Padbury CPS Newsletter
Issue #1 - ???? 2022
Newsletter #3 - 11 March 2022
JUSTICE
Treat everyone fairly and equally
UPCOMING EVENTS
TERM DATES
Please check the community calendar for upcoming and future dates as the calendar is regularly updated.
FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Dear Parents,
We are a touch over half way through the term and our teaching and learning programs are well and truly thriving throughout the entire school. Though we face some restrictions due to Covid, our staff and students are making the most of the situation and I thank our wonderful PCPS teachers for continuing to provide a high level of education for our students at this uncertain time, and within the given restrictions.
Mrs Williamson has been on Long Service Leave since Wednesday and will remain on leave until the end of next week. We wish her well in spending special quality time with her daughter who is visiting from overseas.
COVID Update
As many of you would be aware, recently we had our first Covid cases linked to Padbury Catholic. As the weeks progress, and the number of cases in the WA community increase, there are bound to be many more cases that impact our school community.
Please rest assured that the school has procedures and protocols in place to help prevent the spread of Covid, (as mentioned in previous Newsletters) as well as to respond to positive cases that occur.
In our first cases at PCPS in the last fortnight, our protocols and procedures were put into place quickly. As you may have heard on the News, due to high caseloads the WA Government has now placed the responsibility of determining close contacts on Principals of schools, not WA Health. As such, when the school is notified of a positive case within our school community, the Leadership Team initiate a process where we conduct a thorough investigation of where the student/staff member has been and determine any close contacts (if any). Close contacts are deemed as:
- Face-to-face contact for 15 minutes or longer with an infectious person where a mask was not worn;
- Interaction for more than two hours in a classroom environment where masks have not been worn or have been removed.
Parents of close contacts are then advised via telephone/email/SMS. These investigations can take time, so we ask parents to await for offical communication from the school with regards to any positive cases in their year level. We endeavour to get this information to parents as quickly as possible. If there is a case in a particular year level, all parents of that year level will receive en email to let them know, along with any relevant details.
10 March Covid 'Close Contact' Update
All parents should have received an email from me at around 12:20pm today, detailing the WA Government's latest update with regards to students being close contacts. If you did not receive this email, please email admin@padcath.wa.edu.au to let Mrs Ellen know. The email references an Infographic which simplifies the new rules for student close contacts. This infographic has been included below:
Self-Reporting RAT & PCR Results - New Online Form
It is vitally important that parents and caregivers inform the school if their child tests positive for COVID-19.
To support our planning for your child’s classroom attendance, please continue to notify Padbury Catholic if your child returns a negative PCR/ RAT result, after:
- being identified as a close contact (Day 1 test to return to school as an asymptomatic close contact), and/or
- being identified as a household close contact (Day 6/7 test to conclude quarantine).
Up until now, parents have been emailing through their child's results to teachers, the front office, or the Leadership Team. To help streamline this process a COVID-19 Self-reporting Form for Students and Staff members has been developed by Catholic Education WA (CEWA). Parents and caregivers can now inform the school of their child’s positive or negative COVID result via this LINK. The information will go directly to the Principal, prompting our COVID response.
From this point onwards, we ask that parents complete this online form instead of emailing in the results. The link to the form is also available on the Covid Updates page of our school website https://www.padcath.wa.edu.au/covid-updates
COVID - Mask Wearing
As of Thursday last week, our Years 3-6 students are required to wear masks whilst at school, as per the directions by the WA Government. Our students in these year levels have done a sensational job of adapting to wearing their masks and they are to be congratulated on the responsible way they are wearing their masks in their classes. I thank these students, and their parents, for adapting so quickly to these new directions from the WA Government.
Ash Wednesday & Lent
Ash Wednesday Liturgies were held in individual classes/year levels last week due to Covid restrictions. Mrs La Galia recorded a beautiful version of 'Lord I Need You' (written by Mrs Woodall) with the Choir, which was played during each class Liturgy. Thank you to Mrs La Galia and the choir for organising this special contribution to our Ash Wednesday liturgies.
As mentioned in the previous Newsletter, our students throughout the school are contributing to a whole school paper mural. Children from each year level have created a butterfly as a symbol for change/conversion/new life and have written Lenten intentions on back of the butterflies. Each student has placed their butterfly in the Prayer Room and the mural is a beautiful sight to see! Thank you to Mrs Woodall for creating and coordinating this beautiful idea to bring our classes together during Lent.
Pupil Free Days - Staff Professional Development
On Tuesday of this week, staff took part in Professional Development focused on Faith, Story, Witness and Catholic School Curriculum. This day was led by Mrs Williamson and was conducted in an online format due to Covid restriction on staff gatherings. This was a wonderful day of learning more about the Mercy Charism that guides our school, and sharing our experiences and learnings as educators in a Catholic School.
A reminder that on Friday next week (Friday 18th March), we have our second Pupil Free Day for the year. On this day, our staff will be participating in professional learning in the area of Mathematics. Mathematics is one of our focus areas as part of our School Improvement Plan, and we are being led on this day by the Maths consultant from CEWA. This day will be the start of a number of professional development sessions spread out through 2022 focused on this key learning area.
Swimming Carnival
The 3-6 Swimming Carnival is being held on Thursday of next week. Due to Covid restrictions the carnival will look and run slightly differently from normal, however we are thrilled to still be able to hold this fun event as part of our sporting calendar. Mr Hignett will be emailing all 3-6 parents with information regarding the carnival, and all event lists and programs are currently uploaded on our school website - https://www.padcath.wa.edu.au/swimming-carnival-2022
I thank Mr Hignett for all his work in ensuring the carnival can go ahead according to current guidelines. It should be a fantastic day as always!
Parent-Teacher Interviews
You will have received email communication regarding Parent-Teacher interviews that are coming up for most classes K-6 in weeks 7, 8 & 9. These interviews are a great opportunity to speak with the teacher and see how your child has settled and is progressing in their new class in 2022. I encourage all parents to sign up for a meeting with each of their children's teachers during this three-week period. Please see further down in the Newsletter in the Assistant Principal section for more details, including instructions on how to participate in an online video call through Microsoft TEAMS (free).
Look after yourselves, stay safe and have a wonderful weekend!
Mr Ryan von Bergheim
Acting Principal
FROM THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
Project Compassion
Last week students in PP-6 will have brought home Project Compassion boxes. Students and families are encouraged to donate to Project Compassion over the period of Lent. The money raised goes to such worthy causes around the world through Caritas.
Sacraments
Sacramental Enrolment Masses took place over the weekend of the 26/27 February. If you were unable to make one of these Masses, please contact the parish as soon as possible.
Brigid Fredericks - Sacramental Co-ordinator (Tues & Thurs)
HARMONY DAY 21 MARCH
What is Harmony Week?
The message of Harmony Week is that everyone belongs. It is about inclusiveness, respect and belonging for all Australians, regardless of cultural or linguistic background, united by a set of core Australian values.
On Monday 21st March our school will be celebrating Harmony Day by either wearing ORANGE or wearing a cultural piece of clothing.
Throughout the week students will be placing coloured material throughout our playgrounds as a visual reminder for the need for peace and acceptance of all cultures.
Administration
Parent Interviews
An email was sent out last week on Friday with all of the information about booking parent interviews in Weeks 7, 8 & 9. Please visit https://www.schoolinterviews.com.au/code/5bww4 to book your interviews.
If choosing video calling as your preferred option, see below for Infographic on how to connect using Microsoft Teams for free.
PARENTING IN HARD TIMES: 10 things to keep in mind...
Kiss & Ride
A reminder for old families and information for new PCPS families about the car bays along O'Leary Road.
Mornings - Parents may park along these bays.
Afternoons - NO PARKING. These bays are for KISS & RIDE ONLY.
PCPS NEWS
2022 Student Residential Address & Other Information
Collection Notice for parents/guardians
The school is required to provide the Department of Education with the following information about each student at the school:
- Names and residential addresses of students's parent(s) and/or guardian(s)
- Student residential address (excluding student names)
- Whether the student is a primary or secondary student
- Whether the student is boarding or a day student
For full details of the report please follow the link below
SOCIAL WORKER
Covid Ready Plan
It is important to have a plan in case you or a family member get COVID-19. If this happens, you or a family member will need to isolate at home. Please consider the attached document when preparing your family for the possibility of Covid and home isolation.
https://www.padcath.wa.edu.au/_files/ugd/8592a2_fcfa3444b6b34891ab782b341d6a707a.pdf
This can be found on the Covid Updates page of our school website.
PARISH NEWS
Parish Update
Mass Times
All Masses are held in the Church
Saturday - 8:30am; 6:30pm
Sunday - 8:00am; 9:30am; 11:00am; 5:45pm
Monday to Friday - 7:00am; 9:00am
24:7 Youth Group
For all youth in Years 6 to 12
1st and 3rd Friday @ Parish Hall, 7pm
Call Luke 0401822932 for more information.
Rev Fr Cyprian M Shikokoti - PP
Our Lady of the Mission, Parish Website : www.olm.myparish.net.au
COMMUNITY NEWS
Padbury Catholic Online
Website: www.padcath.wa.edu.au
Phone: 94044000
Location: O'Leary Road, Padbury WA, Australia