Dear Parents 

As we are in the second week of the Catholic School enrolment period I encourage families with a sibling ready to start school in 2021 to enrol now. Enrolment applications can be submitted online, please share this information with neighbours and friends. The official enrolment period concludes on 22 May. This year, due to social distancing restrictions, I will be conducting virtual tours, via Zoom, to share all the wonderful qualities St Monica's has to offer with new families. Spread the word!

I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the teachers and staff for their amazing efforts over the last few weeks supporting families as we implemented our Remote Learning Program. While it has had its challenges for everyone, it has also been a very rewarding time connecting with the children and their families.

It is now time to transition back to school. While not everyone may be able to return, due to medical or personal reasons, we are looking forward to getting back into a good routine. To ensure the safety of everyone the following plan has been put into place for next week. Where a child will not be returning in Week 5 please email me directly - carmel.maguire@cg.catholic.edu.au.   

Transition and Return to Face to Face Teaching 

Week 4 - Commencing Monday 18 May

To support the wellbeing, social reconnection and establish routines the following plan has been developed.

• Children who attended during Weeks 1 to 3, full time or part time to continue.
• All Kinder and Year 1 children to attend each day – Monday to Friday.
• Siblings of Kinder and Year 1 children to attend each day – Monday to Friday.
• All other Year 3 and 5 students attend on Tuesday and Wednesday.
• All other Year 2, 4 and 6 students attend on Thursday & Friday.
• Children are to bring in their school books, remote learning packs and iPads if they are on loan from the school.
• A combined face to face and remote learning program will occur during this week depending on class numbers.

Week 5 - Commencing Monday 25 May

• All students to return to face to face learning.
• Those who need to remain home for health and personal reasons will continue to be supported with a modified home learning program.

Changed Drop Off and Pick Up Arrangements 

Children to be dropped off in the hall car park or at the top of the ramp to the basketball courts between 8.25am and 8.50am. A teacher will be available to supervise the children crossing the staff car park crossing near the office. Please display extra car etiquette during this difficult time as your child’s safety must come first.

Afternoon Arrangements

Pick Up – Front of School

Commencing at 3.00pm prior to the 3.10pm bell.

• Families with K, 1, 2 and siblings to drive through the staff carpark, enter from Moynihan Street.
• Display your family name in the passenger window.
• Suggestion: Place baby or toddler seat on the righthand side so children can access the car from the left-hand side.

3.10pm Bell and dismissal for Years 3 – 6 and all other children from K – 2 not being picked up from the front of the school.

3.15pm Drive through pick up for families with children in Years 3 – 6.

Chomley Carpark - A teacher will walk the children across to the carpark. Adults are asked to remain in their car.

Copland College Carpark – this carpark will not be supervised.

Walkers and Bike Riders – Children will be dismissed as usual. Parents can wait at the boundary of the school to collect their child/ren; please remember social distancing while you wait.

Bus Travellers - Moynihan and Copland Bus Stops will be supervised.

SMOOSH – will be collected at the Kinder play equipment and supervised across the crossing near the office.

Uniform

Thank you to our new uniform team for their efforts over the last few weeks. All children need to move into their winter uniform, now the weather is turning cold. Uniforms can be ordered via Qkr; orders placed by Thursday evening will be filled and ready to be picked up after 11am from the Front Office on a Friday. Orders are generally sent home with the children on a Friday unless other arrangements are made. Please do not hesitate to contact the team, via email, should you have an issue or query. stmonsuniform@gmail.com 

Canteen

The canteen will remain closed for the time being. I will be in contact with Wendy  Regan, our Canteen Manager, in the coming week to discuss how best we can provide this service to families considering the current restrictions. 

Multipurpose Wipes, Hand Towels and Tissues

To maintain a clean and healthy environment for the children and staff we have increased the level of cleaning around the school including the wiping down of desks, doors, ledges etc. As we continue to provide hand sanitiser and packs of anti-bacterial wipes to the classrooms, it would be great if the children could also bring in their own pack of anti-bacterial wipes to sit on their desk. A roll of paper towel and tissues, per family, would also be appreciated.   

Appreciation Day - Education Support Personnel Day - Friday 15 May at St Monica's 

We just couldn't survive without you all! 

The Office Team - Steph Flynn and  Allison Walsh

Classrooms Support Assistants - Esme Byrnes, Kelly Levi, Bec Perry, Lauren Murphy, Sharon Friend, Unnati Shah & Josh Dalton 

Grounds - Pete Hales

SMOOSH Team - Molly Uelese, Scarlet Day, Qin Bao, Hugo Dean and Co

Canteen Manager - Wendy Regan

Thank you so much for all you do for the children and community of St Monica's, you are all amazing individuals.  

Special Prayers

Please keep the Hogan family - Cameron (4R) and Maddie (6M) in your prayers as their great grandfather passed away. 

Mother's Day Gift Packs

Sincere thanks to Michelle Bowman and Wendy Regan for their work in organising our Mother's Day packs and the drive-through last week. The packs we did not sell were donated to Karinya House for the mums in residence. Thanks to Jack R (4M) and Scarlett B (5SM) for their help with the delivery. 

 

Continue to stay safe and healthy. 

Principal