St Columbkille's Catholic Parish Primary School Corrimal eNewsletter

Principal's Message

Dear Parents and Carers,

Hope that you are well and have enjoyed your week.

On Wednesday we received the brilliant news there would be an easing of restrictions within schools. These changes will provide opportunities for our school community to re-connect, contnue to invest and further engage in school life from Monday 28 February.

From Monday 28 February, we will move to symptomatic testing. Tests are to be used at your discretion such as if your child is symptomatic or there are cases in their class. Our school will provide each student and staff member with 8 tests per student and staff in schools. Further information re: RAT’s collection, will be sent out once kit’s have arrived. Beyond that, students and staff can access PCR tests or buy their own rapid antigen tests. Will advise of collection, once RAT kits have arrived at school
FOR PRIMARY - Masks will continue to be required indoors for all school staff, volunteers and visitors including parents and carers in primary schools until Friday 4 March. This means that from Monday 7 March, masks will no longer be mandatory for all staff. However, those who wish to continue to use them will be supported to do so.
From Monday 28 February, visitors can be allowed back on school site. All visitors are asked to follow our usual sign-in and sign-out process.

Below are a series of adjustments that we have made at a school level to support the easing of restrictions:

Morning Arrival - K-6 will assemble on the Front Cement
Morning Assembly - K-6 morning assembly with welcome, Acknowledgement of Country and SCC Prayer
Afternoon Dismissal - to remain the same (Midgley St or Front of Church for parent pick up until further notice)
Parents - can support in classrooms, attend morning/award assemblies
Awards Assemblies - Award Assemblies K-6, with parents in the MD Hall each Friday at 2:30pm.
Canteen will re-open at recess and lunch (date to be advised)

As a school community we will continue to ensure COVID-smart measures are in place, including maximising natural ventilation in learning spaces, social distancing, option of wearing masks, good hand hygiene and cleaning practices.

In regards to staffing, I would like to announce that Mrs Trudi McDonald has decided to relinquish her SSSO position due to health and family reasons. Commencing her time at SCC on 22 October 2018, Mrs McDonald brought with her great professionalism, care, empathy and compassion and highly effective school office practises, protocols and infrastructure. The community of St Columbkille's will dearly miss Mrs McDonald and wish her and her family all the very best moving into the future.

Mrs Sharon Anderson finishes her role as Acting SSSO today. We wish Mrs Anderson all the very best in her future endeavours. Her support, flexibility and professionalism of our school community throughout the last 3 terms has been greatly appreciated. Thank you Mrs Anderson.

Next Thursday 3 March, the Student Leadership 2022 Presentation will take place in the MD Hall at 2:15pm. With the easing of restrictions, both parents and Year 5 will attend this wonderful acknowledgement and celebration for our Year 6 students

On Tuesday we held our first P&F meeting for 2022. On the agenda was the Annual General Meeting, where our P&F Executive were elected. Congratulations to Nicky Bishop, Rosie King, Kelly Saveski, Sarah Foster and Pina Martelozzo for accepting and taking on the responsibilities associated in supporting our school community. With the easing of restrcitions the P&F Colour Run will take place on Friday 1 April at Ziems Park, Corrimal. Further inofrmation will be made avaialbe closer to the event.

President: Nicky Bishop Vice Presidents: Sarah Foster and Pina Martelozzo

Secretaries: Kelly Saveski Treasurer: Rosie King

We are calling for parents and carers who are interested in being part of the SCC School Uniform Committee. The role of the committee will be to review the current uniform, then suggest and advise of changes to the school community. To register, please refer to the link below.

Further to the success of our former SCC students in last year Higher School Certificate (HSC) from Holy Spirit College and St Mary's Star of the Sea, Aaron Northey (Edmund Rice College) achieved an atar of 94.25 and made the 2021 High Achievers List for Modern History. Aaron will attend Sydney University to study Aeronautical Engineering.

Thank you for the continued support, patience and care that you have afford our school community. We your weekend with family and friends. Stay safe and well.

Take care

Brad Colquhoun - Principal