Dear Parents,

If you have ever heard a footy player interviewed one of the many clichés they like to use is ‘we will just worry about what we can control.’  Whilst footy players are essentially told what to say in their interviews the message within this cliché is relevant to us at the moment.

Living within the midst of a pandemic means that we cannot control a lot of what is happening to us.  We have no say in the restrictions and what impact these have on our everyday life.  What we can control, however, is how we react to them.

It is no secret that Lockdown 6.0 has been particularly challenging and for our children and at times it can feel very overwhelming.  As the key adults in our children’s lives we need to help frame their thinking. Allow your children to share their concerns with you and together talk them through.  Discuss in an age appropriate manner what the realities of the pandemic are.  This will help validate their thinking, and importantly, ensure that any information they receive about their worries comes from a reliable source. 

Let them know that this will not last for ever, that even though they are locked down they are learning, that they are gaining skills learning online that will be beneficial to them in the future and that the restrictions are allowing them to be home with their family and be safe.  Importantly, remind them, that whilst it may not feel like at the moment, this will not last forever. Even though there is control over our movements at the moment, what we can control is how we react to the situation.

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.

2022 Parent Requests

The process of planning for 2022 has begun.  As per last year any parents who have any special requests will need to put them in writing and email them to office@stppakenham.catholic.edu.au by Monday the 11^th of October. 

Please note that requests from last year, or any other previous year, will not be considered as circumstances change.  We are blessed at St Patrick’s to have a professional and committed staff that plan together to ensure that the same learning opportunities are afforded to the students regardless of what class they are in, so please do not request individual teachers.

All requests will be given the appropriate consideration; however it is not a guarantee.

First Communion and Confirmation

The Parish is still awaiting the easing of restrictions before new dates can be organised for the Sacraments.   Noleen Chalmers (REL) will inform families of the new dates once they have been arranged.  If you have any questions please email Noleen noleen@stppakenham.catholic.edu.au

Remote Learning / Onsite Restrictions

Again, I remind families that to restrict movement and keep us all as safe as we can strict requirements are in place for students to attend school.   The school will be open for the very few students of essential workers who meet the following criteria;

• Children where both parents and or carers are considered authorised workers who cannot work from home, work for an authorised provider and where no other supervision arrangements can be made.
• Where there are two parents/carers, both must be authorised workers, working outside the home in order for their children to be eligible for on-site provision.
• For single parents/carers, the authorised worker must be working outside the home in order for their children to be eligible for on-site provision.
• Children experiencing vulnerability, including: in out-of-home care, deemed vulnerable by a government agency, funded family or family violence service, and assessed as requiring education and care outside the family home
• Identified by a school or early childhood service as vulnerable, (including via referral from a government agency, or funded family or family violence service, homeless or youth justice service or mental health or other health service)
• Where a parent/carer indicates that a student with a disability is vulnerable because they cannot learn from home, and/or informs the school the student is vulnerable due to family stress.

If you are one of the few families who need to send your child(ren) to school, you must have completed your intention to send your child(ren) to St Patrick’s Primary form that was distributed to families supported by your essential worker permit form. This will enable us to ensure that we have sufficient staff on duty to supervise students in attendance.

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.

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.  We ask that parents remain within the vicinity of where their children are on the Google Meets.

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.

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

• Masks are required to be worn by parents at all times when in the school.
• The limited number of children at school must be dropped off and collected from the Church carline.
• Please communicate with staff via phone or email.
• The Office is physically closed to all but essential visitors, however, contact can be made by phone 5943-9000 or email office@stppakenham.catholic.edu.au  
• 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