ONE STEP CLOSER

We are looking forward to the next few weeks as we move to having all the children return from the beginning of Week 6. Before that happens we have one more week of “Flexible Learning”. I never knew there were so many different ways we can call “learning from home" – but Flexible Learning is this week’s buzz word.

Not enough can be said of how, wonderfully the teachers and parents have accepted the challenge of teaching children in the home setting. There have been many different ways of attacking the same problems but patience, good routines and flexibility seem to be very important. Communication is also crucial and it has been pleasing to see different channels have been well used. COMPASS remains and will remain the main form receiving and sending out messages. One strong message I have received from the teachers is that they are so much enjoying  and relishing the opportunity to have their classes back in front of them.

As we move into Week 5, we will be open for children to attend Face-to-Face classes 3 days next week. The roster for classes will be:

• Kinder, Year 1 & Year 2 = Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday

• Year 3, Year 4 & Year 5/6 = Wednesday, Thursday & Friday

As has been the case during this whole event of COVID-19, children whose parents cannot provide adequate care for their children due to work commitments, are welcome to attend school to follow through with their online learning activities. We thank you for supporting the school's planning and staffing by keeping your children at home if possible on non-rostered days.

Let’s look forward to next week as we extend the contact between children and adults. The clear direction from the Diocese from the start has been to reach full time F2F by 1 June. It seems that we are on track for that. For those that are wondering why the State Gov’t have jumped from 1 day to 5 days as a staged re-entry to F2F and why we are not following the State Schools lead – you will have to ask Gladys that question. And just be reminded that Catholic Schools have been open 2 days a week for the last fortnight when Public Schools have only been open 1 day.

I refer you to the two communications from the Director of schools that you would have received via COMPASS.

SOME PROTOCOL POINTERS

With the returning to school full time, there will still be restrictions to the access to school for parents. Sadly, parents will not be permitted to enter the school grounds unless they have business in the office. We ask that parents drop their children at the gate. At pick up time, please continue to follow the social distancing guidelines by not gathering in a group. Kinder and Year 2 will exit via the bottom Lovell Pde gate separated by a couple of minutes and Year 1 will leave via the top Lovell Pde gate. We ask that parents move off without lingering for a chat.

We will still not be able to invite parents to our weekly liturgies or our special celebrations – Mother’s Day was very painful for everyone. There will be no excursions or interschool sport, athletics carnival, school camp etc until further notice.

When dropping off in the morning, it wouild be appreciated that those in cars move right to the bottom of the parling space outside the top gate -- Kiss and Drop is permeitted in the No Parking spot - please be mindful of the Disabled Parking spot.

RED DRESS DAY

For those children attending school tomorrow, it will be free dress – the theme is RED. Also be prepared to do some work around the garden if the weather is kind to us. I know there were some disappointed gardeners due to the showers last week.

WINTER UNIFORM

We should be dusting off our winter clothes this weekend as we expect all children to be dressed in their winter uniform from next week. Please refer to the handbook for what is expected. Ties are compulsory. Sports day will still be Wednesday. Please ensure children are wearing the tracksuit with school logo.

A bad habit children have during winter is tossing their hats, jackets and jumpers as they play and not picking them up again when play is finished. Names on clothing will help reunite them with their owners.

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

It has been great to see some of the activities with which children are involving themselves and sharing with me. Please don’t forget to fill in the hours worked in the passport and bring it along to school for a stamp and sign off.