Our Lady of Grace Newsletter No images? Click here Lord TERM 1 WEEK 6 - 11 MARCH 2020 PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGEDear Parents As we move into the Second Week of Lent we are provided with the opportunity to reflect on the importance and centrality of Christ in our lives. The compassion, honesty, kindness and love shown by Christ models for us a way of being. Lent is a time to reflect on what type of person we wish to be and to pray for the strength to be that person. You are welcome to join us each Monday morning in the MPA as we begin our school week with prayer. Our beautiful banners help us focus on the Liturgical symbols and colour that reminds us we are in the season of Lent. This year for the first time we have House Captains leading our sporting houses. The Houses, Grevillea (Red), Acacia (Gold), Melalecua (Green) and Banksia (Blue) will be used as the basis of a program to allow our children from all year levels to get to know one another. We will inaugurate the House Shield, that will be won by the House that collects the most points across the year. We have begun this week with shared House lunchtime. Students are seated with their Houses under the care of the House Captains to eat their lunch. We are looking for the house that works together to have the cleanest space and the one that ensures all students are happy and connected. Points are awarded on set criteria by the duty staff. Our Year 4-6 Swimming Carnival this Friday will also be an opportunity for our Houses to be together. Good luck to all of our athletes who are swimming this Friday. COVID 19 As a community we are making every effort to be calm and prepared should the COVID 19 virus spread increase. Please remember we are a fortunate community in Australia with an outstanding health system and access to all life’s necessities. As the adults in our community we must all work together to ensure our children see us as having a common sense approach to this issue. Please make sure your children are appropriately encouraged to be aware of their role in washing their hands thoroughly with soap and sneezing into their elbow. I do not wish for our children to be panicked or stressed, we choose to be informed and proactive not alarmed and misinformed. As a school we are increasing our hygiene practises and communication to parents in order to be prepared for any increase in the current COVID19 concern and the flu season. Classrooms have extra routines for cleaning handles, equipment and surfaces with antibacterial wipes. New soap dispensers have been installed in the MPA and the Year 1-3 toilets, soap dispensers are filled daily by the cleaners, classrooms have hand sanitizer (with more on back order). As a school we talk about and teach children the technique of hand washing, wiping hands dry and sneezing into elbows. Information regarding international travel to countries of risk has been provided to the school by the Department of Health. While the advice regarding travel restrictions and self-isolation for students and staff continues to evolve, the information as at Monday 9th March states: “All returned passengers who have travelled in or transited through “higher risk” countries or a country considered to pose a “moderate risk” of transmission should self-monitor for symptoms and immediately isolate themselves if they become unwell.” To support our schools preparedness and response planning, particularly as the school holidays approach I ask that you inform us of any upcoming international travel plans. This includes plans to transit through countries identified as moderate to high risk. A form is available for you to complete with this information & return to the school. This information will allow us to be prepared to support you educationally should your child be required to self-quarantine. As many of our school community members visit Bali and other South East Asian countries regularly I would ask that you; · consider your preparedness for self-quarantine for 14 days on return should this be required You can still access the updated fact sheets at https://www.dese.gov.au/news/coronavirus-covid-19. For further health advice please visit, https://www.health.gov.au/news/health-alerts/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-health-alert For further information on travel restrictions please visit https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/news-media/current-alerts/novel-coronavirus. It is important to remember that members of our school community (staff, parents and students) may have ongoing health issues, lowered immune systems and mitigating factors that increase their risk. I would like us all to place these community members at the centre of our thinking and decision making. For a snapshot on the reality of coronavirus, please watch this short video from Dr Norman Swan. We are blessed to have a community that cares and has the resources to be well prepared for any significant concerns. Please work with us in keeping our children as safe as possible. God Bless, Gabrielle Doyle Car Park Reachout The Our Lady of Grace Reachout programme operates with the support of the P&F and offers short-term emergency help to families in need within our school community. This help may range from providing meals - the school operates a ‘casserole bank’ - to assisting with cleaning, lifts to school and babysitting. To volunteer, simply download the Commitment Form. This form will also be sent via flexibuzz today. You may be asked to provide a meal or cake once a term, home help - transport assistance is only rarely required. Student Illness If your child has vomited or suffered from diarrhoea they must not attend school for 24 hours after their last episode. Please do not bring children to school who “have vomited the night before but feels much better now”, you put other staff and children at risk of being infected. Merit Award Winners Congratulations to those who received a merit award at last week's assembly. Scholastic Book Club - LOOP This payment platform is easy to navigate, and your order will be directly linked to the school when you pay via credit card. It is also available as an app. Thank you for your support! Uniform Shop PLEASE NOTE - The Uniform Shop will be open on Thursday, 9 April from 8.15-9.15am (last day of Term 1). It will not be open during the school holidays. Please find attached the 2020 canteen menu and Term 1 Roster. Ordering is available via https://quickcliq.com.au/ New P&F Executive Committee OLG Business Community P&F Executive Committee TRINITY COLLEGE 2021 SCHOLARSHIPS Applications are invited for Trinity College Scholarships and Bursaries for 2021. To find out more and to access the application forms, please visit the Trinity College website: www.trinity.wa.edu.au. Applications close at 4:00pm on Friday, 14 March 2020. Examination date is Friday, 28 March 2020 (Academic only). Please return completed application forms to the Registrar at registrar@trinity.wa.edu.au. TRINITY COLLEGE OPEN DAY – WEDNESDAY, 13 MAY 2020 Discover Trinity College at our Open Day on Wednesday, 13 May 2020 to learn more about the unique TC Spirit and the vast curricular and co-curricular opportunities that the College has to offer. Each of our College Open Day sessions will include an address from the Principal and Junior/Senior Head Prefects, student-led tours, light refreshments and a Q&A with key staff, teachers and the admissions team. We look forward to meeting you! Please note that your son is welcome to attend the Open Day. Further details can be found via www.trinity.wa.edu.au or you can register directly through https://www.trybooking.com/BILZB. You can also email registrar@trinity.wa.edu.au or call 9223 8120.
The College will hold Twilight Tours for prospective families on Tuesday 7 April 2020. Families will experience our Vision for Learning Shine through Discovery as the College grows our students to be critical thinkers in their faith and learning journey. Discover our learning pathways, co-curricular opportunities, facilities, services and our proposed learning spaces of the future. The evening will also include an Information Presentation which will commence at 5.30pm in the Marist Auditorium, 216 Empire Avenue, Churchlands. To register for one of the Twilight Tours - https://www.newman.wa.edu.au/book-a-twilight-tour/ For further enquiries, please contact the College Registrar Flora.Hughes@cewa.edu.au 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 |