Principal Message

Dear Parents and Carers,

We find ourselves once again in a state of uncertainty, potential anxiousness and unpredictability. I would like to thank you for your continued support and understanding as we continue to navigate the ever changing landscape in front of us.

We acknowledge that remote learning is challenging for students and for you as families as you attempt to juggle all that comes with this. I would like to thank and congratulate each member of the St Michael’s community for their tremendous efforts in adapting to remote online learning so quickly and effectively. We also appreciate that as a community you have kept your children home when you are home and for working with us to keep our community safe. As always for children of essential workers the school is open for supervision as the students access remote learning. If you have any questions or concerns about the learning or your child being able to access the tasks please contact your class teacher.

Once again I would like to thank our teachers for the work they have put into the learning experiences and into ensuring that there is a connection and a focus on wellbeing. This will continue in the coming weeks and we will be sending home further information in the coming days in regards to continuing with one to one support and small group instruction for our students.

NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia each July to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NAIDOC is celebrated not only in Indigenous communities, but by Australians from all walks of life. This year’s theme is ‘Heal Country’, country is an inherent part of identity. As a school we are exploring ways in the classroom and as a whole school as to how we can acknowledge and celebrate NAIDOC week.

God Bless

Mrs Belinda Hughes - Principal

COVID 19 Updates and Reminders:

Please find below an excerpt from the communication that was sent home in regards to Level 4 restrictions in schools and specifically here at St Michael’s.

• Students are encouraged to access remote learning from home from Tuesday 13 July. Where students are able to stay home they are encouraged to do so. 
• The school remains open for students who need to attend. 
• Supervision will be provided for students unable to stay home. However, any student who is unwell, even with very mild symptoms, must stay home. 
• Following sickness with flu-like symptoms, please ensure your child is free of symptoms and can present a negative COVID-19 test, before they return to school.
• All staff will be required to wear masks when at school.
• All students will have the same learning opportunity, regardless of whether they are accessing learning material from home or at a school. Students at school will be supervised by school staff to access the remote learning materials, but will not participate in traditional classroom learning.
• If you have any concerns about your access to the internet or an appropriate learning device (e.g. laptop or iPad) please let the school office know as soon as possible and we will make arrangements to support you.
• With the exception of students, from the start of Term 3 every person who enters the school will need to sign in using the ServiceNSW app in addition to our existing iPad sign-in process. Parents/carers who are dropping off or picking up students outside the school gates do not need to sign in or use the Service NSW QR code.
• Parents and carers and non-essential visitors are not permitted on the school site. 

SPORT UPDATE

As highlighted earlier this week, Diocesan and school sport has again been interrupted. The CEO held a meeting yesterday afternoon to provide some clarification for upcoming events. Please see below a summary of the updates and the related implications:

• Soccer Gala Day has been postponed and will now run on the back up date of Friday 6 August. New permission notes will be sent out via compass closer to the date.
• The school athletics carnival will not be able to be held this term. All schools are being asked to submit a 'dummy' team that can be adjusted right up to and including on the day. This is a challenge for schools and conveners have been asked to use past year's data to submit the team. Once there is more clarification as to whether the Regional Athletics Carnival can actually be run we will communicate accordingly and potentially request information regarding students participation and results in outside of school athletics competitions to assist with this process.
• Please note these sporting events are subject to the Covid restrictions at the time.

Further information about the continuation of remote learning will be forwarded as soon as it is available. We thank you for your continued support and understanding during this challenging time.