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Dear Parents and Carers,
For some of our students this week will mark the 8th week of not being able to come to school as we have previously known. It also takes us to the third full week of remote learning. As I listen to and read about the experiences of educators from around the world the message has been that this period of time is a ‘crunch’ time - or as some said ‘a time when the wheels begin to fall off!’
Anecdotally, some of our parents have said things like: ‘the kids are over it’ or ‘they just want to see their friends’. Some have actually said that ‘the kids can’t wait to be back at school, the honeymoon period is over!’ While the phasing period will help the children adjust back into school life, it is important that you, as parents, also consider a period of re-setting.
This period of time is extremely tiring for parents, teachers and children alike. We are finding ourselves in a situation where we are making multiple decisions, that we wouldn’t usually have to make, on a daily basis. The decisions may be tiny like - Is it safe to pop out to get some milk? Do I really need to go to the grocery store or can I manage until we run out of a few more things? Is it going to matter if I wear tracksuit pants to my work zoom meeting - I’ll look alright on top! This multiple decision making is becoming taxing. It can also lead us to make rushed or poorer decisions. Why? Because it’s increasing our cognitive load and our decision making skills can start to deteriorate when this happens.
So what can we do about it? The first thing is for us to recognise what is happening. This pandemic has thrown us all into unfamiliar territory. It has revealed to us emotions within decision making that we have not experienced before and this is really complex stuff!
We need to give ourselves a bit of a break at times; to give ourselves permission that everything does not have to be done at once. When we reset, we need to identify what’s working, think about what we need to stop doing and what we need to pick up - particularly as the children continue the journey back to full school attendance. We need to be able to separate our decisions, look at what needs our full attention and what we can let go. All the while we can faithfully reflect on verses such as this:
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the
world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
-JOHN 14:27
Uniform:
Generally, following Mother’s Day Winter uniforms may begin to be worn. As usual a ‘grace’ period is given as we adjust to the cooler weather. Therefore, depending upon the weather each day students may wear either Summer or Winter uniforms this week and next.
From Monday 25 May all students must wear Winter uniforms.
Students attending one day (Focus Day)
- wear sports uniform
Students attending all week:
- wear sports uniform on their nominated ‘Focus Day’ & Fridays. School uniform (Winter or Summer based on weather) to be worn for remainder of the week
Uniform Shop:
In order to manage the physical distancing requirements,
parents must make an appointment at the uniform shop to purchase uniforms. This can be done through the Compass.
Reminder about Haircuts:
FROM THE SCHOOL HANDBOOK
HAIR
Students are required to wear their hair in a neat and tidy manner. Haircuts should be of an even grade. Hair should be well brushed and combed and it is assumed that hair will not be in such a condition as to invite comment
BE AWARE OF THE FOLLOWING:
- Extreme styles, bleaching, colouring or dyeing of hair are not permitted.
- Gel, mousse and hair spray or other substances should not be used.
- There will be no undercuts, steps or shaved lines within the hair.
- Nothing shorter than a Number 3 comb is acceptable.
- Hair should not extend to cover the eyes.
- Students who do not abide by the haircut requirements will be asked to fix the identified problem.
- Long hair is to be tied back or plaited.
Ribbons and bands of school colour are to be worn.
Reminder about school shoes & sports joggers:
FROM THE SCHOOL HANDBOOK
SHOES AND SOCKS
- Students are required to wear black leather school shoes.
- Shoes should be cleaned and polished.
- Sports shoes should be supportive, predominately white sport shoes. Canvas ‘Raben’ type shoes are not appropriate for school wear.
- Sports socks must be white GSFM socks i.e. covering the ankle. ‘Sockettes’ are not appropriate for school wear.
Drop Off & Dismissal
Car lines remain the safest and most efficient way to drop off and pick up students. Afternoon car lines will begin at 2:40pm in order for us to be able to maintain physical distancing.
Parents are asked not to enter the school grounds. Drop off is at Cabbage Tree Lane gate, McGrath St gate or car lines. Staff will be at the gates to greet the students.
Please do not gather and maintain physical distance at all times.
Parents are asked to:
- ensure their child/ren know the afternoon pick up arrangements i.e: car lines, OOSH, bus, Cabbage Tree Lane gate or McGrath St gate
- inform the office if arrangements change throughout the day
IMPORTANT PARENT PICK UP ACTION FROM CABBAGE TREE LANE:
In order to maintain safety and physical distancing parents are asked to:
- wait in Cram Park for students (i.e: park on corner of Cabbage Tree Lane and McGrath St)
- students will be supervised to cross the road safely with duty teachers
- students will be dismissed in Cram Park
Assemblies:
At the 8:50am bell, students will be making their way directly to their classrooms where they will be met by their teacher. Students will not be assembling throughout the school day. The GSFM virtual assembly will continue.
View this week’s assembly below:
Cleaning & Hygiene:
Good Samaritan, with the support of Catholic Education, has extended the cleaning contract to include regular cleaning of high touch (by multiple people) surfaces, toilets and handwashing sinks throughout the school day.
In addition, the class timetables include handwashing and regular hand sanitising.
All bubblers have been closed. Students must bring their own water bottle that is able to be refilled throughout the school day.
Canteen:
The school canteen is closed until further notice. All students must bring their own munch ‘n crunch, recess and lunch each day.
Week 3 Learning Plans:
Teachers will continue to provide learning plans for 4 days each week and a 5th day of ‘Must Do’/’Can Do’ options. The 5th day will also be an opportunity for ‘catch-up’. Please keep in mind that students will not complete all of the learning plan on their ‘Focus Day’. Teachers will nominate one (1) piece of work that will receive feedback (marking) each day. Other work that is submitted i.e: posted on Google classroom or SeeSaw, will be sighted by the teacher. Learning plans will continue to be uploaded the afternoon prior allowing for parents to organise the learning at home.
The ‘Focus Day’ for each class will give priority to student well being whilst also providing instruction for various parts of the remote learning plan. This will also be an opportunity for the teacher to clarify any misconceptions that students may have with the concepts of the remote learning plan.
Progression through the phases of return to school:
As we begin the phasing of full time return to school, face to face teaching will begin again when the majority of students are able to return to school. This is always dependent upon direction from the State Government and Catholic Schools NSW. It is important to note that when this occurs teachers will return to this mode of teaching. At no point will teachers be delivering two modes of learning i.e: remote and face to face.
The Value for this week is:
Respect
How can we be respectful when we are learning from home?
- Always aim to do our best work while working from home
- Start our lessons each day on time
- Listen to our parents/carers and follow the house rules and routines
How can we be respectful on the internet?
Students who are respectful on the internet:
- act in a way that takes into consideration other people’s feelings and wellbeing
- are courteous, showing empathy and acting with dignity
- have self-respect and only engage in online behaviours that are helpful, useful and have a positive impact on their online reputation
- shows respect by accepting individual differences, presenting opinions calmly and agreeing to disagree
As we are in this transitional stage of returning to school we are required to take extra precautions around hygiene.
We cannot risk loaning books at this time of transition, however, libraries are more than just the printed books that sit on shelves.
They are also digital spaces and in our Diocese we have access to the ebook collection through the SORA platform.
This app can be downloaded from the iTunes or Google Play store.
All classes from Years 1 - 6 can access SORA with their CENet Details and we will be looking at the SORA app in the library on their focus group day. This fortnight’s must do is to download this app and to explore the many different types of books that are available through SORA. When you go to the library homepage link https://oliver1.dow.catholic.edu.au/oliver/home/news, there is an information box for SORA.This information box has links to documents that assist in downloading the app, logging in and returning the books before the due date.
