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Dear Parents and Carers
Welcome Back to Maree Alchin (Canteen)
This week we welcomed back Maree Alchin in her role as Canteen Manager. Maree has had an unfortunate run of injuries and associated medical complications. But I am pleased to say that Maree is much better and able to continue her role now. Thank you to Selina Walker and Bec Benton who have been acting in the canteen manager role in Maree’s absence, especially Selina who undertook this role for 5 weeks to keep this important service to our students. The P&F and school community are most grateful for your generosity.
CoronaVirus COVID-19 Schools Update
We are all well aware of the unfolding CoronaVirus COVID-19 situation. I want to reassure you that St Anthony’s, along with all Catholic Education (CE) schools are monitoring the advice of authorities and taking the recommendations seriously.
A special critical response team has been established at Catholic Education to monitor the information and recommendations made by the Australian Government, NSW and ACT Health and the ACT Education Directorate. Catholic Education provides regular updates to principals and I attended a special briefing of CE leadership staff on this topic yesterday.
Virus Prevention Strategies
St Anthony’s is putting preventative measures in place to reduce the risk of infection within the school environment. These measures will be reviewed according to the level of risk the virus poses in our local area and measures may become more restrictive if the risk becomes greater. I have been in contact with our school cleaners to ensure that soap in toilets and hand towels are available and re-filled daily. Hand dryers are available in student toilets and hand towels in school wet areas.
As you would be aware the virus is most likely to spread through hand to mouth transition. Students will be encouraged to wash hands before they eat food and place it in their mouth. Where possible they should avoid placing their hands in their mouth and their eyes.
Posters will be displayed around the school this week reminding them of best practice in:
- Washing Hands
- Using Hand Sanitiser
- Sneezing and Coughing
Mandated Medical and Travel Quarantine/Isolation
In relation to travel related mandated quarantine and recommended self-quarantine - Catholic Education schools are following the Australian Government recommendations that are updated daily.
If you have travelled in or through the countries of:
- Mainland China
- Iran
- Italy
- Republic of Korea
These countries are considered High Risk and you are required to go through screenings as appropriate and self-isolate for 14 days. See current government guidelines
If you have travelled in or through the countries of:
- Thailand
- Cambodia
- Hong kong
- Japan
- Indonesia
- Singapore
These countries are considered a moderate risk and you are required to monitor your health and sel-isolate if you have any ful or virus symptoms.
You can follow Australian Government information on COVID-019 at: Department of Health
Travel Information Required
Please inform the staff in the school office if you or members of your family have returned from travel overseas. I also encourage you to provide the school with details of any information about any overseas travel you are intending to undertake. We will work with families to ensure the best care and advice is provided for the safety of members of our community. Information provided is strictly confidential and you are welcome to email directly on this matter: greg.walker@cg.catholic.edu.au
Self-Isolation Request
Students, staff and parents/visitors displaying flu or virus like symptoms are strongly encouraged to not attend school until their symptoms have improved. In other words, self-isolating and staying home rather than attending school for the safety of others.
I am expecting more information to follow shortly from CE and authorities.
Year 4 Assembly this Friday 13 March
You are welcome to attend the first year level assembly this Friday 13 March. It is Year 4 presenting information on what they are currently learning in Term 1. Good luck to students and teachers as they prepare their presentation for us to enjoy.
National Walk and Ride Safely to School (RWSTS) Day this Friday 13 March
I am pleased to say that St Anthony’s will continue to promote and support this national health and wellbeing initiative in 2020. For a number of years our students, staff and parents have taken part in this initiative. Canberra has great facilities for walking, riding and scootering! Please consider having your children involved in the event. Information has already been shared on the times, meeting points and procedures.
Thank you to Mrs Tea Austin for volunteering to coordinate the RWSTS initiative in 2020. I offer a huge thanks to Mrs Tracey Adamson who coordinated this event for the last four or five years.
Year 5 Assisi Community Prayer next Tuesday Week 6
Next week we will have our school community prayer on a different day - Year 5 Assisi will lead us in prayer in the hall at 9.00am on Tuesday 17 March. You are most welcome to attend.
Years 2-6 St Anthony’s Swimming Carnival - Next Friday 20 March
St Anthony’s annual swimming carnival will be held next Friday 20 March at Tuggeranong Pool. This is always a wonderful event and our first big sports carnival of the year. You are most welcome to attend and even volunteer to assist in a role on the day. Thank you to Mr Angas Qunatrill (2020 Sports Coordinator) and Mrs Angela Ryan for organising this event, along with other staff in the school.
Kinder to Year 2 Water Fun Day - Next Friday 20 March
On the same day as our school swimming carnival our younger students will have a water fun day here at school. Keep an eye out for information from the teachers. The activities ensure that these students enjoy having some fun with water and build some confidence around water. Thank you to Miss Sophie Hall for organising this.
Catholic Education Survey
Catholic Education, Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn (Catholic Education), have released an online survey to better understand your opinion of the value Catholic schools like ours provide and what that means for you and your children. You should have received this electronically last week via email and should take less than 15 minutes to collect. The research will be used by Catholic Education to improve the offering of Catholic schools.
Privacy and confidentiality
Please note that Catholic Education has engaged JWS Research to host the survey, collect the data and analyse the results. JWS Research is an independent, fully accredited, Australian research agency (see www.jwsresearch.com for further information). Survey results will be reported in the aggregate with individual responses remaining completely confidential and treated in accordance with the relevant privacy laws, including the Market and Social Research Privacy Principles and the industry’s code of professional behaviour.
I encourage all parents to respond to the survey. Thank you in advance for your time and participation. The survey closing date has been extended to 23 March.
All the best for the week ahead. Thank you for your support in what continues to be a most unusual start to a school year with the ongoing natural disasters and health concerns.
God Bless
Greg Walker
Principal
Children learn to love the sound of language before they even notice the existence of printed words on a page. Reading books aloud to children stimulates their imagination and expands their understanding of the world. It helps them develop language and listening skills and prepares them to understand the written word.
Reading develops the mind. Understanding the written word is one way the mind grows in its ability. Teaching young children to read helps them develop their language skills. It also helps them learn to listen.
Reading doesn’t just help with critical thinking, but it also improves brain power and function. Consider what happens when you work a muscle every day. That muscle grows and becomes much stronger than before. Reading works much the same way for your mind. And best of all, it is free and provides moments of stillness.
Yours in learning,
Angie Kisiel and Angas Quantrill
Happy Birthday to the following student who have or will be celebrating a birthday!
Ella K, Layla G, Elizabeth N, Elizabeth F, Harrison C, Norah F, Alexis C, Eliana L, Ruby P, Zane E, Riley E, Noah R-M, Leighton S, Cerys W, Benajmin C, Ethan J and Kishan h.
School Fees are due tomorrow 13th March. Prompt payment is expected.
If you are experiencing any financial difficulties please contact Mrs Katie Akers. Katie.Akers@cg.catholic.edu.au.
Week 6
Tuesday 10th March | Megan Doherty 9am-12pm |
Wednesday 11th March | Carole Coulton 9am-2pm |
Thursday 12th March | Lisa Koutsouvelis 9am-12pm |
Friday 13th March | Edwards Denison-Edson 9-10:30am |
Rachel Esler 9-10:30am | |
Mary Russell 9am-12pm | |
Trish Rae 11am-2pm |
Week 7
Tuesday 17th March | Courtney Guy 9am-12pm |
Wednesday 18th March | Karen Carmody 9am-12pm |
Thursday 19th March | Carole Coulton 9am-2pm |
Friday 20th March | Rachel Esler 9-10:30am |
Edwards Denison-Edson 9-10:30am | |
Naomi 11:30am-2pm |
Thank you to all the lovely helpers on Tuck Day, as they say many hands make light work.
The School Disco will be held on Friday 27th of March from 5:30pm-7:30pm. The theme will be "Favourite Sports Team", Tickets available at the door and on QKR.