FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Dear SCA families,
Progress Reports
Progress reports are being sent home today with your child. Please check their bag. If you have not received your child’s progress report, please contact the front office.
Molehills into Mountains
Often, one of the surest ways of making a problem between children worse is to directly approach the parent of the other child. If your child is struggling in a relationship with another student at school, I encourage you to speak with the school and not directly to the other parent.
Family Week
Time certainly has flown this year. Next week is Week 7 of term. During this week, we try to minimise after school commitments for staff and students to allow everyone to reconnect and focus more on their families. That also means we do not set homework for the week. I encourage everyone to take at least one night next week to gather as a family, with no distractions, and simply enjoy each other’s company. Quiet time with the family is such a blessing in this busy world.
School Fees
Term 1 Fees were electronically sent to family email addresses on 19 February 2020. Fees are to be paid by 20 March 2020 unless paying by Direct Debit or other approved method. If you would like more information regarding Direct Debit payments or have any queries regarding your fees, please contact the Front Office.
It is most important that you notify the School regarding any changes to your email address as this is our primary form of communication.
It’s Just Not Right
When you are leaving the school carpark between 8.45 - 9.15am and 2.45 -3.15pm you MUST TURN LEFT. When you sit there and wait for a break to turn right, you add to the congestion of the traffic. Your time is no more important than any of the parents in line behind you. Please do not be selfish. Please set a good example to your children.
System Leaders’ Day and Principals’ Retreat
Last Wednesday I participated in the Catholic Education System Leaders’ Day, which was dedicated to improving student outcomes through the development of Our Learning Agenda. The workshops enabled me to contribute, on our school’s behalf, to the shared directions across Catholic Education on our Archdiocese.
This was followed on Thursday and Friday by the annual Archdiocesan Principals’ retreat, which was led by Professor Br David Hall fms. The retreat theme was ‘Beacons of hope: purpose and possibilities for Catholic schools.’ The retreat provided an opportunity to reconnect, to reorient oneself, to engage with one’s fellow principals. As we begin the season of Lent, it also provided space to reflect on the call for all Christians to be beacons of hope (light) in our world.
Year Six Camp
Best wishes to the students and staff of Year Six. This time next week they will all be in sunny (I hope as I will be there with them) Narrabeen for three days of action and fun.
Coronavirus - Covid-19
As you may be aware the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak has escalated in severity over the past few weeks. At the time of writing there are 80 confirmed cases throughout Australia but at this stage there are no confirmed cases in the ACT. However, the situation is evolving daily.
As outlined in previous communications, our position is one that prioritises student, staff and community health and safety. We continue to take advice from ACT Health, the Federal Department of Health and other associated agencies. Accordingly, please be aware that the following precautionary measures are to be taken for all SCA families:
- If any families or family members have returned to the ACT after spending time in China, Iran, Italy or South Korea, please isolate yourself and your child in your home for 14 days after your departure date from that country.
- If any families or family members have had contact with any confirmed Novel Coronavirus case, you must isolate yourself and your child in your home for 14 days following exposure and please make contact with your GP or other medical authorities
- If your child has a fever or respiratory difficulty symptoms, please make contact with your GP or other medical authorities and do not send them to school until they are better and cleared to return by your GP.
If any SCA family’s circumstances align with the above, I ask you to please contact me immediately, so that we are able to discuss arrangements and confirm care details for your child and your family.
Sending Home Sick Students and Staff
As the impact of the virus on children and healthy adults can be quite mild there may be a tendency to continue working and attending school and hence increase the risk of infecting others. This is in contrast to SARS and Swine, where most people were quite unwell if infected. The advice from Health is that schools should be very strong on sending home staff and students who have the slightest sign of illness. This is not a time for soldiering on with coughs and colds.
While Covid-19 is of concern, it is important to remember that most people displaying symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat or tiredness are likely suffering with a cold or other respiratory illness. (Australian Government Department of Health)
How can we help prevent the spread of coronavirus?
- Practising good hand hygiene and sneeze/cough hygiene is the best defence against most viruses:
- wash hands frequently with soap and water, before and after eating, and after going to the toilet
- cover coughs and sneezes, dispose of tissues, and use alcohol-based hand sanitiser
- and if unwell, avoid contact with others (touching, kissing, hugging, and other intimate contact).
It was once said…
“A big shout out to my fingers. I can always count on them." – unknown
Blessings to you and your family.
Matt Egan-Richards
Principal