Returning to St Peter’s in Term 2 2020

/in , /by

21 April 2020

Dear Parents and Caregivers

I trust you all had a Holy and Happy Easter with your families. I welcome you all back to Term 2 and appreciate your patience as we have awaited the Catholic Education of Western Australia’s responses to Premier
Mark McGowan’s announcement on Friday 17 April.

We wanted to ensure that we were clear on this arrangement for Term 2 to avoid any miscommunication and to provide parents with a clear understanding of how St Peter’s will be moving forward. We look forward to supporting our St Peter’s families and our students’ learning in Term 2.

The following advice has been given by our Executive Director of Catholic Education, Debra Sayce, in regards to how Term 2 will be facilitated within Catholic Schools.

As you may be aware, Premier Mark McGowan announced Term Two arrangements for public schools in Western Australia on Friday 17 April. The following sets out St Peter’s arrangements for Term Two, which reflects the guiding principles of Catholic Education Western Australia (CEWA):

  1. The health and safety of our students and staff remain our first priority.
  2. All students will continue to be provided with a quality Catholic education.
  3. Decisions regarding school education will continue to be informed by national and
    state-based health and education advice and align with the National Principles for School Education.

When Term Two commences on Wednesday 29 April, St Peter’s will provide one mode of learning
until Friday 22 May, with a review taking place on Monday 18 May.

KINDERGARTEN – YEAR 6 STUDENTS

  • From the start of Term Two, parents and caregivers may choose to keep their children at home to engage in flexible and remote learning online. As has been the case since our school transitioned to flexible and remote learning in Term One, this approach particularly allows parents and caregivers who are engaged in essential services or are required to maintain employment to send their children to school if they are unable to care for them at home.
  • Should parents and caregivers choose to send their children to school, these students will engage in the same mode of learning being provided to students learning from home. Schools will provide appropriate supervision but not face-to-face teaching for students attending school in person.


STUDENTS ATTENDING SCHOOL

  • Parents and caregivers need to advise the school if your child will be attending school from Wednesday 29 April. This is necessary to ensure appropriate plans are in place to comply with the Department of Health’s physical distancing advice. It also ensures the school is able to make appropriate arrangements for student supervision while ensuring teaching and learning continue.
  • Please click here to advise the school if your child will be attending St Peter’s from Wednesday 29 April. Please complete the form by Friday 24 April at 9am.
  • Medically compromised students are asked to remain at home until they receive a medical clearance to attend school. Online learning will be provided to these students.
  • Parents and caregivers are not permitted on school property other than to drop off or pick up their children, at which time they must not exit their vehicle. If parents and caregivers are walking their children to and from school, they should undertake their drop off or pick up at the designated locations.
    (For Week 1, whilst we gauge the number of students attending school, the locations will be as follows):
  • Drop Off and Pick Up for Kindy, Pre Primary and Year 1 students will be via Salisbury Street. Staff will be present to escort children to class and staff will supervise these students until pick up.
  • Older siblings of Kindy, Pre Primary and Year 1 students will also be permitted to enter via Salisbury Street.
  • Drop Off and Pick Up for Years 2 – 6 students will be via Wood Street.
    Staff will greet these students and direct them to their classrooms. Staff will supervise these students until pick up.
  • Assemblies, excursions, Interschool activities and school-based co-curricular activities will not recommence until advice is received from the Department of Health that it is safe to do so.
  • Please note the Canteen will not be available until advice is received from the Department of Health that it is safe to do so. Any student returning to St Peter’s on Wednesday 29 April must ensure they have enough food for both recess and lunch as well as two water bottles.
  • The school will continue to ensure that environmental cleaning practices are in place, with enhanced routines where necessary.
  • Students will be required to continue with the hygiene practices put in place in Term One and will need to follow the physical distancing measures that are needed to ensure the safety of all students and staff.
  • To assist students with returning to school routines we will adhere to the school uniform policy. Students will be required to wear their full winter uniform upon returning to St Peter’s in Term 2. Sports uniform is still to be worn on set Sport days and the white polo top on Fridays.

I wish to reiterate that during this period, our staff will continue to ensure we best support our students’ learning from home, as well as those students who may be at school. We acknowledge that it will be important to maintain regular contact between the school and parents and caregivers. Staff will communicate weekly with all families.

At this difficult time, I wish to reassure every parent and caregiver that the ongoing enrolment of every child in our school is guaranteed. I encourage parents seeking financial support arrangements to discuss one of the following options, which are immediately available to all families with children in Catholic schools:

  • The Centrelink Health Care Card Discount Scheme provides an automatic fee concession to the holders of eligible means-tested family concession cards. This discount applies to all year levels from Kindergarten to Year 12. Additional financial considerations are also available depending on each family’s circumstance.
  • For parents and caregivers who do not qualify for the Health Care Card discount, but who are experiencing financial difficulties, arrangements can be made to provide immediate support to assist you with tuition costs.
    I will keep you updated with any new information as it becomes available.

Stay Healthy, Stay Safe and Stay United!

Mrs Pina Hutcheson
PRINCIPAL