Dear McAuley Families

Welcome back to Term 2. No doubt the strangest term I have experienced in 35 years of education! The work our teachers have put into developing and coordinating the remote learning program is nothing short of incredible. With short notice and last minute change of programs our staff have supported one another to roll out learning activities and tasks that are engaging, challenging and achievable.  I thank our families too for their positive support and efforts to assist with their children’s learning at home.

The COVID 19 situation and, prior to that the bushfires, have had a massive impact on school and family life in our area.  The positive emotional and academic wellbeing of our students is at the fore of our decision to return to normal face to face teaching from next week.  Of course this will be a “new” normal for some time as we implement the “Safe Return to School Guidelines for Reducing the Risk of COVID 19” published by Catholic Education on 05 May, 2020.

In short this means that teaching will be offered as a face to face model.  Those children who are staying home or are unable to come to school will access classroom work through their online portals and Google Classrooms as has happened in the past.  This work will not be presented as remote learning, rather classroom tasks and activities that are reflective of the face to face classroom.

Some of the risk mitigation measures we are putting in place include:

• If your child displays any signs of illness, cold or flu like symptoms they should stay at home.
• If they are referred to the school office/s their temperature will be checked and you will be asked to collect them.
• Physical distancing measures are not necessary amongst pupils but will be maintained in staffrooms and common areas for school staff and other adults.
• Hard copy assignments and teacher feedback processes will be modified.
• Students are to bring their own drink bottle and fill it from the cold tap – no access to bubblers.
• Parents are discouraged from attending the school office/s and school common areas if at all possible.
• Parents are discouraged from congregating outside the school (Primary Pick Up Area) etc.
• There will be no school assemblies/masses or excursions this term.
• We are working on minimal movement for high school and primary school classes between rooms and areas.
• Increased hygiene and hand washing will be encouraged – each classroom with anti-bacterial hand wash.
• Cleaning of environmental spaces (Primary Equipment) and shared materials will be increased.
• Increased cleaning of school bathrooms and shared areas will take place.

I ask that each family work to raise their children’s awareness of safe and appropriate interactions with others.  Sneezing and coughing into elbows, using and discarding tissues properly and non-contact greetings and farewells need to be discussed.  Every one of us has a responsibility to keep our home and work areas, phones and devices clean and safe.  Please remind your children to wipe over their devices daily and to have good stock of tissues and wipes with them at school each day.

I am grateful for the positive feedback we have received about our return next week.  I firmly believe that our community will benefit from being together and returning to some type of routine. I know our staff are looking forward to the energy and enthusiasm that having our students at school brings.

Students should return in Winter Uniform beginning next week. Please refer to separate article for specific details. 

I look forward to the coming days and weeks very much and offer my sincere backing for those families who have been impacted financially and/or emotionally by this crisis.  McAuley has facilities in place to assist and I implore you to seek our advice and support.

Mary our Mother… Look After Us.

Eamonn Moore

Principal