Dear Parents,                                    

So another term comes to an end and the year is passing by in the blink of an eye. I think the end of this term has come at an opportune time with many tired and emotional children this week as well as staff needing a break. On a very happy note, we congratulate the McCracken family on the safe arrival of a beautiful new little daughter/sister, Mary Joy. We sadly farewell the Dooris (Freya in Year 1) and Thun (Sicily in Year 4) families from St Bede’s this week as they move to pastures new. We wish both families the best of luck in their next adventures.

This is a very sad week in another way as it is Linda Wells' last week at St Bede’s after nineteen years as she embarks on a very well deserved retirement. Linda has been the face of the school and first point of contact over a significant time and has acquired a large amount of corporate knowledge. We will miss her smile, her stories, her knowledge and her wisdom but we also hope that she enjoys a more relaxing pace of life and time with her much loved family, especially grandchildren. With the easing of COVID restrictions next term, we hope to hold a community event in Linda’s honour where everyone will be able to personally wish her well.

Following an interview process, I am pleased to announce that Linda’s replacement is Jodie Luhrs. Jodie has worked in out Catholic system for quite some time, more recently at St Thomas the Apostle Primary School at Kambah for nine years. We have been very lucky to secure a person within our system so the handover will be relatively seamless.

Reports will come home with your child tomorrow. In a very small time frame, the teachers have worked hard to ensure that they have carried out thorough assessment for this reporting. With the absence of comments, the conversations at the parent meetings early next term are vital and an opportunity for clarification on each child’s achievements. Classroom interview times opened up early this week for families to select a time to meet in Week 2 next term. These cut off on Thursday, 23 July (Week 1).

From Week 1 next term, the COVID-19 protocols around schools will move to Stage Three. This means that parents can now attend schools for scheduled events. Small assemblies, religious services and performances can resume, in line with the Public Health Direction on gathering sizes (100 people maximum or 1 person per 4 metres square, whichever is lesser). ACT Health has advised that where possible, parents/carers should still avoid routinely entering the school grounds and must practise physical distancing around other adults at schools. We will continue to send children from the blacktop to parents in our two carparks, however, where scheduled events are planned, parents can attend the school. As restrictions ease, it is important that all members of our community continue to practise good hand hygiene, physical distancing, stay home if unwell and get tested if they have symptoms of COVID-19.

Some guidelines to help assess situations are as follows:

All visitors will be asked to provide their details when they attend the school, so that in the event of a case being identified at the school, ACT Health is be able to rapidly conduct contact tracing. As COVID-19 restrictions ease in the ACT, there is the potential for transmission of COVID-19 to increase. Therefore, more now than ever, it is important that frequent and thorough school cleaning, physical distancing between adults, good hand and respiratory hygiene and early testing are carried out by all members of the ACT school community.

Unfortunately, we are unable to resume playgroup on Friday mornings at this stage. This is due to the fact that our multi-purpose room does not meet the safe space requirements to comply with social distancing rules. Also, all equipment has to be cleaned each week which is a mammoth job.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions easing, we have planned to have dance lessons in Term 3. However our dance teacher is trying to include her lessons within all her schools over one semester instead of two. At this stage, dance will occur over five weeks from Weeks 6 - 10.

As the first semester closes, I would like to thank everyone for their incredible support during what has been a very challenging beginning to the year. Enjoy the holidays and rest up. I believe the winter break always comes at the right time for students, parents and teachers, especially this year. If any of you are staying around these holidays, please feel free to come up to school and use the playground equipment. Our families are the best security we have.

Have a lovely holiday and keep safe.

Julie

Farewell Mrs Wells. We will miss you.

Enjoy retirement!