Mother Teresa School Harrison eNewsletter

Principal's Message Term 3 Week 2 - 2022

Dear Parents

It has been so lovely to be able to see the children gather each morning and share daily messages.

In line with the CE directive, we are taking a risk-averse approach to ensure our school remains operational. To do this we need to limit external events so that we have teachers available to maintain our education programs. We have unfortunately had to withdraw from several gala days and cancel our Big Sing event. I know this has been very disappointing. Since the commencement of Term 3, we have already had a number of teachers and support staff away and have been unable to employ relief staff.

Staff Farewell

This week we farewelled Rhiannon Farrell who had worked between the school and ELC over the past nine years. Rhiannon is moving to Holy Spirit to begin her teaching career. "I will look back on my time at MTS fondly. From the early days of PD week retreats to the love I felt when I got sick. I am lucky to have had such a beautiful community supporting me for most of my adult life."

Next Pupil Free Day

As advised in the Director's letter circulated at the end of last term, all ACT Government and Catholic schools have been granted Pupil Free days on Friday, 5th August (Week 3) and Friday, 9th September (Week 8). Once again Kids Biz will be offering care as all staff will be involved in a busy day of planning for the coming weeks in anticipation that we may be faced with high levels of staff absences.

Families Leaving

It is that time of year when I am required to submit our expected enrolment numbers for 2023 to Catholic Education. If you are aware your child will not be returning to MTS in 2023, please advise via email as soon as possible.

School Fees

The Term 3 school fees have been emailed out this week. I encourage families to set up a regular Bpay payment using your unique parent code found on the account. By setting up a Bpay payment plan you have complete control of your payment plan where the direct debit approach is coordinated by the school. School payments are due by 25 August, unless paying via a payment plan.

Tissues & Wipes need re-stocking

Thank you to the families who have sent in tissues and antibacterial wipes for our classrooms. Parent supplies supplement the supplies purchased by the school to maintain regular use. We are working hard to keep up our supplies so that hand sanitizer is located at each classroom door.

COVID Reminders

Families still need to advise the school should a child be at home with COVID via our specific email address, covid.motherteresa@cg.catholic.edu.au then followed up with a Compass absentee notification through the Compass Parent Portal.

RAT kits are still available from the office should you require kits for regular testing, particularly if your child is a close contact.

Important COVID Information and Protocols

Household Contacts – Staff and students are required to follow the Public Health (Diagnosed People and Household Contacts) Emergency Direction 2022 when they are deemed a household contact. It is strongly recommended that a household contact works or studies from home where it is practical to do so. A household contact must wear a face mask in any indoor setting that is not their own home, if they are aged 12 years and over. A household contact must wear a face mask in any indoor setting that is not their own home, if they are aged 12 years and over. Only students in Years 7 to 12 will be required to wear a mask when attending school. Mask wearing for students in primary schools is at the discretion of the student and their parents/carers, and is not recommended for children in Pre School to Year 2. Where a student attends school they must undertake a COVID test in the 24 hours prior to returning to school and then every 48 hours if ongoing attendance is required and may only attend a school if they have no symptoms
Physical distancing - Physical distancing should be maintained on school sites where possible
Staying home when sick and hygiene requirements - Staff, students and visitors must not attend school or ELC sites if they are unwell and will be sent home if they have any symptoms of COVID-19. All staff, visitors and students should at all times maintain appropriate hand and respiratory hygiene.
School Activities - Parents and carers are not permitted to attend (during school hours) activities and after hours can only attend such activities where they are outdoors, outside of school/ELC hours, or ticketed. Parents and carers must follow COVID smart measures at all times on school/ELC sites (physical distancing, hygiene practices, staying away if unwell). Events on school ELC/ sites that involve the general public can only be held outside of school/ELC opening hours, must have a COVID Safety Plan in Place, and must comply with the COVID Safe Events Guidance.

Preparations for the 2023 NAPLAN cycle - change in date

This year all schools in Australia successfully transitioned to NAPLAN online testing. Furthermore, on Monday 14 March 2022 Education Ministers announced a number of improvements to the National Assessment Program. One of the improvements was moving NAPLAN to Term One from 2023. Moving the test forward means this valuable data set will be available earlier in the year to inform teaching and learning programs and to give parents information about their child's performance earlier.
In 2023 NAPLAN will be held from Wednesday 15 March to Monday 27 March.

God Bless

Carmel Maguire