Dear SCA families,

We are excited.

There is no doubt that every staff member at SCA is looking forward to school returning to normal, or at least what counts for normal these days!

Following our survey sent home last week, we are anticipating 97% of our students will return on, or before the scheduled date.

To see how we are catering for the return of students and managing COVID safe measures, please refer to last week’s newsletter for a detailed list.

Some reminders for all parents in readiness for the next two weeks:

• Years K, 1, 2 and 6 return to on-campus learning on Monday 25 October. 
• Years 3, 4 and 5 students will return on Monday 1 November.
• School starts at 8.45 am
• School officially ends at 3.00pm, but K-2 children, and their older siblings, will be ready for pick-up at 2.50pm.
• Usual drop-off and pick-up arrangements apply (i.e. Donut and Heidelberg St). Please note, however, that parents are only allowed to leave their cars if it is essential. (Please feel free to call the school to discuss this if it will cause problems for you.)
• When children arrive, they should take their bags and wait outside their classrooms. There will be no morning assembly under the Hayshed.
• Years 3-6 children are encouraged to wear a mask, especially while indoors.
• All adults on school grounds (other than in their car) must sign in and use the Check in CBR App.
• Summer school uniform is to be worn, including school hats.
• The Tuckshop is only open for on-line orders.
• If your child in K, 1, 2 or 6 will be at home next week, please inform their teacher directly, preferably by email.

Now that the ACT Government has declared schools are safe to open we are once again legally obliged to ensure that the requirements of school attendance are met. Students who do not return to school on an extended basis will require a medical certificate from a medical practitioner.

While the school will do its best to support students who do not return to the classroom with their peers, we are unable to provide two modes of learning. Teachers will resume face-to-face delivery in the school setting. As such remote learning, in its current daily format, will not continue from the relevant return-to-school date (Monday 25^th October or Monday 1^st November).

We will, however, continue to support children who are at home, albeit in a reduced way. We aim to keep the children connected with SCA, their teacher and their peers, while providing some support for parent guided learning at home.

To support the small number of children who stay at home, we will be able to provide the following supports:

• Each fortnight, Year levels will send home a learning grid, outlining the work that could be completed in the period. It will connect with work being done in class, but will need to completed independently, or with the help of supervising parents at home. 

• Students are expected to submit work, and teachers will acknowledge they have received it.
• A teacher at school will invite stay-at-home students to a 30-minute, on-line Teams meeting each week, during which the student can ask for guidance or support with the work. The teacher will not be the child’s usual class teacher.
• As our other aim is to keep the children connected with SCA, each class-teacher will invite children staying at home to a Teams meeting at the beginning of the day for morning greetings, class roll and prayer. Once this session is over, the Teams meeting will conclude.

As previously stated, parents are encouraged to communicate with their child's teacher about their situation and needs.

As always, if you have a question, please let us know and we’ll try to answer it for you.

Leaving?

We are now in the process of finalising class numbers and staffing for 2022. If your child is leaving SCA (unless already in Year 6), please let us know by contacting the office this week. See link further down in newsletter.

Fees

This term’s school fees have been delayed while we credit families for activities that have not taken place (such as Swimming). They will be sent home in the coming week.

Fee concessions and remissions are available on a needs basis as defined in our fee policy. Therefore, if you are having difficulties with school fees, please contact me as soon as possible. All applications will be considered in strictest confidence.

Community Council

Our Community Council had its second last meeting for the year last night (Tuesday 20 October) and discussed the following items:

• Action items from the previous meeting
• Principal’s report, including COVID safe measures
• School finances
• OSHC report
• Return to on-campus learning
• Vote of thanks for Erin Marmont
• Confirmation of 2021 Fete cancellation

As always, please feel free to speak with a member of the Council, or send them an email at council.scaconder@cg.catholic.edu.au .

Thanks

On behalf of the children and their families I thank each staff member for their efforts during the year so far. It’s fitting that, in the week we return to on-campus learning, we celebrate International Teachers Day next Friday knowing that the staff at St Clare of Assisi continue to strive for the very best for the children in our care.

It was once said…

Parents and teachers who work together are unstoppable.  - unkown.

Blessings to you and your family.

Matt Egan-Richards

Principal