20 May 2020

Newsletter Articles

FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK

Dear Parents and Carers,

Last week we commenced the gradual return to school for students. Although we have enjoyed the presence of children who have regularly attended school, it was good to see students whom we had not seen for a while and noticed that they really valued each other's company after so many weeks away. From our observations the children were attentive in class, keen to be back with their teachers and classmates, and expressed their happiness to be back at school. I have been so impressed by the way parents have prepared, encouraged and supported their children through the morning routine to set them up for success.

For some children this transition back to school will be easy, but for others this may be an anxious time for them. Children, especially little ones, do not have the life experience or the capacity to see the bigger picture and may worry about aspects we do not anticipate. In this communication I have included some hints, tips and strategies from Sarah Mehaffey, our school psychologist to assist parents of children as they transition back to school.

Thank you to all the parents and caregivers for your cooperation, with regard to physical distancing and presence on the school grounds. The staff really appreciate your attention to being swift in your drop offs and pick-ups and your consideration of other adults in our school community.

Health and Safety Guidelines

Message for Parents

• if your child is sick, they must not attend school. You must keep them at home and away from others. If your child has a temperature, fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose and/ or sneezing, they should remain at home until they are completely better.
• Remember to maintain physical distancing from other parents and teachers when attending school, including when dropping off and picking up your children.
• Please send a drink bottle with your child to fill at the bubblers as communal bubblers will not be available until further notice.
• Please ensure your child has a school jumper, just in case. Teachers are trying to limit the use of air-conditioning during the day in an effort to keep our rooms well ventilated.

Let’s celebrate our teachers!

Students are now returning to school and education normality finally looks visible on the horizon. As an industry, despite the intense pressure and need for ‘creative flexibilty’ we have experienced what we like to call teachable moments. With this in mind, and in regard to the COVID-19 pandemic, remote learning and cyber safety, the following list details what has been learnt so far...

Four Things We Have Learnt So Far

1. Parents are important

We have always known parents play an important role in their children’s education, however the remote learning exercise has put a huge, bright spotlight on this fact. Ensuring kids remained focused and safe online while studying from home, in most cases, became the sole responsibility of parents. This was made extra challenging due to the fact many parents were juggling their own work commitments and disruptions. Which leads us to point number two -

2. Parents need help and support

Parents had to become educators. Meaning schools needed to support their parents in the same way they support their teachers, by providing guidance, access to resources, education, tools and technology. And when it comes to cyber safety, more time online means more exposure to dangers, so parents needed to be equipped to deal with that challenge.

3. Things can change fast!

It felt like plans were changing every hour, every day. As an industry, we have proved we’re adaptable but rapid change is made easier with good contingency plans. From this point, we need to look to future-proofing. What if there is a second wave? How can we assure we can provide safe and equitable learning for students, no matter what? Short-term answers now need to be replaced with long-term solutions.

4. Schools leaders, teachers and IT staff are AMAZING

As a result of the pandemic, education flipped on its head in an instant and was headed towards chaos. Then, the principals stepped up. The teachers went into overdrive. The IT staff performed minor miracles. Under hugely stressful and trying conditions, Australian educators came to the rescue like never before. And you should be proud.

We’re not fully out from the trees just yet, but we’re approaching a position to be able to take stock of what has happened, appreciate the efforts and ensure we’re better off as a result. Our school community has never been closer and more appreciative, and now is the time to ensure all those pieces are fully supporting one another long into the future.

(Opinion- Jon Chivers familyzone.com )

In reality, it’s too soon to identify the true impact this remarkable time will have on our lives — we don’t even know what next month looks like. That doesn’t mean we haven’t learned anything, though. We know as educators we are resilient and resourceful and can pull together in times of need. We know we can just get on and do what we have to do when required to support the needs of our community. We know that we can work collaboratively and creatively in the face of enormous and ongoing stress. We know that we find strength in each other and great joy and hope in the eyes, minds and hearts of children.

Not such bad lessons to learn, really!

Sincerely,

Jacqui Wilkinson
Principal

IMPORTANT MESSAGES FOR PARENTS

CHANGE TO WINTER UNIFORM

From the beginning of Week 6 (Monday 1st June) all students should be in FULL WINTER UNIFORM when in attendance. Until then students may choose either the full summer or full winter uniform according to the weather – not a combination of both. Sports uniform will continue to be worn on allocated sport days for each grade/class.

Please ensure that you act now to source correct winter uniform items from our key supplier- not alternatives that are often the incorrect style or colour and don’t meet our uniform standards. Tab ties for girls, badges, and hats are available for purchase at the school office. Winter uniforms are available from Ken Lane Menswear in the Maitland Levee Precinct ONLY. Patrick Lane reports that stock levels are good. Opening hours are currently Monday-Saturday between 9am -1pm.

Patrick sent a heartfelt message to parents last week which has been shared below;

Dear Jacqui,

I just wanted to take a moment and thank you for your support and promotion of Ken Lane Menswear as the supplier of uniforms at St Pat's. St Pat's families have really responded to the kids returning to school and have provided us some vital cash flow.

Could you please pass on our sincere thanks to the parents for their support. Without them, quite simply, our doors would be closed right now. The parents of St Pat's have been our saviour in the most difficult time we have experienced in 72 years of operation. Where they choose to spend their money quite literally changes lives and livelihoods. Thank them from the bottom of our hearts.

Warmest regards
Patrick Lane

CANTEEN RE-OPENING- AMENDED MENU

You are reminded that the canteen will be opened from this week on Tuesday and Friday only with an amended menu. Please note that changes have been made to QKR to reflect the reduced menu.

Unfortunately we are unable to welcome volunteers at this time.

CANTEEN CLOSED WEDNESDAY. NO CASH PURCHASES.

KINDER ENROLMENTS 2021

Kindergarten enrolment interviews previously scheduled for Term 2 have been put on hold. As soon as we are able to open our school gates to welcome parents and visitors to site, we will reconvene. Our priority is ensuring that we make arrangements to hold these interviews in the safest possible manner for the safety and wellbeing of all concerned. Please be reassured that this philosophy is being adopted by all Diocesan primary schools and your opportunity to enroll will not be impacted by the delay.

The enrolment period remains open. All enquiries should be directed to the school office on 49307270 or admin@lochinvarsp.catholic.edu.au

In the event that your child has additional support needs, a diagnosed medical condition or disability, has accessed NDIS, early intervention or inclusion services (e.g. therapies) you are asked to make contact with Bettina O’Heir (Learning Support Teacher) using the admin email address above. Early communication of your child’s potential support needs is particularly valuable, made more important by the delay of our enrolment and transition processes.

P&F ZOOM MEETING

The current P&F constitution does not make provision for virtual meetings however COVID-19 has led to legislative changes to allow meetings via technology. The NSW Associations Act allows meetings by technology and states that attendance and votes are taken as if the person attended in person, effectively by ‘show of hands’.

A virtual meeting (via ZOOM) is scheduled for 4pm June 3rd 2020. This meeting has been scheduled by the P&F Association and myself to present a motion which relates to a proposed operational change to funding of our school canteen supervisor position.

The school canteen functions to provide a service to families and staff.

Currently, and for many years, the P&F Association, through active fundraising efforts as well as using profits from canteen takings, has been primarily responsible for the on-costs of the school canteen supervisor position at St Patrick’s Lochinvar. This model has presented some ongoing disadvantages, the most significant of which is that fundraising efforts may be depleted by associated labour costs.

This proposal seeks to take the responsibility for subsidising the wages away from the school P&F committee, to control of the school.

It is important to note that this proposal does not have any bearing on canteen operations on a day to day basis. The school parent community, through the P&F committee, will be welcomed and encouraged to volunteer as usual and will continue to actively offer ideas and suggestions for menu design and the smooth running of the canteen.

You are invited to be involved in the Virtual P&F Meeting. If you are able to attend, you will need to send an email to the admin email address admin@lochinvarsp.catholic.edu.au

An invitation will then be sent to you personally with the log-in code and password. In the event that you are unable to attend, yet would like to have your say, you are welcome to reply by email to the admin email address.

Please be advised that additionally, the P&F committee will also present an update on the following items

1. Signature paver project
2. New playground possibilities
3. Future fundraising options- pie drive

Jacqueline Wilkinson
Principal

FEES

Parents are advised that Term 2 Fee Accounts will not be sent out to parents until face to face schooling resumes for all students. If you are in a position to pay and wish to access your account before-hand, or if you would like a statement of account, please contact the school office.

Alternatively, our administration staff are available to discuss the introduction of a regular payment plan to help manage your financial responsibilities at this time. If you are experiencing financial hardship, you are urged to speak directly with Mrs Wilkinson or make an application to the CSO for support.

STUDENT ABSENCE

The Compass Support team have noticed that some parents are continuing to add attendance notes to explain their student’s absence due to COVID-19. Parents are not required to add notes to explain student absence due to COVID. Instead parents should only explain student absences for reasons other than COVID, e.g. sick, medical appointments. Incorrect reporting of absences will impact on the student’s attendance data.

MEDICAL UPDATES

Does your child suffer from any medical conditions such as Anaphylaxis or Asthma?

Please ensure the office is aware of any medical conditions and kept up to date with changes to medications or conditions.

Anaphylaxis and Asthma plans are required to be updated EVERY 12 months.

If your child requires ongoing medication for a diagnosed condition, appropriate documentation must be completed and filed by administration staff.

Medication must be provided in an easy to use blister pack, clearly labeled with the child’s details and administration instructions, and delivered to the school office by the parent or carer (not the child).

PRACTICAL TIPS FOR PARENTS WHEN CHILDREN ARE WORRIED ABOUT RETURNING TO SCHOOL

By Sarah Mehaffey- School Psychologist

Firstly, well done to all those parents who have been doing their best to juggle. Parenting, home schooling, working, working from home, caring for others and more. It’s been challenging, so well done to you. Now it’s time for kids to start returning to school and to let the professional teachers answer those millions of questions you have been fielding each day (I don’t know how they do it).

For students a certain degree of worry and fear about returning to school, especially following this time away from face-to-face teaching and in the current pandemic, is normal. We are currently in uncertain times. However, most students find that these worrying feelings decrease over time once back at school and following the school routine. It will most helpful for children and young people to return to school along with other students as outlined by their school. Of course, for those children, young people and their families who are vulnerable to COVID-19 as outlined by NSW Health, please contact your school about your circumstances and school attendance.

Below are a few things parents can do to help their child who may worry about returning to school.

• Listen and help your child to identify their emotions - It’s healthier for children to talk about their feelings—they don’t benefit from “not thinking about it.” Be empathetic, but also remind your child, gently, that they have done this before after long school holiday breaks.
• Talk about returning to school and helping them prepare for the transition – what will school look like. What is the same? What might be different?
• Develop a calm morning routine (organise and pack the night before) for predictability and reducing anxiety.
• Develop and follow a quick goodbye routine. Routines are reassuring, however, keep things quick e.g. “I’ll be dropping you at the hall gate tomorrow. I will give you a big kiss and tell you I love you and then you go straight to class/COLA to drop your bag/ find your friends/teacher. I’ll be picking you up from the gate at 3.00pm and can’t wait to hear about your day.
• On the day - leave without fanfare. Tell your child you are leaving and that you will return, then go—don’t stall or make it a bigger deal than it is. Remember they are safe and cared for at school.
• Encourage them to meet up with friends before going into school if they can.
• Reassure them that feeling anxious about new situations is normal and they can do things to help manage these feelings such as mindful breathing, relaxation techniques, meditation, exercise, getting a good night sleep, positive self-talk, talking to friends.
• Helping them to understand that delaying the return to school is likely to make things harder in the future.
• Build confidence in them “I know it feels hard, but you can do it”
• Help them develop coping statements to use at school: “As the day goes on, I will feel less worried”, “All the teachers care about me and are there if I need them”.
• Discuss and identify safe places and people they feel comfortable talking to at school.
• Send notes for your child to read at lunch.
• Draw a love heart on your hand and on theirs as a reminder you are always thinking about them – when they press the heart it’s like getting a hug from you.
• Give the child something of yours to keep while at school (not expensive or sentimental). Maybe your favorite scarf or hat, a special photo.
• Reward your child’s efforts – give them something to look forward to at the end of the day. Maybe their pick for dinner, or a special walk around the park, some afternoon game time.

I hope you find some of these suggestions helpful.

If you are concerned that your child’s worry is becoming persistent and intense, please contact the school and discuss this with your child’s class teacher. Additionally, please discuss any major concerns with your GP or mental health care provider.

Take care,

Sarah

RE NEWS

LAUDATO_SI

This week marks the 5th Anniversary of Pope Francis’ Encyclical “Laudato Si - Care for our Common Home”.

As this is our theme for the year we encourage you to take some time to pray the prayer together with your families.

ABORIGINAL & TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER (ATSI) NEWS

There are a number of significant dates coming up in our national calendar, which will be observed at St. Patrick’s.

On 26 May, Australia observes Sorry Day – commemorating the report on the Stolen Generations. Reconciliation Week begins 27 May (the date of the 1967 Referendum in which 90% of Australians voted to include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the Census for the first time). It ends 3 June (the anniversary of the 1992 Mabo Decision, which recognised native title over land - rights that were never surrendered to British colonisation).

These significant dates encourage us to continue to acknowledge past and current tragedies and inequalities which colonisation brought to indigenous Australians. It is also a time to celebrate their complex history, culture and traditions over tens of thousands and years. Reconciliation is also an opportunity to acknowledge the resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and their continuing achievements.

It is also a time for all Australians to understand that saying ‘Sorry’ is only meaningful in the context of commitment to an ongoing and positive process of reconciliation.

Under the current conditions we cannot as community to mark these significant days, but this year’s theme of ‘In This Together’ resonates particularly in the year that 2020 has been. It reminds us that we ALL have a role to play in reconciliation and ‘building communities that value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, histories and communities’ (CEO of Reconciliation Australia, Karen Mundine).

As we all wait to ‘get back to normal’ it is important to consider how ‘normal’ could be even better if we truly think about equality and justice for all Australians.

Each class will discuss the significance of the days and link them to appreciation, empathy and pride for Aboriginal history, culture and achievements that weave across all areas of the curriculum in all grades here at St. Patrick’s. The children will complete activities to encourage them to reflect on these values. The benefit of the continuing growth in our national awareness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history and culture, is that events like Reconciliation Week reinforce key learning, rather than be the focus of it.

ORGANISATION & MANAGEMENT

NEW DATES

School Photos: MONDAY 24TH AUGUST (Term 3, Week 6)
Year 4 Sydney Excursion: FRIDAY 23RD OCTOBER (Term 4, Week 2).

ASPIRE- POSTPONED

As you all fully appreciate, programs and events planned for 2020 have either been cancelled, postponed or re-envisioned to meet the needs of our communities. Our 2020 ASPIRE Production – The Pecking Order is also one of those programs. While we were able to engage in some zoom lessons and rehearsals with the students, like learning and teaching, it is not the same as being face to face and in the presence of young people.

The proposal is to move rehearsals to recommence in mid term 3 and recess in mid term 4 with a production to be held at the Newcastle Civic Theatre in late January 2021. As a result of this decision organisers will not be able to offer schools the usual matinee program but, are considering other options as we move forward.

YEAR 5 ADVENTURE TO GREAT AUSSIE BUSH CAMP- UPDATE

At this stage it is too early to tell whether school excursions, including overnight ventures will resume in time for our scheduled trip in Week 2 of Term 3. Our Year 5 teachers have been in regular communication with the staff of the GABC, who are preparing advanced safety protocols. We are unable to change our booking to a later date due to the rescheduling of excursions cancelled during Term 1 & 2, and our booking tentatively remains. We await further direction from CSNSW and the Health department.

COMMUNITY NEWS

HELP WANTED

Catholic Schools NSW (CSNSW) are coordinating a gratitude project to recognise and give thanks for the hard work of our teachers. This project is intended for parents and family members of students attending a Catholic school, not CSNSW staff (unless of course your kids are in our schools!)

The aim is to gather as many videos as possible so get creative.

CHISHOLM REGION PASTORAL COUNCIL CATHOLIC COMMUNITY SURVEY MAY 2020

Dear friends,

As you would know we are not able to have Sunday or weekday Mass or hold any other public event. Whilst we have been fortunate that our priests and office staff are distributing the bulletin and trying to keep in touch maybe there are other ways that we can support our spiritual and pastoral needs, or you may be in a position to offer support.

This survey hopes to discover the pastoral and spiritual needs of our Chisholm Region Catholic community. Your input will help Fr Paul O’Neill, our Parish Priest, Parish Teams, and the Chisholm Region Pastoral Council establish a network of assistance and supports during this COVID-19 lockdown and into the future.

You can complete the survey by

• completing online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WQ3KF5J

We strongly support submission of the survey online but we appreciate that not everyone can do this so you may also complete the attached survey by

• scanning and emailing your completed survey to the Chisholm parish office at chisholm@mn.catholic.org.au OR
• posting to Chisholm Pastoral Region, 302-304 High Street, Maitland NSW 2320. Pastoral Teams will hand deliver copies of the survey to those who currently receive the bulletin by hand delivery.

If there is anyone in your family, street, in your area or anyone from our school communities you think may be interested in completing a survey, please forward this link or a copy of the survey to them.

Please return survey by Thursday 28th May.

All returned surveys will be stored securely to ensure your privacy.

If you have any questions about the survey, please phone Yvonne Rohr on 0432 550 986 or Mary Tupou on 0432 578 431 or contact the Regional Office on 4933 8918.

Thank you for taking the time to complete the survey which will help us help you.

Chisholm Region Pastoral Council

SINCERE THANKS- A message from Mt Carmel, Aged Care Facility