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Monday 11th May - Prep & Year 1 students return to School
Dear Parents and Carers
The Premier has announced that from Monday 11th May 2020 , students in Kindy, Prep, Year 1, Year 11 and Year 12 will be able to return to their school and community kindergarten.
Children of essential workers and vulnerable children will continue to be able to attend school for supervision. If you have other circumstances that mean you would like your child to attend school, please contact us to discuss this. The definition of an essential worker remains unchanged from the beginning of the term.
Essential worker means any worker who must continue to attend their workplace for essential business during this time. We have also extended this definition to include parents who are considered essential workers and are working fulltime from home or shift workers who may need to sleep during the day.
For students in Years 2 – 10, the current home-based learning arrangements will remain in place. If low COVID-19 transmission rates continue, students in Years 2 – 10 will be able to return to school from Monday 25 th May 2020 . Confirmation of this step will be made by Friday 15 th May 2020. It is recognised that some parents may choose to keep your child at home due to concerns about COVID-19 and this is respected.
Return to School Arrangements
We are attending to a range of strategies that will assist how schools will be implementing the transition back to school-based learning. This includes hygiene practices such as effective hand hygiene, cough and sneeze etiquette, restricting visitors to the school and reminding you to notify our school if your child will not attend. We seek your support in assisting with these measures by discussing them with students prior to them returning to school.
I ask parents and carers to pay particular attention to the requirement for adults to maintain physical distancing of 1.5m at all times if you need to be on school grounds. Parents and carers should not gather in areas around the school such as carparks, at the school gate and outside classrooms during this time.
Please make use of our stop, drop and go area wherever possible. Staff will be stationed in our drop off area before school over the next two weeks to allow parents and carers of young children the option to use the stop, drop and go facility.
It is essential that you keep your child home from school if they are unwell. In accordance with Queensland Health Directions parents or carers of any child showing signs of illness will be asked to collect them immediately from the school.
At St Joseph’s, if your child is in Years 2 – 6, their teacher will continue to deliver prepared lessons and materials via joeysathome.com.au , as they have over the last two weeks.
As previously stated this arrangement will be reviewed by the State Government on 15 th May 2020.
Prep and Year 1 Students Returning to School
Schools have been declared open and safe for the return of Prep and Year 1 students. These classes will return to normal face to face teaching environments.
Prep and Year 1 Students Remaining at Home
Again, it is recognised that some parents of Prep, Year 1, Year 11 and Year 12 students may still wish to keep their children home from school due to concerns about COVID-19. This is an acceptable decision and your child won’t be marked as being absent, rather that they are learning from home and accessing publicly available online resources.
The Queensland Government has now indicated that schools are open for Prep and Year 1students and that face to face teaching will recommence for these year levels on Monday 11th May. As such, online learning for Prep and Year 1 will cease as of Friday 8 th May.
It is important for parents and carers in Prep and Year 1 to advise the school of student absences as you would normally do, and discuss any support you may need. In these cases, parents and carers
remain responsible for their children. This includes ensuring their children stay at home and continue to access publicly available online resources.
Further Developments
The decision to return Prep, Year 1, Year 11 and Year 12 back to school is an important next step towards returning to our regular school routines and I will continue to update you as soon as any new information becomes available.
Our staff have greatly appreciated all the positive feedback that has been provided to them over the last few weeks.
My sincere thanks to all parents and carers for your support and understanding
during these challenging times.
Term 2 (Years 2-6) Online Learning
A reminder that Week 4 Joeys at Home site will be updated on Sunday evening, May 10th.
Kind regards
Tim
Happy Mother's Day
Just a brief message to wish all our mothers and mother figures, a very Happy Mother's Day this Sunday. I know the opportunities to celebrate the day may be more limited this year, but the love, thanks and gratitude felt for all you do as mothers will remain undiminished. I hope Sunday brings you the opportunity to relax and enjoy time with (a small group of) family and loved ones.
Mother’s Day
This year Mother’s Day may look a little different to what you are used to, but what is really important is being with family and showering our Mum’s with love. Some of the students who have been learning at home have helped put together a Prayer in place of our normal Mother’s Day Liturgy. Keep an eye out on our joeys@home site for the video. I hope that all of our mums and those who are like mums have a wonderful day on Sunday.
My Mother Kept a Garden
My Mother kept a garden,
A garden of the heart.
She planted all the good things
That gave my life its start.
She turned me to the sunshine
And encouraged me to dream.
Fostering and nurturing
The seeds of self-esteem.
And when the winds and rain came,
She protected me enough.
But not too much because she knew
I’d need to stand up strong and tough.
Her constant good example
Always taught me right from wrong.
Markers for my pathway
That will last a lifetime long.
I am my Mother’s garden.
I am her legacy.
And I hope today she feels the love
Reflected back from me.
Have a wonderful week.
Take care and God Bless
Amanda
Townsville 2 Cairns Challenge
Our annual 'Townsville 2 Cairns Challenge' will continue to operate daily, whether students are learning from home or at school. Students are able to record their distance (in km's) using the form on the student intranet, under Student Notices (see image below). Students are asked if running/walking at home, to be safe and advise parents of their activity. Distances at home can be estimated. For students at school, their laps will be calculated and recorded each day in class.
Great news, we have now arrived back in Cardwell and heading to Townsville. Everyone is doing a fantastic job.
