Dear Families,

Welcome back to Term 2. I hope you managed to have a good break from the routine of school. It was wonderful to see all of the children lined up in the courtyard once again and to be able to start our shoutouts. After each break students are invited to spotlight a person or group of people who have been displaying kindness and following our school rules. Shoutouts are one way we develop and maintain a community of care. Another way we do this is through our partnership with Harvard University’s Caring School’s network. Yesterday, Mr Michael Prosper ran a professional learning session for staff on units of work provided by Harvard to support students to develop empathy and to practise kindness. Students across the school will complete these units of work this term.

We welcome Ms Carolyn Minchin to the ELC. Many of the children already know Ms Minchin who has worked in the primary school and the ELC as a casual teacher. She will be teaching the Waratahs at the end of the week. I know she is looking forward to meeting with families over the coming weeks.

ELC students and staff were all very excited to move into the ELC building today! Thank you to all of those families who helped move equipment and materials during the break, it was all very much appreciated. We look forward to being able to showcase the building to current and future families over the next few months.

Today students will participate in an ANZAC Day liturgy to mark this important day where we remember all those who have served, who continue to serve and particularly those who have lost their lives in the defence of our nation. I know we have a large number of families in our community who have some link with the Defence Forces, and so I would also like to acknowledge your contribution either through your service or in a support role.

The ACT government has recently made changes to the COVID restrictions and quarantine requirements. Attached to this newsletter is a Roadmap outlining these changes. You may notice that this roadmap is different to the one for ACT Government schools and possibly some independent schools. Catholic Education has based its guidelines on current ACT Health advice. Some of the more significant changes include:

• Visitors and staff are no longer required to wear masks - UNLESS they are regarded as a close contact
  
  
• Close contacts are no longer required to isolate and may attend school even if someone at home tests positive for COVID - UNLESS they have flu or flu like symptoms. However, you must inform the school that a member of the household has tested positive
  
  
• Students no longer need to cohort on the playground
  
  
• Parents are allowed to enter the outside areas of school grounds - we look forward to seeing you in the courtyard!
  
  
• Volunteers are permitted to enter the school building and attend excursions
  
  
• We will be leaving windows and doors open throughout the day so please make sure your child/ren have their jumpers with them
  
  
• RATs will be available on request
  
  
• There is no longer a requirement to use the check-in Canberra app however, it will still be available for those who wish to use it

Please continue to keep students who are unwell at home and test if they have cold or flu-like symptoms.

I am looking forward to seeing you over the coming term.

Take care and God bless.

Yours in Faith

Leah Taylor
Principal

Please click here to view the current ACT Catholic Education Roadmap

Important Update

With the ease of Covid restrictions, we are very excited to be welcoming families back into the school. As stated in last week's newsletter, parents will now be required to walk their student into the front office if arriving late and sign them in via the Compass Kiosk.

Please note that it is a legal requirement that if a student arrives at school after the starting time of 8:50am that they are signed in by their adult. In the event that a student is not accompanied to the front office we will be required to contact families and request you to attend the office to sign the student in before they can attend class.

We appreciate your efforts in supporting a smooth morning transition for all children.

Community News is located on our website.

After receiving over 5,000 student poems and planting over 5,000 trees last year, we're thrilled to be launching the POEM FOREST Prize 2022 in celebration of World Poetry Day and International Day of Forests. 

Red Room Poetry and The Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan invite you to enter the POEM FOREST Prize and use your words to create positive climate action.

Visit the POEM FOREST webpage for full details. Your Nature poems can be entered via the online form (closing 23 September 2022)

Did you know....

• A tree is planted for every poem received
• $5,000 in prizes to win including $500 cash for each category, book packs from Magabala Books, Pantera Press and Wonderground as well as Garden tours, plants, seeds and more
• Digital publication for all entries and selected poems published in the POEM FOREST 

Thanks for helping us to grow the POEM FOREST and heal habitats for future generations.

We can’t to read your poems!

CANTEEN

The Canteen is open from Wednesdays to Fridays - for the first 10 minutes of each break.  We sell a limited selection of healthy canteen approved chips and ice blocks.

SUBWAY

Parents and staff are able to place Subway Orders Online.  Click on the link below to place an order and payment as well. 

Cut-off time is 9:15 AM for same day delivery.
Call on 02 6259 9101 to place your order after this time

Subway Lunch Orders can also be made, via Subway Envelope, at school.  Subway envelopes, including cash, need to be placed in the Lunch Order Subway box, located outside the Front Office,  by 9:30am on the day before the lunch is required.  For example, if you would like a lunch order on Wednesday, the lunch order needs to be manually submitted by Tuesday 9:30am.

Here is a sample of the Subway ordering envelope.  Envelopes are available from the Front Office or the classroom.

APRIL 2022
Congratulations to the following students who will be celebrating their birthday this month:

Chaia L, Indie-Rose H, Riley S, Ryan S, Thor S, Charlotte S, Jessica J, Kael A, Parker W, Mackenzie S, Estelle W, Poppy R, Eric H, Zeus B, Anon Diing, Melinda M, Miranda G