Dear Friends,

This week we begin seeing great hope and light after a long period of uncertainty. Our staff are very excited to have our students back to learning at school beginning with the staggered return next week. I know for some, return to school will be exciting and welcomed and for others this will be a time of anxiety and some fear. Please be reassured that the health and well being of students, staff and our wider school community is given the highest priority and we will continue each day on return to school to take measures to minimise the risk of COVID-19. 

We are looking forward to welcoming our ELC,  Kinder, Year 1, Year 2 and Year 6 children back to Holy Trinity next Monday, the 25 October, and Year 3, 4, and 5 on the 1st of November.  We have a COVID-19 safety plan in place to ensure the health and safety of children, families, and staff for their return. Please read below the updated procedures for the dropping-off and pick-up of children. ELC families, please refer to the ELC section of the newsletter for the updated procedures.

Furthermore, to increase safety the ELC and school will undertake the following measures

• mandatory mask wearing for staff and essential visitors.  The wearing of  masks for primary students is at the discretion of the student and their parent/carer.  However it is not recommended for children in the ELC or for Kindergarten to Year 2.  This is because masks are unlikely to be correctly worn by very young children and may represent a choking hazard. 

• Classrooms have increased ventilation, and when possible, classes will optimise outside learning.
• High levels of cleaning of high touch areas, equipment and other classroom materials will continue by staff, as well as the daily clean of the school and ELC  by contracted cleaners.
• It is now mandated for all school and ELC staff to be vaccinated, first-dose vaccinations will be required by staff no later than 1 November 2021. Staff must then be fully vaccinated - that is have received two doses of a COVID D-19 vaccine - no later than 29 November 2021. To date there has already been a very high uptake for vaccination amongst our staff. 
• NDIS staff, music tutors and therapists are able to continue visiting the school and ELC and have the same vaccination requirements as all staff. Essential volunteers, such as those working in the tuckshop and uniform shop also have the same vaccination requirements. 

Other measures in place will include limiting the mingling of classes and year groups, increased use of outdoor spaces, limitation of on-site visitors to essential visitors only, environmental cleaning, and high vigilance around not allowing anyone with symptoms of illness to attend. Please monitor your child for signs of sickness and do not send your child to school if they have cold or flu-like symptoms. Any children showing signs of sickness whilst at school will be required to be collected from school promptly. 

The reopening of schools reflects the need to have students return to the classroom to support their well being and minimise educational disadvantage. As such, now that the ACT and NSW Government has declared that schools are safe to open we are once again obliged to ensure that the requirements of school attendance are met. Students who do not return to school on an extended basis will require a medical certificate from a medical practitioner.

Please note:

• With our multi aging in Year 5 and 6, Year 6 will be attending school in Week 4 and Year 5 will continue remotely for this week. Year 5 return on Monday 1 November. We are still,  however, in Week 4 open for students in Years 3-5 of parents/carers who are unable to provide care for their children. Our school will also remain open for vulnerable students. If you require supervision of your child/children in Year 3-5 during Week 4, please complete the following form- this will ensure we have appropriate supervision ratios. 
  

  httpssssholytrinitypscurtinnschoolzineplussss.com/form/295

• Please note that there is one mode of learning employed for children needing on site supervision, the remote learning model. This is where the same learning is delivered to students both at home and on site at school. ( For Week 4, this will be Year 3, 4 and 5) 

As we enter Term 4, we will be farewelling two of our School Board members, Penny O'Connell and Jan Ridd.  We will have opportunity to formally thank both these members for their wonderful contribution to our School Board and community later in the term.  The School Board now encourages other parents in our community to nominate for positions on our school board, whose functions are as follows:

FUNCTIONS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD

The Board has responsibility to advise on decisions in the following areas:

• Supporting the development of the Catholic identity, ethos and mission of the school.
• Supporting pastoral care strategies in the school community.
• Promoting the school in the local community.
• Supporting the implementation and continuation of the IB PYP curriculum framework and Professional Learning opportunities. 
• Developing, approving and monitoring the annual budget, including school determined levies, loan commitments and the fees collection and remission policy.
• Developing and monitoring school enterprises, eg. Holy Trinity Early Learning Centre, Outside School Hours Care (Kids Biz), sports associations, hall hire.
• Developing capital and maintenance programs.
• Developing local strategic plans (finances, buildings, resources) and contributing to Archdiocesan educational strategic planning.
• Facilitate local school community debate in response to System leadership by the CEC and the CE in lobbying governments in school funding campaigns.
• Approving school uniform items decided at school level.
• Ensuring that the Parish and school community receives the Annual School Board Report. (Yearbook)
• Consulting with the P & F Association on the expenditure of levies or funds in keeping with Archdiocesan regulations.

Please click here for the nomination form  due to me via email next Wednesday 27th of October. 

Thank you again to Cheryl and the volunteers from the Uniform Shop who came to school on Sunday and organised our click and collect system for summer uniform orders. it is hoped that when the children return to school over the next to weeks, they will be in full summer uniform, with a hat.  Of course we understand that children may have grown out of shoes etc and we will certainly be making allowances for this until retail is safely accessible. 

Today we also farewell the Morel family (George, Amy, Beatrice and Alice) who fly back to Ireland (Limerick) tomorrow.  We will dearly miss them all and wish them  the best for the future in Ireland and beyond. 

Please do not hesitate to reach out for anything at all and continue to stay safe. I look forward to seeing you in the car park over the next two weeks! 

Warmest wishes,

Philippa 

First Eucharist Parent Information Night and First Eucharist Celebration Sign-up 

 Thank you for taking the time to attend our meeting last week. 

 Please click the link to sign up to a First Eucharist Celebration. 

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1POiTkJ7hh3KxR6kiSRFVQO4_6LTIBj4Yi5qxos9JOeU/edit#gid=1198968092 

If you missed the evening and would like a recording please email emily.capper@cg.catholic.edu.au

Global Schools Partners

This October, Global School Partners are holding the GSP 20x20 Challenge. The CEO and co-founder, Simon Carroll, is riding 20km every day, for 20 days. They would love people to donate just $20 (or more) each to help us reach our goal!

Did you know $20 can provide a child-in-need with 3 weeks of schooling? You can donate to Simon's ride here

https://gofund.me/34c8b04chttps://gofund.me/34c8b04chttps://gofund.me/34c8b04chttps://gofund.me/34c8b04chttps://gofund.me/34c8b04chttps://gofund.me/34c8b04chttps://gofund.me/34c8b04c

OR you can JOIN IN and do your own 20 x 20 at https://gofund.me/8c507cb0 You could do anything that you can imagine and commit to, such as read 20 pages of a book in 20 days, or walk 20 minutes a day for 20 days......

Find out more on the website: https://www.globalschoolpartners.org.au/events

Emily Capper

Religious Education Coordinator 

ELC Return to School

We are looking forward to welcoming all children back to the ELC next Monday 25 October and have a Covid-19 safety plan in place to ensure the health and safety of children, families, and staff for their return. Please read below the updated procedures for the dropping-off and pick-up of ELC children.

• To minimise number of people on site, please only one parent or carer at a time completing drop-off and pick-ups. where possible older siblings are asked to remain outside the ELC grounds.
• Masks must be worn by parent or carer when entering the ELC grounds, and all visitors (parent/carer) are required to check in via the Check In CBR app
• Children will be dropped-off and picked-up from the ELC deck, families will not be able to enter the preschool building.
• Staff will sign children in and out of the ELC to minimise use of high touch points
• Please observe physical distancing; parent or carer should minimise the amount of time spent on site as much as possible
• Parent or carer are welcome to drop children between 8.50am-9.10am and pick-up from 2.40pm-3.00pm, to stagger arrivals and departure and minimise high traffic periods. Families using Before and After School Care may arrive and pick-up from ELC as needed.

The Department of Education, Skills and Employment have confirmed that although the lockdown lifted on 15 October, the Gap Waiver payments will continue until Friday 22 October. Regular fees will apply from 25 October.

Please contact me Cushla.sheehan@cg.catholic.edu.au if you have any further questions or concerns or would like to discuss your child’s individual needs. We appreciate the transition back to school can be a difficult and anxious time for some children. I encourage you to email your child's teacher for any 'handover' information that will support your child's return to school, as they will be unable to have a face-to-face conversation with you onsite at drop-off or pick-up times.

Helping your family manage uncertainty

Uncertainty is part of life and yet our brain, which creates our thoughts and feelings, loves certainty and predictability.

The pandemic has created more uncertainty in families, schools and communities than most people can recall in their lifetimes. With no clear end point, more stress and anxiety may well be triggered. In small doses anxiety heightens your sense of focus, giving you an increased level of energy, and increases your chances of managing a potential challenge that has appeared. In large doses, this anxiety is problematic, as it can cause feelings of being overwhelmed and even panicked.

The lesson of being real

Many fears and unexpressed emotions lie beneath the stress of navigating uncertainty. Be prepared to share your emotions with your children, especially feelings of sadness. They experience grief every time they lose the opportunity to spend time with loved ones, go on holiday or return to school to see friends.

Grief is not a sign of weakness. It shows you are human. Let your children see you cry and give them the agency to know what to do. They can grab a tissue, they can give you a hug and, if they’re old enough, they can make you a cuppa.

Your children need to see that when bad things happen to adults, they can feel upset for a time. There are many ways you can help children cope with uncertainty.

Normalise uncertainty

Teach your children that nothing is permanent. Good things come and go. So will tough times. Change is a part of life and can be positive or challenging. Share stories about how your family recovered from hard times. Adaptability and flexibility are key components of resilience, which can be nurtured in childhood.

Make choices that ease fear and anxiety

Remind your children and young people that they are not powerless. Resting, reading and relaxing are great tools to ease fear and anxiety. This might include taking deep breaths, listening to music, or making others laugh. Getting outside to play or walk the dog is another simple way to ease the nervous system.

Focus on the things you can control

Simple habits and routines really make a difference. When everything is changing routines and rituals such as regular family mealtimes, bedtimes and wake up times help maintain a sense of normality. These rituals provide an important anchor helping them feel in control.

Encourage your kids to have a ‘gratitude attitude’

Though times are no doubt really tough for many, you can choose to feel grateful for the things you have, and the people love, and you can model this mindset with your children.

Maintain hope

Hope is an important antidote to feeling stuck in fear. Encourage feelings of hope by sharing wonderful memories via photos or videos which can lift everyone’s spirit. Plan a new experience to happen when that becomes a possibility.

Children and young people need to understand that life can be an unpredictable ride and together you can adapt and find a way through to each new day.

The greatest tool you have as a parent in these times is to remember that you are the ‘safe base’ for your children and young people. If you can embody that, and help them feel that no matter what, your love and support is a certainty, then the uncertainty around us all becomes a lot more manageable.

It’s been so long, we’re glad to be back! 

School Vacuuming is back. 

The school vacuum roster will resume weekly from November 3 after school hours.

The first team will be as follows: 

Paul Osborne 

Justin Hassall

Carrie Kilpin

Matt Colbert 

Nov 10

Greg Bayada

Emma Spear

Tom Green

Ben Williams

Justin Hooper

Other teams will be alerted in coming weeks. 

Thanks,

Paul Osborne (Vacuum Coordinator and Year 5 Dad)