Dear Parents, 

I know you are probably keeping a watchful eye on the COVID-19 situation in Victoria and NSW.  The Victorian education system has moved to remote learning from Wednesday this week and I’m sure you have heard of the other restrictions imposed on the state.  The situation in NSW appears to be on a knifes edge, with community transition rates not getting worse but not improving either.

Catholic Education Canberra/Goulburn have developed a document called COVID-19 Roadmap to Easing of Restrictions for Schools.  The document has 3 stages to a full return to normal school activities.  We are currently operating under Stage 2 of the document and have been in this space since week 5 last term.  There has been no indication that we will move to more or less restrictions in the coming weeks so we will continue to operate in our current state.

The restrictions put onto the church have changed slightly and we are pleased to announce that we can now hold class masses.  Parents, grandparents and carers are welcome to attend as long as the total number of people remains under 100 and social distancing protocols are adhered to.  Unfortunately at this time the 100 limit still restricts us from whole school masses.

Due to the current holding pattern we are in with COVID-19 restrictions we have regrettably been forced to change the 5/6 excursion to Canberra to a different location.  We are currently exploring different possibilities including Borambola in Wagga and The Taronga Zoo in Dubbo.  We will exhaust every possible option to ensure our current Year 6 students are given an opportunity to experience an excursion of some description.  We will communicate any progress we have as soon as it comes to hand.

The renovations hit a few snags (as you get with any renovation) over the last 6 weeks, however it is now full steam ahead.  We have a three week window beginning Week 8, 7 September, where we expect to have the toilets and downstairs classrooms ready to use.  The new toilet block is beginning to take shape with only a few more things to be complete inside.  The downstairs space is waiting for the final windows and doors to be installed and then the full fit out can begin.  Please find some pictures later in the newsletter.

Our P&F have organised a cookie dough fundraiser as their first major fundraiser for this year.  Information is found in the P&F article later in this newsletter.  We encourage you to support the fundraising efforts if you can.

I express my thanks to all members of our wonderful school community for your continued support through these challenging times with both the COVID-19 restrictions and the building works.

Mr Phillip Nielsen

Principal