Dear Parents and Carers,

A very warm welcome back to everyone, the students have settled seamlessly into routine and are enjoying being with their friends and learning at St Michael’s. Everyone is noticing a calmer environment- so what’s changed?

Ian Luscombe was able to suggest a few ideas for whole school routines including assembling together with a song after each break- if you’ve been hearing ‘Fight Song’ at home and seeing actions happening this is the reason. Apologies if you are sick of hearing it!

We now have a flow chart and script with reminders and a yellow card system in place for office referrals. We are finding that a few simple strategies and a common language is really supporting students to work cooperatively within boundaries.

One of the best changes is that at our gatherings, teachers choose school members who are acting out on the playground in ways that support Harmony and our Mission and Vision to be kind and forgiving.

Ian will be visiting again on Wednesday 12 August where we had planned a parent meeting. With the COVID-19 restrictions coming into place again, we are looking at a digital meeting- don’t miss this one!

COVID-19 Updates

I have sent home a letter from Ross Fox via COMPASS but will also attach to this newsletter:

• Please notify us immediately if your child tests positive to COVID-19, so we can track numbers in classes and notify you if we have a cluster happening.
• CE has recommended that if your child is a household (close) contact they study at home where possible.
  If your child is a household contact and you wish them to attend school they must take a COVID-19 test 24 hours prior to attending school and then every 48 hours if ongoing attendance at school.
• Please contact us if you require Rapid Antigen Tests.
• Your child must be experiencing no symptoms and have a negative test result. We want to keep everyone safe and well, so please do not send your child to school if they are experiencing cold and flu symptoms. 
• We have been advised to limit visitors to the site- only essential workers, allied health, clinics and incursions can take place. Our K-2 will be permitted to attend the Theatre excursion but as of Week 3, no further excursions outside the school are permitted. We are unsure of what will happen in Term 4 but hopefully 5/6 Camp will go ahead.
• Limiting visitors means we will not be able to invite parents to assemblies, Masses or Whole school prayer. We will look to ways we can share events digitally. All parent meetings with teachers are required to return to digital format unless special arrangements in place.
• Parents can collect students via drop off and pick up as usual but are encouraged to maintain social distancing and not enter the school.
• Parents are required to sign in late students and can sign out and collect students for appointments, best to call Lynda so she can have your child ready to be collected.
• St Michael’s will continue with our protocols for hygiene and cleaning already in place.
• Where we do not have staff to cover classes, you will be immediately notified.
• If students are required to work from home we will provide links for parents to access learning.

Thank you for working with us as we navigate another wave, please reach out if you have any questions or concerns. Your children’s safety and wellbeing are our top priority. Please keep an eye on COMPASS so that you can be up to date with any communication. We remain positive and hopeful that we can minimise impacts and disruption as the term progresses.

Many Blessings

Judy Egan

Principal

Census