CARING FOR OUR COMMUNITY

As we reach the end of Week 8 of Term 1, it is very clear that since we started school, our world has changed significantly. We are continually hearing in the local and national media about the major event impacting our daily lives; we know the name so well now, Corona virus or COVID-19. For all of us, this unprecedented time creates uncertainty, leading to worry for us and our families. As we continue to communicate to you through our school avenues, there is one thing that guides all of what we do and say; caring for our community.

What can’t be underestimated, is the effect that this is having on our community of St Joseph’s and beyond. As a school and Parish, our first priority is for our students, families and staff. We have become used to adapting practical strategies through each new piece of advice that comes to us from governments, health departments, Catholic Schools Office and St Agnes' Parish, which are quickly evolving. 

As we continue through this event, I would like to very clearly say that there is always support available for our families to ensure that our community will be able to face what is ahead and come through it together. I ask that if you have any concerns for your children and family or know of another family who is struggling as part of our community, please let us know so that we can work out a way to assist. At the core of our Catholic Mission, is service, modelled on the person of Jesus. Our Parish is an immensely comforting support for us at this time as we work together in faith and hope.

This is a time for our school to remain a safe, stable, calm and nurturing place. Our staff are working as always, to ensure each child is able to learn and grow. This now includes providing continued educational support for families who are keeping their children at home through necessity or choice. We have been supported by our Catholic Schools Office with programmed learning that can be sent home for children to use. This will not be a replica of the classroom, as lessons in Primary schools are not driven by text books or worksheets, but covers the most important learning areas. These are available to you if needed, please ask for them through an email, phone call or visit to our office. In addition, teachers can support in ensuring students have log in information to online resources that students use at school that can also be accessed at home.

Currently, our direction is that schools will not close during Term 1 and students will officially finish on Wednesday 8th April. As we have discovered, this can change, so we will keep you up-to-date with any advice we are given around this. Our staff are preparing for the event of schools closing, so that we can move into a style of learning that all students can access. This is new territory for us as well, so we ask for your patience in what that will look like. Teachers are guiding students through the use of technology at school that will assist in connecting with us when that time comes. We will be guiding you through some information gathering in the coming week so we can understand your accessibility and use of technology at home in developing this school plan.  

In a practical sense, we are continuing with some current strategies and making some extra changes this week, which I would like to outline to you. 

We will continue to:

• Have hand sanitiser in the office and every classroom.
• Have hand soap in every toilet and classroom. 
• Have staff teaching hygiene practices with students (also encouraged at home):
• Washing hands several times each day with soap and water.
• Sanitiser use at regular intervals.
• Sneezing and coughing into elbows.
• Not sharing any food items (always a practice at school).
• Display posters reminding of our hygiene practices.
• Clean more regularly and target particular areas such as benches, tables, handrails, handles and toilets.
• Keep groups of children gathered in the school below the numbers specified (currently 100):
• No assemblies of the whole school.
• No events with community members coming in to our school.
• Engage in social distancing wherever possible.  

Added today to our recent practice:

• Staggered lunch times for K-2 and 3-6, allowing for:
• more space between students at eating times;
• more space at play times; and
• better use of toilets and handwashing
• Changes to the organisation of bus lines to create more space for children.
• Changes to the pick up area for K-2 to create more space for children outside of an enclosed area.
• Cancellation of volunteers in the school

Events added to the postponed/cancellation list at least until the end of Term 1:

• Kindergarten 2021 Information Night - information will be sent to families in digital form as soon as is practical.
• ANZAC Day March.
• After school sport training groups.
• All Church related services; Masses on weekdays and weekends, Sacramental preparation and celebrations.

As always, if you have any concerns, please contact us. It is a very busy time but we will try to reach out to you as soon as we can.

Thank you for your support of our school community.

Tess Koning
Principal