Dear Parents,

Unfortunately, we have been placed back into a Remote Schooling format again due to Lockdown 6.0.  We understand that this is a challenging space to be in for families and at school we will do all that we can to support.  If you require any assistance please do not hesitate to contact the school. We are connected to many different agencies and support services and we may be able to assist.  Please note that this will be a confidential discussion.  Megan Escalante is the Student Support Leader at school and would be your point of contact along with your child’s teacher.

The school will be open for the very few students of essential workers..

All students at St. Patrick’s Primary School will continue with the full Remote Schooling program.

This means that all students who can learn from home, must learn from home, except where:

• parents, guardians or carers cannot work from home and no other arrangements can be made for the supervision of their child(ren)
• students are considered vulnerable, including:
• children in out-of-home care 
• children deemed by Child Protection and/or Family Services to be at risk of harm 
• children identified by the school as vulnerable (including via referral from a family violence agency, homelessness or youth justice service or mental health or other health service).

Classroom Google Meets operating between 9.30-11.30am and 1.00-3.00pm each day.  On Wednesday the Specialist Google Meets will continue as they have been. Once again, all work will be uploaded to Google Classroom. If you have any questions about this, please contact your child(ren’s) classroom teacher.

If you are one of the few families who need to send your child(ren) to school, please register your intention to send your child(ren) to St Patrick’s Primary School on the attached form. This will enable us to ensure that we have sufficient staff on duty to supervise students in attendance. This form needs to be emailed this afternoon to office@stppakenham.catholic.edu.au by no later than Thursday 12^th August 5.30pm.

Please note that if you choose to send your child(ren) to school, your child(ren) will be supervised whilst undertaking the Remote Schooling program which has been designed by our school.  As such, your child will be undertaking the same program as those children learning at home.

In addition, I wish to advise you that your child(ren)’s teacher will not be supervising your child(ren) on-site, but will continue to support your child through the Remote Schooling program as previously advised to you.

2022 Enrolments

If you know of anyone looking to enrol their child at St Pat’s for 2022 please encourage them to contact the school Office on 5943-9000.

First Communion

Disappointingly the last of the First Communion Masses that were planned for last weekend had to again be cancelled due to restrictions.   Noleen Chalmers will inform families of the new dates once they have been arranged.

The following COVID Restrictions remain in place when anyone visits the school site;

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

• Masks are required to be worn by parents at all times when in the school.
• 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 in and complete the COVID form at the Office.
• Please communicate with staff via phone or email.
• The Office is open if required, however, please wear a mask and 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 and asked to gain a medical clearance or negative COVID test before they return to school.
• Bubble taps are operational at school.
• An ample amount of sports equipment will be provided at school so we ask that students do not bring equipment from home.

Regards,

Simon