Dear Parents,

It is hard to believe that we only have a few weeks of school left.  Next week will be particularly busy with many camps and excursions planned.  I encourage all families to please keep across all information sent home by the school to ensure that you have all the relevant forms filled in.

A big thanks to all of the staff for the amount of work that has been put in to avail these opportunities to the children.   Below is an outline of the next few weeks;

• Sat 4^th – Confirmation – 3.00pm
• Mon 6^th – P/1/2 Excursion Puffing Billy
• Tues 7^th / Wed 8^th – Grade 6 Camp CYC Adanac
• Thurs 9^th – Grade 3/4 Excursion Healesville Sanctuary / 2022 Prep Transition / Junior levels Mini Olympics
• Mon 13^th – New Grade Transition / Reports Home – Grade 6 Free Dress Day
• Tues 14^th – End of Year Mass 9.30 (students only due to COVID it will be livestreamed for parents) /Grade 6 Provided Lunch
• Wed 15^th – Students Last Day – Free Dress (wear Christmas colours) / Clip and Climb excursion Year 6 / Grade Six Graduation (Grade 6 students to wear Sports uniform for excursion)
• Fri 17^th – Staff Last Day

Sacraments

Congratulations to all of the students who celebrated Eucharist last weekend, Reconciliation during the course of this week and those that will be celebrating the Sacrament of Confirmation on Saturday.  It is wonderful that we can now again offer the Sacraments to families.   Parents would appreciate that this has been a large task and on behalf of everyone I thank Fr Janeesh, Fr Paul, Siji, Noleen Chalmers and all of the Parish Sacrament Team.

Graduation Week – Year 6

Thanks to the Year 6 staff who have worked hard to organise a Graduation Week for the students to enjoy, culminating in the family Graduation Ceremony on Wednesday the 15^th.  Over the course of the last week the students will participate in signing of Graduation Bears, a movie, takeaway lunch, an afternoon disco, creation of memory boards, an excursion to Clip and Climb and the picnic Graduation celebration that can be attended and enjoyed by families as well as the students.  We hope that they have a wonderful experience as they depart St Pat’s.  Further details have been provided to families of Grade 6 students in a letter sent home yesterday.

Christmas Cards Between Students

It is that time of the year when the students enjoy writing cards to each other for Christmas.  We ask that if you are attaching a candy cane to the card that they are sealed and stuck to the card.  They children can then enjoy them when they get home.

COVID

Please continue to watch for symptoms with your children and get them tested if necessary.  If your child does return a positive result we ask that you contact the school asap.  The rules have changed regarding a positive case within the school and students will no longer be required to isolate for 14 days if they are a school close contact.  They will now need to provide a negative test to return to school.  Household close contacts will still be required to isolate for 14 days.

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 or email office@stppakenham.catholic.edu.au

Parent Access

Parents are now welcome to enter the school grounds without the need to QR on your way in.  Please remain outside the classrooms and do not enter the buildings.  If you are coming for a pre-arranged appointment please sign in and QR code at the Office.  Masks are required to be worn by parents at all times when indoors at school.

Dropping Off in the Morning

A reminder that students are not to be at school before 8.30am as they are not supervised.  Anyone early needs to remain with their children until a staff member opens the gates.

Uniforms

We understand that as students return for the last few weeks of the school uniforms may not fit as well as hoped and it is difficult to purchase uniforms at the moment.  We ask that parents are very respectful of our uniform policy and that students wear the uniform with pride, however, we understand that there may be some items that cannot be purchased.

Hats

Please remember that as we enter Term 4 it is compulsory for the students to be wearing hats when outside.

The following COVID Restrictions remain in place when all children return onsite next week;

• Parents are now welcome to enter the school grounds without the need to QR on your way in. Please remain outside the classrooms and do not enter the buildings.  If you are coming for a pre-arranged appointment please sign in and QR code at the Office.
• Student Masks – As per Government regulations all students in Grades 3-6 are required to wear a mask whilst indoors (unless you have an exemption). Masks are encouraged for students in Grades P-2.
• Adult Masks – Masks are required to be worn by parents at all times when indoors at school.
• Please communicate with staff via phone or email.
• The Office is open, however, if it is not essential please contact via 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.
• 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.
• 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.  It is our preference that they gain a medical clearance or negative COVID test before they return to school.

 Reimbursement for Activities Not Undertaken / Fee Assistance

As we work our way through the remainder of the activities between now and the end of the year the school will calculate any differences in the costing and reimburse parents where appropriate.  If you are experiencing difficulties due to the pandemic please contact Fil at the Office for a confidential discussion regarding fees.

Regards,

Simon