“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind...and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Matt 22:21

(from the Gospel for the thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A)

Dear parents and carers

EATING PROCEDURES FOR FIRST and SECOND BREAK

The re-structured eating arrangements appear to be working well. Thank you for your support. We’ve had some useful feedback as well. We are ensuring the children have enough time to eat before hand washing and playtime.

We want the children to eat their food. The children have beautiful lunches and families obviously go to considerable effort to provide healthy food. We also want the children to have a good break and play. Given our climate (hot in summer and cold in winter), eating inside means that the children will enjoy their food in comfort. 

For Second Break, we ask that simple snacks or fruit be sent to school. Ideally, children should be able to carry their snack in their hands along with a drink bottle, leaving their lunch boxes inside. Teachers will manage this especially with the younger classes. The children will be seated outside for a few minutes to eat their snack before washing hands and going off to play.

BOOK PARADE “Curious Creatures, Wild Minds”- Friday 6 November

We will conduct a modified book parade on Friday 6 November. This year’s theme is “Curious Creatures, Wild Minds”. We’re delighted to be able to offer this event. The children certainly love to dress up and thoroughly enjoyed the book parade last year. 

Regrettably, parents, family and community members will not be able to attend.  If this changes we will notify you. We will conduct the “parade” on a class by class basis in order to comply with social distancing requirements. 

We will film and photograph the children and share this with you via facebook. It should be a wonderful day for the children.

ATHLETICS CARNIVAL Thursday 12 November

We will be conducting some of the athletics carnival events on Thursday 12 November. This will be a modified event. We need to continue to observe the “no mixing” social distancing precautions. This means that we will not have children of similar ages from different classes competing in the same heats. All events will be conducted on a class basis. We will keep times and relevant records to be able to determine age champions.

Unfortunately, events such as marching and the war cries, which rely on children mixing to be in their colour houses, will not be possible. The children will remain their class groups throughout the day. They will not be able to sit in their colour houses.

We have begun field event trials. Children will have the opportunity to both learn skills and compete in heats for the field events over the next four weeks ahead of the carnival day. Finals for the field events will be held on the carnival day. 

Observing COVID-19 restrictions and social distancing is critical in being able to offer this event for the children. At this stage, parents will not be able to spectate or attend. If this changes we will certainly let you know. 

We will film events and make a carnival movie to celebrate the children’s achievements. This will be shared on our school facebook page. 

After the carnival we will be able to award age champions and the winning colour house. This too will be filmed and shared.

STAFF PLANNING DAY- pupil free day FRIDAY 13 NOVEMBER

We will be conducting a staff planning day on Friday 13 November. This will be a pupil free day and no classes will be conducted. We need to review the year, name our achievements and challenges. We need to plan for 2021 especially given the contingency that COVID-19 restrictions will likely remain in place.

TERM 4 CLASS OVERVIEWS ON PARENT PORTAL CLASSWORK PAGE 

At the beginning of each term, the class teachers provide an overview of what the children in their class will be learning. These overviews are uploaded to the “Classwork” class page on the Parent Portal. Once you have opened the landing page, you will see a link to each class. There are other resources and messages from teachers on the class pages as well. Take a moment to review your child’s class page to learn about what your child is learning about in Term 4.

NEW ST PAUL’S WEBSITE IS NOW LIVE!

Our school website has been updated with new images and content. Please take a moment to review the revised site. This newsletter will continue to be published on the website as well as via COMPASS. We think the website looks great. You can check it out here.

THANKS FOR THE WOOL!

We have made around one hundred pom poms for display in Leighton Gardens as part of the community Christmas celebrations. The CWA ladies are very grateful for our school’s support. The children certainly have enjoyed making the pom poms as part of structured play. 

Structured play will continue throughout the term. We invite a class each day for structured play. The children can choose to participate or play outside. Structured play will have a Christmas theme for the remainder of the term. This has been a lovely innovation. The children enjoy this option. Mrs Iliani and Mrs Claremont have done a fabulous job planning, coordinating and delivering structured play each day.

MENTAL HEALTH & WELLBEING- check out the Wellbeing page on the Parent Portal

This has certainly been a tricky year! 

I would like to draw your attention to the Wellbeing page on the Parent Portal we created during remote learning in Term 2. There are lots of free resources on the portal that you may find helpful. Take a moment for yourself and have a browse. Something might just grab your attention! A link to the Wellbeing page is here

Check the CEDoW COVID-19 website for updates

Stay up to date with the latest information regarding COVID-19 and its implications for our school by visiting Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong (CEDoW) COVID-19 Information centre available here. This site has been created and regularly updated with COVID-19 specific advice for all our school diocesan communities. 

Thank you everyone for your ongoing understanding, patience and support as we move through this time together. As difficult and often inconvenient as it is, this is how we do our bit in keeping everyone safe and continuing to manage the pandemic.

SUMMER UNIFORMS IN TERM 4

All children will wear the summer uniform from the beginning of Term 4. Our uniform suppliers are Whytes Tailoring and Clothing in Argyle Street Moss Vale (02 4868 1911 or visit https://www.whytesclothing.com.au/)and  NSW Uniforms (0400 805 596 or email ethne@drewdesigns.com.au). Both suppliers have our summer uniforms in stock.

Sport Uniform Days by Class 

Your child will need to wear the sport uniform on the following days each week.

Kindergarten- Friday

Year 1- Thursday & Friday

Year 2- Wednesday & Friday

Year 3- Wednesday & Friday

Year 4- Wednesday & Friday

Year 5- Wednesday & Friday

Year 6-Wednesday & Friday

DAYS AND DATES FOR TERM 4

Given recent changes to COVID0 19 restrictions, we are now in the position to plan events. The dates for these event are listed below. I would particularly draw your attention to the Week 10 arrangements with Tuesday 15 December being the last day of the year for the children. Staff will continue to work on site until Thursday 17 December.