Dear Parents/Carers

I have always maintained that the strength of Sacred Heart lies in its commitment to and love of community. There has been no greater evidence of this than in the past week and especially the past few days. As the world scrambles to face one of its greatest challenges we are buoyed by the commitment of our staff to our community of learners and our families. So too our families are patiently supportive and appreciative of what schools are experiencing in this unprecedented climate of turmoil.

REMOTE LEARNING COMING SOON

Please be confident that our staff are working tirelessly to prepare for a continuity of learning through a remote online platform. We ask you to be patient as we move to a consistent model across the school. Currently all classes are trialling and accessing online lessons, tasks and resources in preparation for a cessation of all face-to-face teaching. At this current time, many of the materials may only go up after classes have been taught, to allow consistency. All students Years 3-10, who are working remotely, can access this content through Google classrooms. For the time being they will need to be self directed but we are hopeful to move to a structured timetable to promote a more regular and supported learning program at home as early as is conceivably possible. Our younger students will be provided with suitable worksheets and online links to continue to keep them engaged and learning. Over the coming days all students and staff will be experienced in joining and managing video conferencing and online tools. We are also ensuring that we have all the necessary contact details for students and families to maintain regular contact to promote wellbeing and engagement. Thank you so much to all our families who are understanding that our staff are managing two platforms currently, teaching those in our classrooms who need to attend school and supporting those who are at home. The remote learning program will commence in coming days after sufficient planning and development and additional information about expectations for students, parents and teachers will be clearly outlined and sent home.

Teachers will endeavour to give clear guidance for parents as they begin to manage  the students at home. Learning remains our priority during these challenging times and our staff will be available during normal school hours to answer questions and deliver and monitor work. Please see the information below for the different classes regarding Google Classroom access for parents.

Our highest priority remains the safety, wellbeing and good health of our students, families and staff. Please encourage learners at home to observe social distancing and hygenic practices and taske all possible actions to ensure the safety of all members of our community.

MIXED MESSAGES ABOUT SCHOOL CLOSURES

I am aware there is confusion in the Australian community around messages from the various levels of government. I write to provide clarification for you in relation to Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn.

Current Health Advice

The current health advice does not recommend or require school closures at this time. The Minister for Education in the ACT has stated that schools are safe places for students and staff and that schools are open for all students that need to attend school. We will continue to closely monitor health advice to ensure both student and staff safety.

You may wish to access the national health advice as follows:

https://www.health.gov.au/news/australian-health-protection-principal-committee-ahppc-coronavirus-covid-19-statement-on-22-march-2020

Catholic Education, Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn

Our position is as follows:

• In line with the NSW and ACT Governments, Catholic Education encourages parents to keep their children home if they are able. If you do decide to keep your child/children at home, please notify the school in writing.
• Our Catholic schools will remain open to students until the end of Term 1, Thursday, 9 April. This is to support parents and carers, particularly those providing essential services at this time, who are unable to provide care for their children. Students will be supervised at school and participate in a remote learning program.
• At this time, low or minimal attendance of students at schools will support teachers to prepare for remote learning for all students. We are committed to providing students with quality learning opportunities as we prepare to offer a single program of learning that may be accessed in school or remotely. This will develop with time. No student will be disadvantaged by the current changes.
• Catholic Education in Canberra and Goulburn is prioritising the safety and wellbeing of students, staff and families.

I encourage you to visit the COVID-19 Information and Updates resource page on our website which contains current information, resources and useful links. This page is updated regularly.

I understand the concerns in our school community during this challenging time. I hope this letter clarifies some of the confusion for you. I ask for your continued patience and cooperation as we work through the current issues. I am available should you have any questions or concerns.

The world needs kindess now more than ever. So if you have to choose between being exceptional and kind, be exceptionally kind!

God Bless,

Mrs Nicky Trinder

Principal

Kirra Pendergast from Safe on Social has been inundated over the past few days with requests from parents and teachers for information to use when teaching from home and also information that schools can distribute to parents. 

It has already been highlighted to Kirra from several schools and parents that there is a lot more "socialising" through social media between young people (and adults) due to self-isolation. That is looking likely to only increase. 

Kirra offers comprehensive and up to date resources and we will continue to distribute her cheat sheets in the coming weeks and months for your benefit.

I am including as well, the information placed in last week’s newsletter, which offers parents the chance to join up to her Safe on Social Toolkit, giving you instant access to all the cheat sheets, allowing you to select the ones of most relevance to your needs at a particular time.

We have a special offer that is available to all families in our school. Kirra has just launched a brand-new online safety program for parents and school students called “The Safe on Social Toolkit”. How do you access this site:

• Visit her site at safeonsocialtoolkit.com
• The annual subs are $97 per year (with a 20% discount using the access code sacredheart
• You will get access to all her cheat sheets, 50 videos, webinars and any questions you have will be answered via email. 

See below for cheat sheets on Location Services & Age Guidelines

Kind Regards

Mrs Katie Thompson

SoS_Cheat_Sheet_Location_Services.pdf

SoS_Cheat_Sheet_Age_Recommendation_Guidelines_and_the_Law_2019.pdf

Social Distancing Information

In line with Governement and Health directives we have implemented a very stringent regime of social distance. The protocols below have been discussed with all students and they are now the expectation while at school. We hope that students will also practise these routines at home and in community contact if it should occur.

Social Distancing & Hygiene at Sacred Heart Cootamundra

We have a duty of care to keep our students and each other safe during the global pandemic and help to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. This requires that we all implement stronger hygiene and social distancing practises. We also have a responsibility in our duty of care to be asking and reminding our students to: 

1. Remain one arm space (or one metre) away from other students at all times especially on the playground. 
2. Sit one student to a desk wherever possible. 
3. When walking between classes to not touch other students or make contact and when lining up outside classrooms to maintain a one metre distance. 
4. When on the playground ensure students are not playing contact sports such as soccer, touch and basketball (students can shoot baskets but not play a game of basketball).
5. Before lunch and recess ask your students to wash their hands. Encourage regular handwashing throughout the day. 
6. At lunch and recess in primary, students will need to be distanced one meter apart when sitting and eating their food. It will be necessary to move some of the students from the sliver seats onto the grass. In secondary students are to allow one meter between themselves, including when sitting on the silver seats. The round mats in the secondary could also be utilised to sit in a big circle on the grass.
7. At the canteen students must keep an arms distance between themselves and other students. There will be markings on the ground to guide them. We are staggering the times that students visit the canteen to assist with reducing the crowd:

• • LUNCH: Secondary 11.05am, Infants 11.15am, Primary 11.25am
  • RECESS: Secondary 1.45pm, Infants 1.55, Primary 2pm.

8. When lining up for buses to remain an arms distance between yourself and the next student.
9.  Encourage and support others in maintaining safe social and self care practices

Over the coming days all parents of Stage 2 and Stage 3 students will be invited to join the google classroom platform. Students who have been absent will be contacted to notify them of the code they will require to access the platform. They will then be able to access all work that is uploaded. When students have completed work and submitted evidence of their learning, their teacher will receive a notification and is then able to comment back to the student regarding their work. Students in Stage 2 and 3 trialed the Online Learning during class today. All students in Secondary are already firmly entrenched in the routines of Google Classroom and all parents who have provided email addresses have been invited to the platform.

Please do not hesitate to contact your child/ren's teacher for further information and support. (firstname.lastname@cg.catholic.edu.au)

INFANTS Remote Learning at present

We are currently working on developing a platform for Infants students which will hopefully be up and running by Monday.

ES1 students working from home will be issued with a work booklet and possible free apps. These are starting to be mailed out.

Stage One students, who are working from home, please work on the following:

1) Read and read and read

2) Write purposeful pieces.e.g letters to remote family members

3) Memorise and physically build number patterns (2s, 5s and 10s - forwards and backwards) using numberlines, 100/200 charts, blocks

4) Explore the many ways to create a dollar value with coins. e.g. how many ways can you make 50c. ( Better to provide clean coins to manipulate)

5) Skipping with a rope

6) Expand friends of 10 to friends of 100/1000

7) Measure all ingredients needed when cooking

8) Notice and read the clock when it says an hour or half an hour (Digital and Analogue) - Quarter hour for Yr2

9) Learn to tie your shoelaces

Currently Free Apps: Teach your Monster to Read, Epic 

NAPLAN 2020 CANCELLED

Education Council agreed late last week that NAPLAN 2020 will not proceed to help principals, teachers and school staff focus on student learning during the outbreak of COVID-19.

This decision includes cancellation of:

• NAPLAN Online practice testing, 23 March – 9 April 2020
• NAPLAN Online tests, 12 May – 22 May 2020
• NAPLAN paper tests, 12 May – 15 May 2020.

CANCELLATIONS

• Year One Reflection Day sadly has to be cancelled and will be rescheduled for a later date
• O’Shaughnessy House Vigil Mass 4 April will be cancelled in line with the Archbishop’s new protocols and advice.
• Uniform Free will not be held tomorrow 25 March 2020

200323_COVID_Letter_23_March2020.pdf

200321_Covid19Protocols_PercyA.pdf

Harmony Day

On Friday our whole school joined in house coloured pod groups and rotated around different sporting games known as tabloids for Harmony Day. Different people from different year levels up to year nine mixed in groups whilst the Year 10 students lead them. Everyone had a great time and enjoyed the activities and it was a very successful Harmony Day! Nick Louttit Yr10

Sports Notice from Archdiocesan of Canberra Goulburn

23rd March 2020

Hi all,

I have just posted the updated list of sport cancellations on the FB page.

Feel free to share the post or the information with parents/students.

Your school should have received any uniform orders that had been ordered through the website today (or very soon) as I put them all together and posted them to schools on Thursday.

I have sent through to finance all of the levy refunds that are required to be processed – hopefully they will begin this process soon.

Kind regards

Sherree Bush

UPDATED

The Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn advises that the following (NSW Schools) trials/ championships will not proceed at this stage:-

1. Canberra Goulburn Primary Cricket Trials
2. Canberra Goulburn Primary Rugby League Trials
3. Canberra Goulburn Primary Netball Championships and Trials
4. Canberra Goulburn Touch Football Trials
5. Canberra Goulburn Primary Hockey
6. NSWCPS (MacKillop) Swimming Championships
7. MacKillop Football (Soccer) Trials
8. MacKillop AFL Trials
9. NSWCCC Hockey Trials
10. NSWCCC Golf Trials
11. NSWCCC Western Rugby League Trials (Secondary)
12. NSWCCC Touch Football
13. NSWCCC Swimming and Diving Championships
14. NSWCCC Girls Rugby League Camp
15. Northern/Western/Southern Region Cross Country
16. Canberra Goulburn Secondary Football (Soccer) Championships
17. NSWCCC U16’s & U18’s Rugby Union
18. NSWCCC Girls Rugby 7’s
19. Canberra Goulburn Secondary Tennis Championships
20. MacKillop Winter Trials (Rugby League, Netball & Hockey)
21. Canberra Goulburn Primary Rugby Union Trials
22. Girls Primary AFL
23. Canberra Goulburn Primary and Secondary Cross Country
24. MacKillop Touch Football Trials
25. NSWCCC Football (Soccer) Knockout
26. NSWCPS/CCC Cross Country
27. Canberra Goulburn Secondary Basketball Championships
28. MacKillop Softball Trials
29. NSWCCC Open Basketball Championships
30. NSWCCC Junior Basketball Championships

As listed above All Canberra Goulburn, MacKillop, NSWPSSA and NSWCCC will be 'temporarily ceased until further notice'.

We have no information at this stage as to whether everything is postponed or cancelled altogether - further advice will be given as it comes to hand.

We cannot at the moment answer questions in regards to refunds, or Canberra Goulburn merchandise availability, but we do ask that if you have yet to pay any sports levies for Canberra Goulburn, MacKillop or NSWCCC events that you refrain from doing so at the moment.

For further information please refer to: https://education.nsw.gov.au/news/latest-news/schools-to-implement-distancing-measures

Sherree Bush

Archdiocesan Sports Coordinator

Catholic Education, Archdiocese of Canberra & Goulburn

PO Box 3317 | 55 Franklin St Manuka ACT 2603

P: 02 6234 5455  M: 0409 305 296 E: sherree.bush@cg.catholic.edu.au