Companions on the Journey

As restrictions have continued to be lifted and the majority of our students have now returned to classroom learning, it has been heartening to see the excitement of students and teachers alike as our school buzzes with life.

While it has been challenging for all in our community to adapt to the ongoing changes, there is an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the leadership and shared community responsibility that has meant that children can return to school, that parents can return to work and that we can all begin to enjoy time together again.

• Return to School Quick Reference
• Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

The past two days have been great! It has been wonderful to see our students as we commence the new term. We look forward to a gradual transition to having all students back at school.

Today 40% of our students attended school. The recent advice from the WA Chief Health Officer, Dr Andrew Robertson, confirms that the risk of transmission of the virus in the school setting is low. We are fully respectful of individual family decisions on whether students attend school in person or work from home.

We have been in regular contact with families about what the school based and home-based learning program looks like. We thank our students, staff and parents for their understanding as we evolve our processes at this challenging time. We are all learning new skills and the support we are receiving from our community has been outstanding. We have been blessed to have extremely high attendance of staff present this week which reflects their professionalism and commitment to their students.

Welcome to Term Two. As you are aware, the last six weeks have been an incredibly challenging time for everyone. The COVID-19 virus has impacted on every aspect of our daily lives. Education has been no exception. I do want to thank you for your ongoing support and commitment to St Andrew’s Catholic Primary School.

We are looking forward to school recommencing on Wednesday 29 April, and would like to remind you that St Andrew’s Catholic Primary School is open for your child to attend if you so choose, and we welcome their attendance or alternatively we will continue to support your child, if at home, with remote learning. Please ensure that your child brings with them, their home education packs.

As a legal requirement, St Andrew’s Catholic Primary School needs to record your child’s attendance each day, whether they are at school or working remotely. If your child is working remotely during Term 2, in order to fulfil this requirement, your child’s teacher will ask you each morning the following question:

“Is your child set up for remote learning today? Please reply yes, before 9:30am, to confirm your child is learning at home today. If we do not receive a reply, your child will be recorded as ‘Absent’ for the purposes of our attendance register.”

As you are aware, in alignment with the Western Australian Government’s position, from Wednesday 29 April, Catholic schools will reopen. CEWA continues to be in full compliance with the National Cabinet’s “COVID-19: National Principles of School Education”. Link to National Principles

As you may be aware, Premier Mark McGowan announced Term Two arrangements for public schools in Western Australia on Friday 17 April. The following sets out St Andrew’s Catholic Primary School arrangements for Term Two, which reflects the guiding principles of Catholic Education Western Australia (CEWA).

When Term Two commences on Wednesday, 29 April, St Andrew’s Catholic Primary School will provide one mode of learning (Home Education Packs) until Friday 22nd May, with a review taking place on 18th May. Our staff has been remarkable and it is important that we provide support for them as they prepare for the changed schooling arrangements.

Everyone at St Andrew’s Catholic Primary School wishes you a safe and Holy Easter!

Further to the home learning packages, which were collected earlier in the week, this information may assist you and your child next term.

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Holy Week Celebrations

For all Catholic schools, St Andrew’s Catholic Primary School included, for Term 2 learning will continue to be delivered remotely and all parents and caregivers are encouraged to keep their children home. As has been the case since we transitioned to semi-remote learning in Term One, parents and caregivers, who are engaged in essential services or are required to maintain employment may choose to send their children to school, if they are unable to care for them at home. We have been pleased to receive advice from Catholic Education Western Australia that Term Two will commence, as scheduled for schools in Western Australia, on Tuesday 28th April.

As we have only an extremely small number of students attending school this week, it is important to let your children know that they may be working in a different classroom with another teacher.

As stated by the Premier of Western Australia, Friday 3rd April will, conclude Term 1, for students. This decision has been made to prioritise the health and wellbeing of the Western Australia Community and is based on the best national medical advice. Also, contained in the correspondence that was sent home last week.