Notre Dame Catholic Primary School
Foundations for Life Long Learning 26 March
Dear Parents and Staff
I have spent the last few hours and most of last night procrastinating about what to write in today’s newsletter and I am still not sure how to approach things at such a difficult time. But I do need to write to you all so here it is.
Firstly, I am deeply saddened by the recent events that have meant that many of our families will find themselves in financial difficulties due to loss of work. Please be assured, as in the letter sent jointly by the Executive Director of Catholic Education and me, that no child will be denied a Catholic Education due to an inability to pay school fees. Please contact our Bursar, David Shumack (6272 7100), to discuss options regarding fees. David will refer all enquiries to me, and we will find a way to support all families in these difficult times.
Secondly, I would like to commend our staff for the magnificent work they have been doing to ensure continuity of teaching programmes to children both at school and at home. The quality of the work that they have produced is excellent and, with consistent help from the parents, will ensure that the children are provided with every opportunity to continue to cover all of the work from their year level.
We often hear the words unprecedented and uncertain in reference to the Coronavirus pandemic which can be pretty scary for any of us. We need to be very careful about the way we speak about the current situation with, and in front of, our children as it is important that we do not raise their anxiety level any more than it will naturally be.
There are two ways to look at the lockdown that, I feel, is inevitable in the near future. We can come from a negative perspective of how unfair it is that we are being denied the freedom and liberties that we have become accustomed to or, alternatively, we can embrace the opportunity to spend time as a family, finding creative ways, such as board games, jigsaw puzzles, mega Lego projects or planting vegetables to remain entertained.
Many parents have chosen to keep their children away from school over the past week, a decision that we respect, just as we respect other parents’ decision to keep their children at school. Our goal has been to keep things as normal as possible (in a very abnormal environment) for all of the children so as to prevent unnecessarily raising their anxiety levels. I recommend that parents who have their children at home try, as much as possible, to establish a routine that is similar to that which the children experience at school. Still have a recess (snack and play) break, enjoy “crunch and sip”, have a scheduled lunch break and have an expectation of work time. I understand that children will find it difficult to remain focused for extended periods of time, but I feel even a shortened work day with routine to follow will keep them switched on and engaged whilst also supporting their mental health.
Whist the journey so far has been difficult, there is still a lot ahead of us. Please remember that we are a very close-knit community and there are many who we can rely upon for support, whether that is in the form of a friendly ear to listen, a virtual play date or a meal left on the doorstop. We have so much to be thankful for and I am so proud to belong to such a caring supportive community. Whilst we are still in the thick of things it is difficult to see into the future. This situation WILL pass and hopefully we will all be better for the experience.
PARISH NEWS
SUNDAY MASS LIVESTREAMING INFORMATION
A livestreamed Mass for Sundays will be celebrated by Archbishop Costelloe SDB at 11.00am.
The links are as follows and will be accessible from approx 11.00am:
Archdiocese Website – www.perthcatholic.org.au
Archdiocese Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/perthcatholic/
The Record YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMFFqA8iYLlIVIb72LXMYFQ/live
Many thanks and God bless.
Fr Michael Quynh - Parish Priest
Notre Dame Catholic Church
345 Wright Street, CLOVERDALE WA 6105
Tel: (08) 9277 4094
NOTRE DAME PRIMARY SCHOOL FACEBOOK
EVENTS CANCELLED
MONDAY 30 MARCH
Interschool Swimming Yrs 4-6 - CANCELLED
WEDNESDAY 1 APRIL
Year 2 Liturgy - CANCELLED
WEDNESDAY 8 APRIL
School Mass - CANCELLED
THURSDAY 9 APRIL
Junior Swim Day - CANCELLED
Merit Assembly - CANCELLED
YR 2 CLASS NEWS
What a fun and busy term we have been having in Year Two!
Religion
In Religion we have been learning about the Season of Lent. To begin Lent we cooked pancakes to celebrate Shrove Tuesday. We then discussed how we can do more for others during the Season of Lent and how we can show love to those around, just as Jesus did. We then wrote Lenten promises that are displayed in our classrooms. We have begun learning about Holy Week and retelling the events in the lead up to Jesus’ death and resurrection.
Makerspace
We have been having so much fun taking part in Makerspace, where we get to learn through hands on experiences. We have been programming using clever little robots called Ozobots. We have been working collaboratively with our peers while we create and explore using gears and Strawbees. We are also really enjoying using green screen on our iPads.
Mathematics:
We have been learning about numbers up to 1000 and counting forwards and backwards from any number in multiples of ten. We have also been exploring turn around facts for addition and subtraction.
Miss Sharna McKinlay and Mrs Tiffany Donovan-Flintoff
LIBRARY NEWS
Notre Dame School Library is supporting ‘We’re going on a bear hunt…’
Children all over Australia have caught onto the bear project – children are placing a very much loved Teddy Bear on their front window for others to see. This movement is inspired by children all over the world who have to stay home. While driving around children can go on a bear hunt by looking for the bears in windows and feel excited about finding them. Let’s put our bears out!
Little Possum Stays Home : A story for topsy turvy times, by Katie Krosby
This book can support children’s understanding of our current times.
VOLUNTEERS ALWAYS WELCOME TO ASSIST IN THE CANTEEN.
UNIFORM SHOP
The Uniform Shop will be open on Monday 30 March and Thursday 2 April
Opening times : 1.30pm-3.30pm
Danielle Lawrie
Uniform Shop Coordinator
SCHOOL BANKING
Notice from CommBank School Banking
The health, safety and wellbeing of our communities and our people is our first priority. Due to the rapidly developing situation with coronavirus, School Banking has been temporarily paused from 20 March 2020 until the start of Term 2. Please don’t bring your deposit book with your weekly banking into school and we will notify you when banking will recommence.
P & F NEWS
ENTERTAINMENT MEMBERSHIP
CRUNCH & SIP
Packed with Goodness workshop CANCELLED:
Due to the growing concern surrounding the spread of COVID-19, the latest advice from the Department of Education is to cancel all non-essential meetings and gatherings within schools. For this reason the Packed with Goodness team will be cancelling all sessions scheduled for the remainder of Term 1 and all of Term 2 2020. The P&F will look to rescheduling this later in the year. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.
Picture Products are back for 2020!!!
The P&F will be officially launching this in term 2, but wanted to give students the chance to complete their art work over the school holidays. Please see below for more information. Templates will be available in the front office for the next 2 weeks, or can be downloaded: https://www.pictureproducts.com.au/drawing/
What is it:
Would you like to turn your child’s treasured memories into durable, high-quality melamine Pictureplates that will last a lifetime? Children love eating off their very own Pictureplates, and as the years go by and they grow up and have their own families, their Pictureplates will bring back memories of those happy childhood years.
There are also other products available to order including a melamine Pictureclock or MDF Small Clock, plastic and ceramic mugs, water bottles and calendars.
Your child can use photos, markers, hand and footprints and paints to create their artworks, and you can order as many copies of your products as you’d like, so it’s a fantastic gift idea for grandparents and family members, just in time for Christmas.
How does it work:
Children complete their drawings on the templates provided and return them to the school office with their order form and money. The orders will be collated and sent to the manufacturer and will arrive back at the school approximately 8 weeks later, just in time for Father’s Day. Just choose which products you’d like to order, and how many of each product you would like.
Templates for the picture plates, picture clocks, picture mugs, calendars and water bottles only are available from the school’s Administration office and can also be downloaded from https://www.pictureproducts.com.au/drawing/. Instructions are printed on the templates.
Templates are also available online for addition products including iPhone and Samsung phone cases, mouse pads and tablemats.
Cost:
Pictureplate $25 Pictureclock $30 Ceramic Mug $20
Plastic Mug $20 Water bottle 400ml $20 Calendar $15
Small Clock $25 Water bottle 600ml $25 Mousepad $20
Phone covers $20 Tablemat $20
For more information:
https://www.pictureproducts.com.au/
Contact P&F member Nicole Beresford on bent_mb20@hotmail.com.
PARENT TV
Here’s some of our top picks from the ParentTV library on helping kids (and adults!) with anxiety and stress in times of disruption:
Many parents are wondering how to approach their kids about the epidemic in a way that will be reassuring and not make them more worried than they already are!
The uncertainty that we are grappling with is challenging enough for us as adults...but it’s also hard on our kids.
Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families shares with us: https://bit.ly/395NeHZ
If you're experiencing high stress and anxiety given the levels of uncertainty and worry regarding COVID-19 you're not alone.
Here’s a 3 step process that you can put in place now to help you to move from anxiety to effective action from Dr Jodie Lowinger from Sydney Anxiety Clinic.
Looking for help for adults trying to look after themselves and their kids during this time? Check out what's on ParentTV here: www.parenttv.com/topics
COMMUNITY NEWS
CLOVERDALE SCHOOL DENTAL CLINIC INFORMATION
Cloverdale Dental Clinic is open from 8am – 4pm Monday to Friday.
We are a free service and cater for school age children/teens from Kindy & Pre-Primary from the year they turn 5 to the end of year 11 or their 17th Birthday, whichever occurs first.
We are a Bachelor of Oral Health Final year placement clinic during university semesters. An experienced tutor oversees all check-ups and procedures.
It is not compulsory to enrol with the School Dental Service, if your children are having regular dental check-ups and treatment with their private family dentist, consider withdrawing from the school service. This will enable us to service those who are unable to access private dentistry. If circumstances change, you are welcome to re-enrol at any time.
If your address has changed/changes, please call us, as we send appointments to your home address, we also require current mobile phone numbers to send out text message reminders.
If your child has a toothache, please phone us on 9479 7222 between 8am-4pm, if you have an emergency outside of work hours, please contact your family dentist or the Emergency Service on 1800 098 818.
Regards,
Cloverdale Dental Therapy Centre Staff
180 Fisher St (Clinic access through Gate 5 off Hendra St)
Cloverdale 6105
Ph: 9479 7222
COMMUNITY NEWS
MERCEDES COLLEGE
ARANMORE CATHOLIC COLLEGE
Aranmore Catholic College
2021 SCHOLARSHIPS
For over a century, Aranmore Catholic College has offered a first-class education in a safe, supportive environment. From our Year 7 Passport to Success program, to our highly respected Specialist Music and Sporting programs, Aranmore staff are committed to helping students achieve personal success, whatever their interests or talents.
ARANMORE CATHOLIC COLLEGE OPEN DAY - POSTPONED
Due to recent health updates and advice regarding COVID-19, Aranmore Catholic College has decided to postpone our Open Day, which was scheduled to be held on Tuesday 7 April, until later in the year. We are however, continuing to process enrolments for 2022 and 2023 and warmly invite applications. There are also currently limited places available for Year 7 in 2021.
If you would like a personal tour of the College, be informed of the next Open Day or receive a College Enrolment Pack, please contactAnnette.Preshaw@cewa.edu.au.
As a precautionary measure to manage the possible spread of the Coronavirus, Aranmore Catholic College production of The Addams Family will be postponed to 9 – 12 September. Shows were previously scheduled to run from 6 – 9 May. As such, the special primary school matinee will now be hosted on Wed 9 September (from 11am – 2pm in the Aranmore Centre for Arts & Sports Science).