Welcome back! Whether your children are ‘with us’ at school or ‘with us’ at home, a big welcome to you all. This week we are tracking at about 65-70% attendance with many other families indicating that they plan to return next week and some deciding on more time in home connected learning. I will be talking with teachers in the next 2 days around how they would like to structure next week, with the possibility that classroom teachers structure a ‘normal day’ and are released for part of the day to support those engaging in ‘home connected learning.’ I will give you full details of this by Thursday evening to allow you the time to decide your plans for next week.

It was great to see many children back on Monday. I think we all feel like things are beginning to returning to ‘normal.’ This has been very difficult for all of you and I send my deep appreciation for your on going support, the care and flexibility of staff and the calmness and positivity of the children. Let us, however, not forget those families who have been impacted so cruelly by this virus; those losing businesses, employment, wage reductions and our grandparents, extended families who have suffered such cruel isolation from those they love. May the good news on the low infection rate continue, may God help us win this battle and restore our lives and livelihoods. Please also remember that if you have been affected financially, we are offering full school fee remissions for this term. Please see Julie for details of the application process. It is simple and fast. Let not concerns about school fees be an extra burden.

Other arrangements
We have been very ‘agile’ in our response to social distancing and whilst health authorities state that our children do not need to abide by social distancing at school, we believe that potentially 455 children in the yard at play time is not desirable and we are called to be extra cautious. We now have separate Recess and Lunch play for R-2’s and Yr 3-6 students. Prior to eating children wash/disinfect their hands and after each play each child lines up for a soap and water handwash. Paper towel is provided. Any play equipment is disinfected daily and we also have extra cleaning procedures each evening. As adults are deemed most vulnerable, our Staff Room is restricted to only a few adults at a time and we are all self monitoring and ensuring that we are healthy and well upon entering school. We continue to not permit Music Tutors, Speech, OT therapists and Volunteers on site until further notice.

A big concern as more children are attending school is the afternoon pick up routine. We have had to make changes to this. The arrangements, which commence next Monday, are detailed in this Newsletter.  Please understand that we are doing everything to keep our community safe and that new arrangements will be difficult for some if not many. But our goal is our safety.

Building Progress
If you have been able to drive past Acton Avenue I’m sure you’d be impressed that the building work has progressed despite COVID-19. We are still aiming for a Term 3 opening and these new spaces will become the Year 1, 2 and LOTE classrooms and the Reception T/S class.   This will allow us to house the Term 3 Reception room where the current RT/S class is located.

The Nature Play construction will recommence in full next week and we are hoping to open this mid term.

Please take extra note of the pick up arrangements for next week. We will monitor the effectiveness of this and we are always open to feedback, new ideas and suggestions to help us achieve our goal of community safety in this challenging environment. 

God Bless

Thank you for all your efforts in helping our school community keep safe during this COVID-19 pandemic.

As a school, we have made changes to the way we do things, such as morning drop offs, yard play, social distancing where possible in classrooms, cleaning and learning from home. We truly appreciate the role you have taken in supporting us at Saint Pius X. Together, we are making a difference.

Whilst our current situation in South Australia continues to look promising, we must continue to engage in practices which stop the potential spread of COVID-19.

Morning Arrivals
Thank you for your support in dropping your children off at the gate. We continue to request that parents do not enter school grounds at the commencement of the day. If you need to speak with your child’s teacher, a phone call or email is the best way to arrange this.

Afternoon Pick-Up
Due to the large amount of parents on site for afternoon pick up, social distancing has been extremely problematic and generally, not successful.

Our current afternoon pick up routine will change from next Monday, 4^th May. Please note the following - 

Kiss and Drop – Our preferred Pick-Up location
Where possible, please use the ‘Kiss and Drop’ and remain in your car.
Please note, this gate does not close until 3:30pm, and there is much less congestion after 3:15pm.

Acton Avenue Gate
The Acton Avenue Gate will not be opened until the yard duty teacher arrives.
Please wait outside and keep 1.5 metres apart.
Your child should be able to see you through the fence and will come to you when the gates are opened.
We ask that parents/caregivers remain in the spot they are waiting in and do not enter the school.
This gate will continue to be closed at 3:20pm.

Front Courtyard Gates
The front vourtyard gates will not be open at the end of the school day.

Reception Students
Reception Students will no longer be collected under the pergola.
Please talk with your child about where you would like to meet them – either at Kiss and Drop, or at the Acton Avenue Gate.
Yard duty teachers will be at both gates for supervision.

Out of School Hours Care
OSHC will operate as normal, and if your child is booked in, they will go straight there after classes conclude.

If these new procedures will change your usual routine, please spend some time talking this through with your child to prepare them. 

We understand that these changes may cause some anxiety, and we are here to work with you. Our new after school pick up arrangements are a measure which other schools have successfully adopted as a way to limit physical presence on our site, thus reducing our risk of spreading COVID-19.

Our school uniform shop is now closed and our uniform is available from JS Sports, 10 Newton Road, Campbelltown.  Please note the following information - 

• Online orders will be delivered to the school (delivery date details will be advised as soon as available)
• The shop's opening hours are:-
  • Monday - 8am to 12pm
  • Tuesday - 1pm to 5.30pm
  • Wednesday - 8am to 12pm
  • Friday - 1pm to 5.30pm
  • Saturday - 9am to 12pm

Due to COVID-19 uniforms can be purchased by appointment only - details on how to book a time are available on their online shop.   We encourage families to use online shopping options so orders may be pre-packed and ready for collection.

The online shop web address is -  https://www.jssportsonline.com.au/collections/st-pius-x-school 

The JS Sports Price List and printable Order Form is also available on the school's website.

School hats, smocks, school and reader bags maybe purchased from the school office on Monday and Wednesday from 8:30am-9:00am and 3:00-3:30pm.  You may pre-order these items by completing the Order Form available at the school office or downloading it here - Order_Form_for_School_Uniform_Items_available_from_school_Reception.pdf

The health, safety and wellbeing of our communities and our people remains our highest priority. Due to the ongoing uncertainty surrounding coronavirus, the School Banking program will remain on hold. We will continue to monitor the situation and keep you informed with any updates including how we will be managing Dollarmite tokens for students. 

In the meantime, here are some handy online resources for parents who wish to maintain momentum with their child’s financial education: 

• Start Smart: these resources have been created to improve children’s money management skills, and is aligned to the Australian Curriculum and the National Consumer Financial Literacy Framework. 
• The Beanstalk: offers videos and fun activities for children to learn about money.