Our Lady of Grace Newsletter No images? Click here They shall grow not old, SPECIAL EDITION - 22 APRIL 2020 PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGEDear Parents, “Our Lady of Grace School empowers all students through Faith, Wisdom and Knowledge to live fulfilling lives in an ever changing world.” Throughout the many and frequent changes to our world over this past few months we, as a staff, have kept these words central to our decisions and work. As parents you should be confident in the professionalism and expertise of the teachers at Our Lady of Grace to be able to provide quality learning for your children now, at home or at school, and in the future when our school returns to ‘normal’. Being asked to create learning using a remote learning and online model takes time to adapt and learn. Our staff, as were all teachers in WA were asked to do this in a very short time frame whilst continuing their face to face teaching. I admire and appreciate the effort and professionalism of our OLG staff as they undertook this work last term. As always, we require feedback, assessment and the capacity to adapt to the needs of our students in remote learning. We took feedback last term and will this term seek more regular feedback from both parents and students. This will enable our teachers to continue to be flexible and adapt the learning to meet each child’s needs. This has been a huge undertaking and I congratulate my staff on being able to provided quality learning to finish Term 1 as well as develop the first few weeks of learning to start Term 2. You should be confident that whether your child attends school or learns from home in the first weeks of Term 2, their quality learning will be the same. The Premier and Education Minister’s announcement last Friday widened the parameters of students returning to school from only children of essential workers. Under the auspices of Catholic Education WA all Catholic primary schools have been instructed to provide one mode of learning for all children. Children will be taught the same content and activities whether they are at home or at school. At Our Lady of Grace every effort will be made to provide a safe, familiar, clean and optimistic school learning environment. This will change and evolve as more children return to school and may include children learning in different classroom environments where social distancing can be observed more easily. The planned review in Week 3 for all Catholic schools will provide data for future decisions by the CEWA and the State Government. We previously sent a survey identifying those children of essential workers returning in Term 2 and will send a further survey to ensure we have accurate numbers of students intending to return to school Wednesday 29th April. If you have already indicated that your child will be returning to school in the first survey you DO NOT need to complete the latest survey. In an effort to provide the most up to date information to you a FAQ sheet is attached to the newsletter. Some answers will change as we move into the term and adapt to the enhanced hygiene regimes and returning students. The priority at this point in time is the safety of students and staff. I thank you for your patience and ask that you observe the conditions of return for students. These are outlined in the FAQ sheet and will be diligently observed. Next week we begin several new initiatives to support families and I am particularly excited about the innovation from the School Canteen. Here are some more initiatives that may support you and your family; · Opportunity to purchase takeaway family meals from the school canteen I have had the privilege (fun) of creating regular social media videos over the past weeks, ending with the catch phrase of “I/We love you, I/We miss you and I/We will see you again soon” this sentiment is genuine and heartfelt. No matter what your decision is regarding the education of your children in the first weeks of term, we will partner with you, care for your children, educate your children and be thrilled to have you as part of our school family – on site or at home. God Bless, Gabrielle Doyle What does drop off and pick up look like for my kids? Students can be dropped off between 8.00-8.30am, and picked up between 2.50-3.20pm only. For families with children in Kindergarten to Year 2 (and their siblings) you are required to drop off and pick up your children via Kiss and Drive. Older siblings of Kindergarten - Year 2 students will also be dropped off/picked up at the same place. Students in Years 3 - 6 may arrive and leave school at their designated drop off and pick up point, which is
the fig tree near the Parish.Year 3 – 6 students, please enter the school via the roundabout near the lawn bowls club, and loop around the car park towards the Parish. Refer to the map below for how to deliver your children. Can I hop out of my car to say goodbye to my kids? Are school buses running? I’m running late for drop off/pick up. What do I do? My child is very anxious and won’t cope with being dropped at the gate. Can the same teacher take him each day? Will my kids have their own teacher and will they be in their classroom? Will my kids be taught the curriculum face to face or assisted? If I choose to send my kids to school, will they be working on the same material as those remote home learning? My child is being bullied online and doesn’t feel safe who do I contact? Is Sister Anita still available? Will my kids be educationally better off if I send them to school, vs home learning? I am worried about being able to pay my school fees, what can I do? Is the canteen open for recess and lunch orders? How do I order and pick up the family meals? I work part time and would like to send my kids a few days a week. Can I do this? Can I arrange for my kids to be picked up by grandparents, relatives, a friend or another care giver? Is Discovery Kids still operating after school care? My child has an appointment during school time. How do I get him/her? I need to see Vicki in reception – can I pop into the office? How long will these changes be in place? I have questions/requests that aren’t listed on this FAQ – how do I get them answered? Homemade, nutritious meals from the school canteen From the beginning of Term 2, the canteen will be making healthy, delicious takeaway meal’s available for purchase. Examples of meal choices include, spaghetti bolognese, lasagna, pasta bakes and curries, as well as healthy treats such as muesli slice and muffins. Simply order on QuickCliq by 9am on Monday's and Wednesday's, and will be deliver the meal to your eldest child at the end of the school day. Don't forget an esky in the car when picking up! To launch this initiative we are offering free fro-yo's for the kids of the first 50 families that order a take home meal. Be quick!! Visit the school canteen page on our new website to see this fortnight's menu. We acknowledge the original custodians of this land, the Nyungar people, and show our respect for their ancestors and traditions. Our Lady of Grace School |