Dear Parents,

Welcome back for Term 2.  We hope you have had a restful break and a holy Easter. As Simon informed you in the last Newsletter, he is on Long Service Leave for the first three weeks of term.  We wish him safe travels and hope he enjoys this special time spent with his family as they travel up the Eastern Coast of Australia.  Please be assured that you are free to contact either Meg or myself in relation to any concerns in Simon’s absence.  You can do this by contacting the office to make an appointment.

Some of our COVID procedures have relaxed slightly but we still need to follow many of them.  Please check the list below if you need any clarity around these.

District Cross-Country

Some of our children will be participating in the Officer and Pakenham District Cross Country at Toomuc Reserve on Friday the 7^th of May.  Congratulations to all those children who qualified.  Thank you to Louise Breeden and all who assisted her with the running of our school cross country.  It was a terrific event and it ran very smoothly.  It was from this event, that the St. Patrick’s District Cross Country Squad was chosen.  This process was based predominantly on a time basis as this next level is the first level of the pathway to state trials.  All information will be sent out if your child was successful in being selected for the St. Patrick’s squad.

Carparking, Gates and Car lines

The Avenue carpark is becoming very congested and does not cope well with parents parking and walking into the school.  If you are wanting to park and come onto the grounds it is our preference that you please use the Church Carpark.

Our gates are now closing at 8.50 am in the mornings as this is when the first bell goes. This bell is a signal for all students to move to classrooms to prepare for the day.  Instruction in the classroom and specialists start at 9.00am sharp.  This is to ensure we are making the most of learning time for the children.

If you wish to walk your children in to the school you must do so prior to the gates closing.

If you arrive after 8.50am to drop your children off, you will need to take them to the office via the slip road to ensure they are signed in and attendance rolls are marked appropriately.

If you are picking your child up on the slip road, staff are rostered there to assist but in particular with crossing this busy road.  We are asking children to wait for a staff member to assist with this to ensure they are safe.

Please also be aware that there is restricted parking on the slip road, and the council at times does monitor this and has in the past issued infringement notices.

Equipment from Home

Please note that there is an ample amount of sports equipment provided at school so we ask that students do not bring equipment or toys from home. Having students only use the equipment provided at school ensures that we can adhere to COVID safe cleaning requirements.

2022 Foundation (Prep) Tours

We are currently taking Foundation enrolments and running 2022 Foundation (Prep) Tours by appointment.  If you know of anyone considering St Pat’s for their child please ask them to call the school Office on 5943-9000 and book a tour.

COVID Procedures

I remind parents that the following procedures are in place for the safety of all;

• Masks are not required to be worn by parents at all times when in the school, only in situations where you are unable to social distance.
• Parents wishing to come into the grounds to drop off or collect their children must scan the QR code on the way in and wait out the front of the classroom. Please do not enter the rooms and social distance whilst waiting.  You must limit your visit to less than 15 minutes, gates open at 3pm at the end of the day.
• Parents waiting for children in the pick-up lines need to ensure that their children know which carpark to go to.
• If you do park your car you must walk over and collect your child. Please do not call for your children to walk across to your car unaccompanied. 
• Meetings with staff are by appointment only. Any parent that is going to be in the school for more than 15 minutes needs to sign on and complete the COVID form at the Office.
• Please communicate with staff via phone or email.
• The Office is open if required, however, please observe the density limits (maximum of 6 people). It is preferable to phone or email if possible rather than come to the Office.
• All extra cleaning and hand hygiene that was in place is still being adhered to.
• Please do not send food items to share with others when it is your child’s birthday as they cannot be handed out.
• If your child is sick, or displaying symptoms, please keep them at home. Children that present as sick or displaying symptoms at school will be sent home.
• Bubble taps are operational at school.
• An ample amount of sports equipment is provided at school so we ask that students do not bring equipment and toys from home.

Important Dates for Your Diary

• Tuesday 27^th of April – School Closure Day. The staff are participating in a Diocesan RE Day.
• Friday 7^th of May – District Cross Country
• 11^th-21^st May – Naplan.
• Monday 14^th June – Queens Birthday. No school.
• Friday 25^th June – Term Two concludes / Reports distributed.

Camp Dates 2021

• Year 3 – 10^th – 11^th June, CYC Adanac, Yarra Junction.
• Year 4 – 14^th – 16^th July, CYC The Island, Phillip Island.
• Year 5 – 4^th- 6^th August, Sovereign Hill, Ballarat.
• Year 6 – 15^th – 19^th November, Lady Northcote Camp, Glenmore.

Fees

2021 Fees were distributed to all families last week.  Included in these fee statements were the camp levies.  Please contact Fil at office@stppakenham.catholic.edu if you have any issues or concerns.

Regards,

Anna and Meg.