COVID-19 Update

I am often being asked by parents about the relaxation of social distancing and implications for school.  There is confusion regarding what we can and can not do, what schools in South Australia can do and what other states can do.  Below is an update from Catholic Education SA who take advice from SA Health via the Department for Education, which are specific to school and preschool settings.

Attendance:  It is an expectation that all students in Preschool / School attend regularly.  If your child can not attend due to health related issues, this will need to be supported by a doctors certificate.

Sickness:  Please keep your child home if they are displaying the following:

• symptoms like those of a cold or flu, including runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, cough, aches and pains
• fever
• difficulty breathing
• fatigue.

Parents are reminded to follow our protocols in letting the school know about student sickness.

Social Distancing:  Parents are reminded to maintain the 1.5m physical distance between themselves and other adults (parents and teachers) at all times, including school drop off and pick up.  Parents are requested not to enter classrooms and observe the lines marked outside the JP classes.

Dropping Off / Picking Up:  At OLV parents can enter the school grounds to drop off their child to Preschool / School.  This is a local decision based on the distance from the car park to school.  Please be mindful of social distancing – this still needs to be practised.  I feel a number of parents have become complacent over the last two weeks regarding this.

Hygiene:  All students are being constantly reminded to wash their hands throughout the day.  This has become part of the class’s procedure.  Hand sanitiser is freely available around the school.

Cleaning:  Extra cleaning has been initiated throughout and at the end of the school day.

Allied Health Workers:  At OLV Allied Health workers have been allowed back into the school to continue to work with students.  This is an integral part of the Personal Learning Plan so it is important that this work continues.

Semester 1 Reports:  Reports will be sent home on Friday 26th June, with Learning Conversations (subject to Health Advice) in Week 10.

Preschool Graduation (Term 3 Receptions):  Monica and I are planning for our Preschool Graduation Ceremony for the Term 3 Receptions.  Given this is 6 weeks away we are hopeful that this can proceed but will be subject to Health advice.

School Tours: These have recommenced, if you or someone you know would like a tour, please contact the front office.  Enrolments are still being accepted for Reception in 2021 and beyond.  

Assembly / Liturgies / Masses:  Until notified these will not recommence.  Principal Awards will be distributed on the Friday of the even weeks in class.  Please refer to the APRIM section of this Newsletter where Prayer services will be held in class for students only.

Excursions / Incursions:  Until notified these will not recommence.  This includes Vacation Care.

Sports Training / Competitions / Carnivals / SAPSASA:  :  At Step 2, preparations to return to competitions should commence gradually, rather than a comprehensive and simultaneous recommencement of competition.

The proposal that was endorsed by the Director, states:

• For Weeks 7, 8 and 9 of Term 2 (ie after June 13th) a resumption of training.
• From Week 1 of Term 3 (ie from 25th July) a resumption of competition for non and low-contact sports (without spectators).
• Local Sports Associations (Netball & Soccer) will need to follow this timeline

Swimming / Aquatics:  As Swimming & Aquatics are in Term 4 we are hopeful that they will continue on our scheduled dates.

Sports Day:  This is late Term 3 and again we are hopeful this will go ahead and will be subject to CESA & SA Health advice.

While it is the case that schools are not required to observe the same social distancing and gathering restrictions required of the general public, it is necessary to hold firm and be reminded that the directions/restrictions in place are designed to minimise the likelihood of catching COVID and/or spreading it. 

I hope the message above emphasises the need to be patient and to accept that the return to the ‘new normal’ needs to be slow and considered.

As you know, our calendar has been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and many events have had to be cancelled or postponed. We will soon put out a revised calendar with new dates for school based activities. One date I can provide for you though is June 5^th being a Pupil Free Day. This day was booked at the beginning of the year and set aside for staff professional learning. In amongst all the disruptions to regular teaching and learning it is still necessary for staff to access quality professional development and continue to experience new learning to support better student outcomes. This date is the Friday before the June long weekend and it may be a really great opportunity with restrictions lifted on regional travel for a short family getaway somewhere in country SA. I thankyou in advance for your support with this. We will be offering the OSHC program on this day for families who may need child care.

Even though we are not having Assemblies at the moment, Principal Awards are still being celebrated in class from our School Leaders Ashton and Mark.

Growing into Reception:    Eden Agars, Olivia McCallum & William Muller

R/1 Purple:                         Amelie Burchell & Jackson Hammond

R/1 Red:                             Lotus Black & Amelia Thomson

R/1 Yellow:                         Brodie Hammond & Annabella Nulty

2 Red:                                 Hayley Allen & Amir Yousefpour

3 Blue:                                Savannah Gourlay & Ajok Kuir

4/5 Blue:                             Alexandra Behrendt & Zahra Sainsbury

6 Red:                                 Anyieth Akuei, Mark Coggins & Braiden Pahl

Over the next two weeks classes will be celebrating significant events in our school and liturgical calendar with Classroom Prayer Services. Prayer and Liturgy forms part of our Catholic Identity in a Catholic School so we have had to adjust what we usually do as we can not gather all together. Unfortunately, due to social distancing restrictions parents are not invited to these but I ask that you question your child/ren about these celebrations.

Monday         Week 5             Archbishop Installation

Wednesday   Week 5             Reconciliation Week

Thursday       Week 5             Reconciliation Week

Friday            Week 5             Feast of the Visitation

Monday         Week 6             Pentecost

Tuesday        Week 6             Reconciliation Week

Wednesday   Week 6             Reconciliation Week

Bianca Bruno - APRIM

Amelia Thomson's (R/1 Red) grandfather passed away recently, our thoughts and prayers are with her family at this time.

On Monday the 25th of May, Archbishop Patrick O'Regan will be installed as the 12th Archbishop of Adelaide. Normally, this would be celebrated by a large Mass at the Cathedral, but due to restrictions, a live stream can be viewed via this link or replayed on Channel 44 at 5:30pm (ACST). 

We pray for a renewed vision for the Church with his motto derived from 1 Corinthians 15:28, "So that God may be All in All." 

Next Friday we will celebrate the Feast of the Visitation. The Visitation story is the foundation of our school name and is an important story to our Catholic Identity. Classes will celebrate the Feast with Class Liturgies inside their classrooms. 

Mary, the Mother of Jesus, visited her cousin Elizabeth whilst pregnant, as she was pregnant too. During the visit, Elizabeth's baby jumped for joy as it sensed the divine presence of Jesus in Mary's womb. Two traditional prayers derive from this story, the Hail Mary and the Magnificat. The story is a constant reminder of our call to reach out to others in service and care.

How will you reach out to care for others over the coming weeks? 

Bianca Bruno - APRIM

With Mother's Day been and gone some of our classes looked at Mother figures in the Bible. 

Our school grounds offer a valuable and unique learning opportunity for students from Growing into Reception all the way through to Year 6.