Dear Parents,

Welcome back! I hope all families have had a relaxing break. The students were keen to get back this morning to catch up with their friends and teachers and get back into routine. It was wonderful to see them. I’m positive they have all grown taller over the holiday break!

Over the holidays we have been blessed to receive some workforce support from Laing O’Rourke employees. They have completed so many jobs around our school voluntarily and Bunnings has donated some items as well. We have been so fortunate and thank James and his team with grateful hearts.

This term continues to see some restrictions in place as we continue to manage life with Covid 19. As advised in yesterday’s email, drop off and pick up arrangements will need to continue as will hygiene routines and regular daily cleaning. Students presenting with cold/flu like symptoms are asked to stay at home.

At St Mary’s, we typically have our large class assemblies towards the end of each term and in Term 3 we have our highly anticipated Book Week Celebration.  I will keep you posted on those events as soon as they have been finalised and hopefully we can look forward to gathering as a school community once again. In the meantime please continue to follow us on Facebook for some updates and let us know you’re there. Look out for our emails, especially every Tuesday when our weekly newsletter is forwarded. Otherwise, social distancing measures at the gate will still permit our quick parent teacher chats and catch ups. Please know we are only a phone call and email away.

A regular feature of our newsletter this term will be about The Resilience Project. We want to kept parents up to date with the message and intent of the program so that parents can continue the important conversation about resilience at home with your child as well. This project will be a large part of our Personal Development and Health programs this semester but will also be embedded in daily teaching and learning activities and conversations. Teachers will be unpacking the program in our staff meeting ready to start delivering the program from next week.

Have a lovely week everyone.

Jannine