SEVERE GASTRO OUTBREAK AT ST ITA'S

We have had an increasing number of cases of what I would call severe gastro at school in recent days, and many students have had to be sent home. We have also had several staff come down with it, and are having trouble obtaining relief teachers. If numbers of gastro cases continue to grow at this rate we will need to explore coupling up grades or dropping specialist classes.

Could I please remind all parents and carers to not send children to school if they are feeling ill in the morning or displaying any symptoms of gastro. This current gastro outbreak is extremely contagious, and all students need to be kept at home. Children should only return when they have been free of any symptoms for 48 hours at minimum.

We thank you for your ongoing support to keeping everyone in our learning community safe and healthy.

FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTION

This Monday 15^th August, Father Hengel will be celebrating the Feast of the Assumption Mass at St Ita’s Church. Our Grade 3-6 students will be attending this mass at 9.3am and parents are invited to attend. Our students in Grades F-2 will be participating in class Liturgy to celebrate the Assumption.

THE PARENT-TEACHER CONNECTION IS KEY

A key component of a child’s academic success is a close working relationship between teacher and parent. By forging a partnership founded on mutual respect, open communication, and an understanding of each other’s pressures and constraints, you and the teacher can help address issues before they become larger problems.

Communication between parent and teacher helps keep each informed of key information regarding your child. You may find it useful to know about the teacher’s academic expectations, work routines, testing policies, and assessment criteria. Teachers also need information from you to help them work with your child and understand their educational needs. Your child’s teacher will benefit from knowing their physical and psychological needs, interests or talents which they may want to highlight, and school-related programs in which they participate in (for example, tutoring or school counselling).

If your child has a medical problem, for example, help the teacher understand the related behaviours they may see in the classroom and the implications for instruction. You should also let the teacher know of events at home that may influence your child’s school performance, including the illness or death of a family member, a divorce or separation, remarriage, the birth of a sibling, even the death of a pet. There is no need to go into detail or violate your family’s privacy. The point is to give the teacher information which will enable them to be more sensitive to your child. You may also want to inform the teacher of areas of sensitivity for your child, for example, their self-consciousness about a speech impediment or the absence of a parent. Knowing your child’s vulnerable spots allows the teacher to be more understanding and perhaps avoid embarrassing situations.

Parents are also entitled to some consideration from teachers. You have the right to expect that teachers will apprise you of any problems with your child, will consider your views and suggestions, will respond to your concerns in a timely manner, and will be sympathetic to your family’s special circumstances. Many parents do not expect teachers to be sensitive to their concerns and consequently may not share them. Keep in mind, however, that many teachers are also parents and may have had similar experiences. They will be understanding and do their best to be accommodating.

St Ita's schedules parent-teacher twice a year, but outside of this you can also e-mail or ClassDojo the teacher or contact them alternatively to the interviews. Teachers can usually be contacted by phone if you call 15 minutes or so before or after school or find out the teacher’s release time from class from the school admin.

If you are not sure whether your concern or question merits a teacher contact, make the effort to make a call or message as even the smallest snippets of information can help support the solving of a problem or a concern.

NO TURNING TRAFFIC TO ENTER THE ADMIN DROP OFF AND PICK UP

A reminder to all parents and guardians, to please avoid making right hand turns into the school admin drop off and pick up area during the peak morning and afternoon drop off and pick up times.

If you are travelling west to east along Victoria St and there is a bank up of cars, please do not make a right-hand turn cutting in front of them. We asked that all west to east traffic go down through the roundabout at the bottom of Victoria St and come back up the hill to join the carline and enter the school making a left hand turn.