostle families,
While other schools have been struggling for weeks to have staff in front of their classes we are fortunate that we haven't experienced the same level of COVID impact this term (fingers crossed for the last week of term!) and we have maintained our face to face learning for all classes.
There have been occasional bumps in COVID numbers for a couple of year levels. Earlier this term it was Year 1 and more recently Year 6. These have been manageable and brief. Thank you everyone for working together to minimise any spread in these circumstances.
Most year levels currently have only a couple of cases in their entire cohort and many of these cases are the result of being a sibling of a previous case, picking it up while already in isolation with no risk of passing it on at school. Parents are always welcome to contact their child's teacher directly to obtain some work that students can do at home when they are up to it. Our staff are more than happy to assist.
Earlier this week we were fortunate to have a Senior Officer, and former school Principal, work in our school while I completed a week of isolation (a family member had COVID) and another staff member did as well. The Catholic Education Office have been very supportive of those schools whose staff have been impacted by significant COVID based absences. We're thankful for their ongoing support for our schools.
New ACT Roadmap for Schools
Catholic Education, following advice from ACT Health and the Education Directorate, released a new Roadmap for ACT Catholic Schools outlining any changes to restrictions in schools for the remainder of this term and going into next term. The most important and relevant points for families are that:
- We will still need to cohort students throughout the day, including separate entry points each morning and staggering carpark pick up.
- Students will continue to use separate play spaces for broader cohorts.
- Classes will continue hygiene and cleaning practices through the day and high touch areas and desk will be cleaned each evening.
- All adults on site will need to be vaccinated, use the CBRCheckin app and wear a mask.
Some changes include:
- We can mix students of different cohorts to participate in organised school activities such as choir, school sports and small group maths or spelling activities. These will be short and have effective COVID safe practices embedded.
- Interstate camps and overnight excursions can go ahead, within particular parameters and following a COVID safe plan. Year 5 and 6 are already looking into this.
- Excursions in the local area are permitted. Some classes have already booked for these.
- Sport carnivals can occur with strict COVID safe plans in place and parents can spectate if outside and following COVID safe instructions.
- School assemblies, performances and concerts can resume though parents and carers are not permitted to attend these as yet.
- Parents and carers can attend the school site for scheduled appointments and events only with COVID safe measures in place.
We're very much looking forward to the opportunity to get together more easily as a community with these changes.
First Reconciliation
Congratulations to all of our Year 3 students who celebrated their First Reconciliation
last night at our local parish church. Thank you to their families who helped them prepare and supported them. Thank you to Ms Collins and Mr Spencer for teaching about Reconciliation in class and being with them at the church. Lastly thank you to Frs Kimi and Michael as well as the parish team of Marian and Sharon for supporting families through the process. We are blessed to have such a dedicated and pastoral parish team.
Cross Country
Cross Country for 2022 will be taking place on Friday 29th April (Friday Week 1,
Have a wonderful weekend. Stay healthy and safe.
Matthew Garton