Dear Parents,

The Victorian State Government has eased restrictions in regional Victoria from 11.59 pm on Wednesday, 16^th September 2020. With these restrictions eased, regional Victoria have progressed to the Third Step of the roadmap for reopening.

Term 4 Arrangements

From Monday, 5^th October, all students at St Mary’s will return to face to face classroom learning and will be expected to attend school as normal.

Where parents, guardians or carers choose to keep children home instead of returning them to classroom learning, St Mary’s will no longer be required to provide a Remote Schooling Program. In this instance, we will endeavour to provide an extended absence work program, however your child will be marked as absent from school.

Health and Safety Requirements

If your child is experiencing signs or symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19), they must not attend school until their symptoms resolve and appropriate medical advice is obtained. This includes those showing even mild symptoms of COVID-19.

The symptoms to watch out for are:

• fever
• chills or sweats
• cough
• sore throat
• shortness of breath
• runny nose
• loss of sense of smell.

In certain circumstances headache, muscle soreness, stuffy nose, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea may also be considered. 

Upon arrival to school or during the school day, if your child becomes or is unwell, you will be contacted and required to come and collect your child.

If students who are being tested for COVID-19 have siblings who attend a school managed and operated by the Diocese of Sale Catholic Education Limited (DOSCEL), then the siblings should also remain at home until a negative test result is provided for the student awaiting a test result.

If students are unwell for an extended period of time, they will be supported in their learning by the school.

Where a student is unwell and absent from school, parents and carers will not need to provide a medical certificate for their child to return to school.

In addition, all students will continue to receive a temperature check every morning before attending school, with a non-contact infrared forehead thermometer.

Primary school students are not required to wear a face covering irrespective of the students age. However, individual families can make their own decisions regarding their children wearing a face covering whilst attending primary school.

Parents, guardians and carers are encouraged to inform their child(ren) that school staff will be using face coverings and reinforce with their child(ren) the need to keep 1.5 metres apart from other people, to wash and dry hands thoroughly and regularly, and cough and sneeze into a tissue or their elbow.

School Arrangements 

St Mary’s will continue to implement the following control measures:

• all students will enter through the front gate
• promoting age-appropriate hygiene practices for all students
• reminding all students and staff to wash their hands with soap and water or when this is not possible, use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser on arrival at school and regularly throughout the day
• reinforcing with students the following hygiene practices:
  • cough and/or sneeze into their elbows or a tissue
  • place used tissues straight into the bin
  • avoid touching eyes, noses or mouths
  • not to share food or drink
  • not to drink from water fountains or bubblers directly
• extending school cleaning programs during the school day, including cleaning school playground equipment after use
• limiting the number of visitors attending the school, including parents.

The main risk of transmission of COVID-19 in the school environment is between adults. The following measures continue until further notice for parents, guardians and carers:

• practise physical distancing and avoid long periods of time in close contact with other adults
• use the telephone or email to contact staff rather than visiting the school
• do not enter the school grounds except when essential and the time on-site should be minimised
• adhere to the school’s pick and drop off requirements for students.

I appreciate that the transition to classroom learning will be a challenging time for all and I thank all our parents, guardians, carers and the wider school community for their continued hard work and support.

If you require clarification in relation to the updated Term 4 arrangements return to classroom learning or additional support, please contact myself or Heather on 51825659.

Yours sincerely

Joel Brayshaw

Principal

TERM 3

Friday 18th September—Last Day of Term.    2.20pm Finish                                                  

TERM 4

Monday 5th October -First day of Term 4, all students at St Mary’s will return to face to face classroom learning and will be expected to attend school as normal.

Monday 5th - Wednesday 7th October - Grade 3/4 School Camp to Forest Lodge has been cancelled 

Monday 19th - Wednesday 21st October - Grade 5/6 School Camp to Melbourne has been cancelled 

Friday 23rd October - AFL Grand Final Public Holiday

Monday 2nd November - School Closure Day 

Tuesday 3rd November - Melbourne Cup Public Holiday 

Wednesday 18th November - School Photos 

Friday 18th December - Last Day of Term 4 

Cancellation of Student Activities

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, school camps for the remainder of 2020 have been cancelled. This includes the Year 3/4 and 5/6 camps. At this stage we are unsure about our swimming program and excursions that are scheduled for Term 4. Diocese of Sale Catholic Education Limited (DOSCEL) will continue to monitor the advice of the Victorian Government to ensure that the health and safety of staff and students remains the highest priority. This may mean that swimming programs and excursions remain suspended during Term 4, 2020.

Credits for camps have been applied to fee accounts. Further credits will be applied as activities are cancelled. If this credit results in your fee account being overpaid this will be credited to 2021 school fees or a refund given for families leaving. 

Please contact Heather at the school office if you have any questions in regards to  school fees. 

Prep 2021 Enrolments

Prep 2021 Enrolment process –  Applications and Enrolments for our 2021 Prep students are now open -  please note the following:-

Enrolment application forms can be downloaded from our website - stmyarram.catholic.edu.au
 or collected from our School Office between Mon- Fri 9.00am – 3:00pm

Forms can be emailed to hleemon@stmyarram.catholic.edu.au along with the extra required information attached – Birth Certificate, Immunisation Certificate and Baptism Certificate 

 They can also be completed and returned to our School Office – we ask that you please return your enrolments as soon as possible.

Encourage kids to occupy themselves

A child's ability to fill in their own time and cope with moments of boredom are important independence skills to develop.

Talk Like A Pirate Day- Look at some of our amazing pirates! 

Community News 

REFLECTION OF PORT ALBERT PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION

Registration Form and Terms & Conditions

YARRAM SPOONVILLE

 

How good is this....

Decorate a wooden spoon and add it to the Spoonville Collection at The Yarram Memorial Garden.

Fantastic decorated spoons Alice & Gabby

Thank you to all parents, carers, big brothers, sisters and grandparents for the wonderful support that St. Mary's Students have received from you all with remote learning. The Staff at St Mary's appreciate all that you have done.

I'm sure you all need a well deserved 2 week break!!