Dear McAuley Families

As we come to the end of the most tumultuous semester in education and society, my overwhelming wish is that everyone is able to take some time to have a break.  It is vital that we all make some time for ourselves to detach and let go and just “be” for a while. 

So much has been achieved through a great deal of hard work, hasty decision-making and appropriate action. I can only again re-iterate my gratitude to our staff who have not only survived but also thrived through this most remarkable time. Thank you to our families for your gratitude and support and to our students for their love of learning and amazing resilience.

You may know the writings of Franciscan Priest Richard Rohr.  He writes that even while we can physically distance from other humans we can and should spend time in nature.  He encourages us to be in the garden, plant a tree and enjoy the shade and peace that we ourselves create. 

“The Journal of Health Psychology confirms what Franciscans and mystics have long known: interacting with nature is a great stress reliever. Just thirty minutes of gardening lowers the cortisol released during stress-induced fight-or-flight responses”.

School resumes on Tuesday 21 July.  The staff will be undertaking Professional Learning on Monday 20 July in preparation for the new Religious Education Curriculum.

Uniform Sub-Committee:  You will see elsewhere in this newsletter, the decision of the uniform Sub-Committee following the recent survey. The numbers were too close to call a change of uniform. We recognise the need to refine some items of the current uniform and intend to survey in more detail as the next step in this complex process. For those anxious about variation, please don’t worry as supply and stock will be rolled out gradually for those items that might be altered.

Enrol Now:  We continue our 2021 Enrolment campaign in the local press and radio. Afternoon Open Tours are available this week for families to tour the Secondary School and find out more about what McAuley can offer. Please encourage those family and friends you know with children starting Kindergarten or Year 7 next year to book a tour and complete an application online.

Our “Try McAuley for a Day” for potential Year 7 students was held yesterday on the Secondary Campus. The day went well and was an easy and fun orientation into High School life. Thank you to the students in Year 8 and 9 for their assistance with this day. 

The school website has more details and online applications are encouraged.  Information and Application Packs are available at the School office/s.

Catholic Education have released a “Road Map” for next term advising the things that may begin to return to normal.  Easing of Restrictions include:

• Groups up to 100 or 1 person per 4 square meters allowed hiring school facilities.
• Community sport based activity may resume.
• Parent – teacher interviews face to face with physical distancing and hygiene measures in place.
• Parents and volunteers may attend school spaces (see above for distancing and hygiene measures).
• Excursions, inter-school sports (Regional) may be held.
• Overnight, interstate excursions and camps adhering to each state’s restrictions are allowed.
• Larger assemblies, gatherings and performances with limitation on parent/carer numbers are permissible.
• Fundraising events in line with broader restrictions may be planned.

These changes do not change each person’s responsibility to practice physical distancing and improved personal hygiene.  These things are fast becoming the new normal and as health authorities are warning we are “a long way from over.”

Thank you again for your support and care of each other in our community.  Please take care and enjoy the break.

Mary our Mother… Look After Us.

Eamonn Moore

Principal