Dear Parents

Welcome Back!!! It is impossible to explain the great feelings we are experiencing as we see students face to face in our learning environment again. It appears the majority of them are happy to be back too. The relief from being released from emails and continual Zoom meetings, the joy at teaching new content and the realisation we have work to do in our learning are now paramount in our minds here at school. So, how do we now navigate this new normal as we also deal with the Covid-19 restrictions and necessary changes?

Please read through the following carefully to ensure we are ALL on the same page:

Parents are asked to continue dropping students at car pick up and collecting at drop off. Please DO NOT get out of your car AND please have children alight from the kerbside ONLY. Extra support is being offered here. We are somewhat in disarray still because of the Perry St roadworks but we are also very grateful that this work has occurred and look forward to this new set up being available soon. The seal on the roadworks is due on Friday. Delivery of the the Telstra pit was delayed but is expected later in the week which will allow concrete to then be poured. The asphalt is likely to go down towards the middle of next week with signs and line marking to follow.

Parents are asked not to enter school for any reason until further notice. If you need assistance we ask that you enter the front office only.

Anyone who is unwell in any way is asked not to attend school. Children who become unwell at school will be sent home.

All personal devices that children bring to school must be left at the office during the day please. Chargers need to be returned with school devices please.

Canteen will resume in Week 6 (Wednesday and Friday). Library will resume in Week 6. The in-school music tutors will return, under strict guidelines, in Week 6. Lunchtime Chess will begin in Week 7 (on Tuesdays for now) and other in school visits will begin being phased in during Week 7 (counsellors, speech therapists, etc.). LAP will stay on hold until further notice due to the age bracket of most of our LAP tutors.

Extra cleaning, hand sanitising and the need for drink bottles will remain in place until further notice.

We are mindful that we continue to have some students completing their blended learning at home. It is an expectation that these students will be back after the June Long Weekend when the blended learning will cease. However this might be an issue for some families. Please be in contact with us if this will not be possible for your family and we will work with you.

Thank you to the majority of you for notifying us of your attendance intentions. We must keep accurate attendance records so you may get an SMS from us requesting information about your child if they are not at school. Please respond with a reason, not just “Yes”. Reasons may include: sick, blended learning, medical appointment, etc.

As regulations allow, we will notify you regarding sports days and face to face meetings.

School hats are COMPULSORY. Every child should have a school hat in their bag every day. We have many students disregarding this requirement. So this week, no hats might mean NO PLAY until we get back into the routine.

We are very grateful to everybody for your understanding and support with all of this.

JUNE

Wednesday 3 - CANTEEN OPEN

Thursday 4 - Junior Joeys begins

Friday 5 - Bookclub issue 4 orders DUE

Monday 8 - Queen’s Birthday Public Holiday

Tuesday 9 - ALL STUDENTS RETURN TO SCHOOL

Tuesday 23 - Confirmation, 6pm - POSTPONED

Friday 26 - Term 2 Fees DUE - refer to C.S.O. letter dated 3 April, 2020 available on our school website.

JULY

Friday 3 - Last day Term 2

Monday 20 - Staff Development Day

Tuesday 21 - Students return Term 3.

Learning Conversations in Weeks 1&2, Term 3.

AUGUST Tuesday 11 - School

Photos rescheduled. Friday 28 - Family Day

SEPTEMBER Tuesday 1 -

Recommencement of approved, deferred school fee payment arrangements.

Friday 18 - Term 3 fees DUE.

Friday 25 - End Term 3

11 Perry Street Alstonville NSW 2477 ( PO Box 265 ) Phone: 02 6628 1009 www.alstplism.catholic.edu.au Email: alstp@lism.catholic.edu.au

WEEK 5

Notes home today……

Bookclub Issue 4

YOU HAVE BEEN AMAZING! You have all been amazing during these long weeks - your patience and understanding has supported your children, your gratefulness to staff has been so uplifting for them as they worked extra hard to support our learners and your willingness to deal with the ever changing landscape has assisted us. We know it hasn’t been easy trying to take on a learning supervision role. We know it has been tough being at home juggling work, kids, learning and other responsibilities. We know you have struggled with roles you never wanted. And we know you are worried that you’ve missed something or your kids have or you have taught something the wrong way. Stop worrying now. Be grateful you have come through this time and breathe deeply as you can go back to being the parent you want to be. We have it now! We are in your debt for the support you have given us. THANK YOU ! FEEDBACK Last week we asked for feedback about the blended learning, what you learned about yourselves, what you found hard, what was fun, etc. We are seeking some feedback from every family please. We have lots of students who can give us feedback from blended learning. What was fun? How did you feel? Your biggest learning? Can you supply any family photos from blended learning or just being home together? From last week’s Newsletter: We have all had different experiences during Covid-19. We have had a variety of highs and lows. We have had breakthroughs and frustration. We would like to gather some of these experiences from you all. It would be fabulous if you could share with us what this time was like. Don’t hold back. Give us the truth. We would like to gather all this information together to form part of our school history. It will also help us to know what worked or didn’t work. We are inviting you to put your thinking in writing - staff, students and families. Tell us how Covid19 affected you; what you learnt about yourself during this time; what were the struggles and disappointments? Tell us the funny moments; the great excitement or the achievements you are proud of. All you need to do is email it to the school email alstp@lism.catholic.edu.au Add a photo if you want. Please assist us in giving your feedback! Next week you will receive a link to a survey to complete for the Catholic Schools Office. It is to allow us to better understand how we all managed the Covid-19 Blended Learning.

ENROLMENTS 2021 & JUNIOR JOEYS We are now sorting enrolments for next year. If you know of anyone who might be considering enrolling here next year please alert them to the enrolment period. Junior Joeys is planned to begin on Thursday 4 June at 9am. Junior Joeys Enrolment forms need to be completed prior to this please.

SEMESTER 1 REPORTS The format of the Semester 1 Reports is currently being finalised. The preparation for the Learning Conversations (as outlined in last week’s Newsletter), will begin in Week 8. The Learning Conversation meetings themselves, will take place in Weeks 1 and 2 of next Term. We often get asked to hold our Parent / Teacher / Student Conferences twice, to accommodate split families, parents who work away or because the times we offer don’t suit. The new format means the Learning Conversation can only happen once, so we are investigating the possibilities of Zoom to support families with participation in the Learning Conversations.

NATIONAL RECONCILIATION WEEK “The National Reconciliation Week 2020 theme reinforces that we all have a role to play when it comes to reconciliation, and in playing our part we collectively build relationships and communities that value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, histories and cultures,” she said. “When we come together to build mutual respect and understanding, we shape a better future for all Australians.”

Therese Seymour

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STAGE 3 EXCURSION Rescheduled Dates The Stage 3 Excursion to Lake Ainsworth has been rescheduled for Monday, 9 November to Wednesday, 11 November.

HEADLICE - Please continue to check your child’s hair regularly to help prevent the spread of headlice by early detection and treatment.

RETURNING DEVICES TO SCHOOL As students in Stage 2 and Stage 3, who borrowed a school device, return to school fulltime, they are required to enter via the office with their device, so that it can be checked and marked as returned and in good condition. Please make sure that chargers are returned also. Once checked, students can take their device with them immediately to use in class.

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Garden Club News

Welcome Back from the Garden Club. To celebrate our return to school (and with no canteen yet operating), the Garden Club will be having an icecream cone shop.

Vanilla icecream cones topped with milo or sprinkles will be on sale outside the canteen ON WEDNESDAY this week for $1.00 each.

All proceeds will go to support the Garden Club get back up and running. The will also be Jelly Cups and a few other treats available, with gluten free options available.

Strict health and safety protocols will be in place with ADULTS only handling the food.

Happy return to school everyone-We have missed you.

Green Thumbs Up The Garden Club

STEM News with Mrs Anna Moloney & Mrs Dana Crosby

In STEM, Kindy has been trying on various hats! We are learning about the different purposes and

how to describe materials.

Wanted: EGG CARTONS Keep sending them in!

Leader of School Evangelisation - Mrs Julia Meyers

National Reconciliation Week The theme for National Reconciliation Week 2020 – In this together – is now resonating in ways we could not have foreseen when it was announced it last year, but it reminds us, whether in a crisis or in reconciliation, we are all #InThisTogether. We will be celebrating in our own classes in our own ways this week and on Friday, 29 May, the Travelling Liturgy will be going all Stages to recognise and commemorate this important week.

MASS ONLINE: Please click on the following link to Bishop Homeming’s celebration of Ascension Sunday held on Sunday 24 May, 2020: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1n76WbSi7j8

Page 4

The following children have celebrated their

birthday since our last newsletter:

Lucian Garrard, Oscar Lamas, Aya Bennett,

Zara Towns & Jemima Southwood.

Happy Birthday from all of us at joeys

CANTEEN

OPEN FOR REGULAR TRADING

FROM NEXT WEEK.

Last week, Stage 1 reflected upon the things that they remembered doing before the COVID isolation rules came in. Here are some “I Remember” poems which they wrote: Martial Arts I remember martial arts. I remember when I did 150 crunches. I remember 1 minute planks. I remember when I helped pack up. I remember listening to Tony. I remember talking to my friend. I remember having a bleeding nose. I remember helping beginners. I remember getting a yellow belt. By Zac Wilcomes Lunch Orders I remember lunch orders. I remember the hard, lovely crispy smell. I remember the meat pie dripping down your chin. I remember the meat pie’s warm taste. I remember the inside of the pies. By Indy Vu The Beach I remember going to the beach. I remember making sandcastles. I remember swimming in the waves. I remember picking up shells. I remember looking at rock pools. By Melodi Nolan

Library to re-open Week 6! In preparation we ask that all students return all library resources this week. This will allow for the books to be quarantined and processed before classes start. Students can return their books to the Library, or drop them at the collection trolleys in the office or at car drop off before school. Parents who have borrowed, and finished with, boxes of Take Home Readers are also asked to start returning these. If you require a replacement box please email me (rosalind.kingford@lism.catholic.edu.au).

Book Club Issue 4 will be sent home with students today. Orders for this issue will close Friday, 5 June. We recommend ordering online through LOOP on the Scholastic website (https://mybookclubs.scholastic.com.au/Parent/Login.aspx). All purchases benefit the school library and there are some great titles in Issue 4.

Happy reading! Ms Ros Kingsford, Library Manager

Netball I remember having fun shooting the goal. I remember being goalie. I remember having a lot of fun for an hour. I remember playing on teams and doing teamwork. I remember having fun with the team shooting goals in turn. I remember being goalie and having to shoot the goal two times. I remember playing with my friends at Netball. By Myf Richardson The Skatepark I remember the skatepark. I remember doing tricks at the skatepark. I remember face planting at the skatepark. I remember riding up the ramps. I remember spinning. By Logan Newton Sleepovers I remember the sleepovers. I remember the awesome video games. I remember the mind-blowing snacks. I remember playing hide and seek with my friends. I remember awesome dinners. I remember making a ginormous mess! I remember snuggling up in a blanket. By Michael Gallagher

Boom Gate Times

The boom gate is closed between 8:30am - 9:15am and 3:00pm - 3:40pm.

This is a necessary safety precaution which restricts vehicle movement at these very busy times of the day when children are arriving and leaving the school grounds.