WELCOME BACK

What can we say? What a ride we are on at the moment. Usually this first Newsletter of the term welcomes everyone back from a fun holiday. We haven’t had a chance to get back to everyone, but the stories of the few that are at school are telling us about their holidays at home --- of what was supposed to be and what is hoped for in the future, but the main common thread is how much they miss their extended families and friends.

I want to thank and congratulate all the families that have taken up the challenge of trying to keep their children focused on their learning tasks as well as manage work, pre-schoolers, household chores and feeding the family as well as keep the children from being – dare I say it – BORED.

Next week we begin a new phase in the “LOCKDOWN” with school opening for 2 days a week for each child for the next 3 weeks. We are looking forward to having everyone back, eventually fulltime if things work out with the “curve”. Parents would have received a correspondence from the Director of Schools yesterday and last week outlining the gradual return to school.

See the latest advice here:

RETURN TO SCHOOL

The way back to full attendance is to be managed by a staggered return for each class. Considering available staffing, siblings and many other factors, we will be providing the following model to begin the process.

This arrangement will continue for the next 3 weeks until the end of week 5. During this time teachers will provide Face to Face (F2F) instruction and guidance to those children that attend and provide work based on these days for children to follow through on the days they are Learning at Home. Parent may choose to continue their isolation without affecting their child’s attendance record.

We ask that parents continue to support the schools plan by keeping children at home if it is not their rostered day at school. We will continue to provide supervision for those families that do not have suitable care arrangements for their children due to work commitments during this time in the same way we have been operating to date.

PARENT ACCESS

During the next 3 weeks we will be welcoming back the children to class 2 days a week. Sadly, however, we have been asked to restrict the access to the school for adults. In the light of this, we ask that when dropping children at school, parents do not enter the ground past the gates. Drop offs should be quick and social distancing should be practised – this means do not congregate at the gate. To spread the crowd,

• Kinder and Year 2 will leave via the bottom Lovell Parade gate in the afternoon
• Year 1 and Year 3 will leave via the main Lovell Parade gate
• Year 4 and Year 5/6 will leave via Sandgate Road gate.
• Families with children in multiple groups will leave from the eldest childs gate.

Drop offs can be at either gate on Lovell Pde or the gate on Sandgate Rd. Again please do not congregate at the gate on Sandgate Rd either.

If you need to discuss something in the office please observe the social distancing practices.

WINTER UNIFORMS

As we move to the cooler weather, we need to bring out the winter uniform. Whilst the mornings are a little cool the days ahead are still predicted to be warm. We will begin wearing our winter uniforms from the start of Week 4. Please make sure all items are labelled with names. Many jackets are discarded throughout the day as the day warms. Name labels make it much easier to reunite lost items with their owners.

SEMESTER REPORTS

As per the advice from the Director of Schools, we are looking closely at how best to report on the progress of your children. I am sure you would appreciate the huge inconsistencies that have arisen during this lock down period and how difficult it would be to assess children in a fair way. How will we report this semester? We’re working on it and will let parents know in the near future.

2021 ENROLMENT

We are currently taking enrolments for the 2021 school year for Kindergarten. If you have a child, or know of a family that does, that is looking to be enrolled at OLV in 2021, please contact Leanne in the office for an Enrolment Application. Due to the COVID-19 restrictions, we won’t be conducting interviews until Term 3.

If you are seeking enrolment in Year 7 for your child next year, please ensure you send your applications into the High School ASAP.

CHILDREN’S UNIVERSITY

Those children that enrolled in the Children’s University, will receive their Passports and Activity Book next week. There are lots of activities that the children can do whilst isolated that will qualify for a stamp. Once the activities  have been completed the children can present the work to the Principal and receive up to 5 hours credit for their passport.

For those who need a reminder about the program, go to the CU website at https://cuaustralasia.com/ or their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ChildrensUniversityNewcastle/

GOOD FOR KIDS