Welcome to Term 2! It is wonderful to be back and I know children and families alike are looking forward to a much more ‘normal’ school term. Of course, defining the new normal is a little different from times gone by but I am confident and hopeful that Term 2 will be much more routine driven and more like what our schools have been accustomed to for many years.
There are some exciting developments taking shape throughout our school from work which has occurred during the holiday break. We now have 1.8 metre fencing all the way along the oval and basketball courts which will improve security and safety for our students. This fencing work will extend all through the school between the Church and Newton Road in the Term 2 holidays.
You will notice the breezeway between the office building and The Arts room has been repainted and a new floor will be laid next holidays as well. We are also in the process of upgrading The Arts room with paint, blinds and new furniture to be ordered soon. We are also doing a complete makeover of the library space. We have gyprocked and repainted the walls, laid new carpet and are now eagerly waiting for the new shelving and furniture to arrive. Once completed the new library space will be amazing. Watch this space for photos!
The best is still yet to come though! We have booked our new nature playground build to commence in late July and we look forward to children being able to use the equipment from the end of August. This is a $200 000 development, designed by and with the children. It will be a fantastic play space for all, and a great showpiece for the school moving forward. The designer is the same person who designed and built the Morialta adventure playground. The children are so excited and can’t wait!
With the commencement of Term 2 there have been some changes to COVID protocols for parents to take note of. These are summarised below.
Masks in Schools
On Tuesday 26 April 2022, the Premier of South Australia confirmed that masks will continue to be required to be worn by staff and adults in schools as well as by secondary students for the first four weeks of Term 2. Masks are also strongly encouraged for Years 3-6 students.
Activity settings in Term 2
From the beginning of Term 2 activity settings in CESA schools will change as follows (noting masks must be worn by adults indoors when they are attending school sites):
- Parents are permitted to enter school grounds and classrooms. Though parent meetings/events may generally resume as usual, schools should continue to hold parent meetings/events online where this can reasonably occur (such as for most parent teacher interviews).
- School Board Meetings and similar committee meetings may resume in face-to-face mode.
- Parents/spectators may resume attending indoor sporting events and other indoor extra-curricular activities (eg debating and music concerts).
- Whole School Assemblies/liturgies are likely to resume from Week 3. Advice will be shared with parents once dates are confirmed.
Term Dates/School Events
Now that schools are returning to a more normal mode of school based activities, I ask that you take careful note of any events that you may wish to be involved with and add them to your calendar. In particular, the Sacramental program for Confirmation and Communion will quickly be upon us. These celebrations are a significant milestone in your child’s faith journey and a celebration that is important for families.
We look forward to a great term, rich in learning and full of fun.
James Meiksans
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