Principal's Messages
PRINCIPAL MESSAGE
YOU ARE IN OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS
The St Ita’s school community continues to offer our thoughts, prayers and support to the McMahon Family. Rose was a bubbly, articulate and thoughtful member of our school community. She was a wonderful friend, classmate and student who will be fondly remembered, and sadly missed by all who knew her.
AN IMPORTANT COVID UPDATE FOR ALL ST ITA’S
PARENTS AND CARERS
With many of our students returning to school over the next month, we are continuing to make adaptations to schooling at St Ita’s that will reduce the risk of COVID-19 spread. As of last week, the Victorian Chief Health Officer has expanded the mandatory use of face masks indoors to limit the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) within the population of school settings.
As of Friday 15th October, there is a requirement for students at St Ita’s Catholic Primary School in Grades 3 to 6 to wear a face mask indoors at school, unless a lawful exception applies. There are a number of lawful reasons for not wearing a face mask, including for staff and students who are unable to wear a face mask due to the nature of their disability, medical or a mental health condition. If your child falls into one of these categories, please contact me via email, principal@stidrouin.catholic.edu.au
We ask that families supply a face mask and spare for their child which are labelled. A face mask must cover the nose and mouth. Face shields, scarves or bandanas do not meet these requirements. Face masks can be one bought from the shop or made at home. They must be breathable and comfortable for the child to wear. As we want to make this as easy as possible for families, any pattern or colour is okay.
Whilst not required, it is a family’s choice if their child in Foundation to Grade 2 wear a face mask indoors at school and while it is recommended by the Chief Health Officer, it is not compulsory.
RETURN TO SCHOOL ROAD MAP
Last week we sent out the return to school Road Map for all our St Ita’s families. Could I please ask that the map below becomes the point of reference for knowing when your child/ren should be at school and when you may need to keep them home doing remote learning or book them in for Onsite Remote Learning at school. I have attached this Road Map for families in a new format simplified. I recommend this be stuck on the fridge to avoid any confusion, especially if you have children in different grades.
The table below outlines which days our students are able to return to NORMAL school between now and Monday 25th of October, the date when all students are expected to return to school full time. We’ve done so well to get to this date and I am so proud of the students, staff and parents who have all worked so hard and displayed so much patience getting us back to school.
Foundation – Grade 2 Students
Grade 3 – 4 Students
Grade 5 – 6 Students
ONSITE REMOTE LEARNING
A reminder to parents that Onsite Remote Learning will be only available for Category A and Category B students.
CATEGORY A
Students where both parents, guardians and/or carers are considered authorised workers who cannot work from home, work for an authorised provider and where no other supervision Arrangements can be made:
- Where there are two parents/guardians/carers, both must be authorised workers, working outside the home in order for their children to be eligible for on-site provision.
- For single parents/guardians/carers, the authorised worker must be working outside the home in order for their children to be eligible for on-site provision.
- Please complete the onsite intentions form
CATEGORY B
Students experiencing vulnerability, including:
- in out-of-home care
- deemed vulnerable by a government agency, funded family or family violence service, and assessed as requiring education and care outside the family home
- identified by a school or early childhood service as vulnerable, (including via referral from a government agency, or funded family or family violence service, homeless or youth justice service or mental health or other health service)
- where a parent/carer indicates that a student with a disability is vulnerable because they cannot learn from home, and/or informs the school the student is vulnerable due to family stress, the school must provide on-site supervision for that student.
If your child is in grade 3-6 and does not fall into either of these categories, they must complete remote learning from home.
We thank you for your efforts, patience and the ongoing support and encouragement that you’ve given during these really testing times. Keep positive and roll on Monday 25th October where we get back to normal.