Sport @ St Monica's in 2021

As we enter a new year, unfortunately COVID-19 is ensuring the uncertainty and various changes around some of our school, regional and state sporting events. Please see below correspondence from Liz Yuen, Executive Officer-School Sport ACT in regards to the current situation.

SSACT has been compliant with all ACT Govt and Education Directorate (ED) COVID-19 safety restrictions throughout 2020 and this will continue into 2021. We are still operating from the ED Road Map of December 2020, which outlines a maximum of 500 people attending school excursions. This includes event officials, teachers and students.

Due to the AIS being unavailable for community meet bookings until the end of March due to Tokyo Olympics preparations, SSACT Regional events will be conducted at the new Stromlo Leisure Centre (SLC). SLC is also required to comply with current restrictions, so they are only permitted to have 500 people maximum across the entire pool deck.

With consideration to the traditional number of entries per event, it has become apparent that some of the Primary Regional events will exceed the 500 people requirement. Accordingly School Sport ACT and our Swimming ACT Liaison have been required to implement the following conditions to ensure we are compliant.

Regional and ACT Carnivals

For the 2021 Primary Regional Carnivals and 12&U ACT Championship events the turning 8 and 9-year-old events will be removed from the program. The 8 and 9-year-olds are not eligible for State Team selection. Other options were explored and this is deemed the fairest entry restriction mechanism across all schools.

• Parents/Spectators will not be permitted to attend any events nor enter the pool deck area.
• Further conditions may be applied if the number of entries exceeds the total 500 people maximum.
• Note: If restrictions are eased at the next ACT Government Checkpoint scheduled for 12 February and allow more people to attend the 8 and 9-year-olds will be able to compete, and the attendance of spectators will be reviewed.

With these restrictions and protocols in place and the uncertainty of when changes could occur, I am sure you can appreciate the difficult decisions that we as a school will have to make with school sporting events and gala days. Students who are turning 10,11 or 12 this year and who are COMPETITIVE or COMPETENT swimmers will be allowed to attend the school swimming carnival.

Decisions around attendance at gala days, cross country, athletics and representative opportunities will be communicated throughout the year as information comes to hand. We may also consider another In School Sport Competition, similar to the one held in Term 4 last year.

If you have any questions or concerns around anything to do with Sport at St Monica's, please do not hesitate to contact me at school on 6258 5105 or ryan.matchett@cg.catholic.edu.au

Swimming Carnival - Monday 22 February - Save the Date

Information about arrangements for our carnival will be circulated to the children tomorrow. The carnival will only be for competitive swimmers. This year we will also be trialling the new pool at Stromlo. Parent volunteers will be required. Permission note attached for parent reference.