Mar 2, 2022
I would like to thank all of you for your support and cooperation during this very challenging start to the school year. It can be very confusing trying to keep up with the constant changes to the restrictions which are in place to keep us safe and well. Again, I would like to emphasise that one of the most important things you can do to help us is by not sending your children to school if they are sick. If your children are unwell, they should not attend school and if anyone in your household displays symptoms of Covid, they should seek testing immediately, notify us and isolate until a negative result is received. As you know, we unfortunately experienced our first cases of Covid this week, and it was a pretty intense time for everyone involved. There is a fair bit of confusion out there as we are told by CEWA that the Health Department will only act once they get results from PCR tests. However, when a number of our parents fronted up for the PCR testing, they were told that RATs are sufficient. This may end up being the case down the track, but for now, we have to follow the rules of the day. I think it is also fair to say that we are likely to experience further cases in the coming weeks as the state government are forecasting that March will be the month with the highest number of infections. I ask all parents to continue to be patient and work with us. We will do our absolute best to keep the communication flowing. However, we will be under orders from the Health Department and it may feel as though nothing is happening. We have very tight protocols in place and we will have to follow them to the letter. It won’t be a case of trying to keep you in the dark. Rather, it will be the Health Department giving us very specific instructions to follow. This may include isolating a particular class or year level for a week as has happened with 2G, 3B, 4B and 5G.
Feb 16, 2022
It certainly has been an interesting start to the year! As you have already seen the Covid restrictions have caused numerous challenges and have impacted upon us here at Mary Mac. We have postponed just about all whole school activities for now and are waiting to hear from the state government about when it will be safe to hold them again. Please be aware that we are required to abide by these changes which are made by the state government who are doing their best to manage the spread of Omicron. One of the most important things you can do to help us is by not sending your children to school if they are sick. If your children are unwell, they should not attend school and if anyone in your household displays symptoms of Covid, they should seek testing immediately, notify us and isolate until a negative result is received. I understand the frustration you must feel, however, I want to reassure you that we are doing our very best to make life at school as normal as possible for the students. Also, please understand that in the event of a positive case here, we will then be taking directions from the Health Department who will determine what we can and can’t do. If there are any lags in information flowing, it is usually because they need time to inform close contacts and put procedures in place. Please be patient if this happens to us as there is nothing the school can do until we are given permission and directions from the Health Department. I really do appreciate how good our community has been and your willingness to work with us has made the situation more bearable.
Feb 3, 2022
Welcome back to a brand new school year, one that I’m sure is going to be very challenging. In April 2020, Pope Francis who in his Friday prayer read from a passage in the Gospel of Matthew which tells of how Jesus and his disciples were struck by a sudden storm while sailing on the Sea of Galilee. He said, “We have realised that we are all on the same boat, all of us fragile and disoriented, but at the same time important and needed, all of us called to row together, each of us in need of comforting each other.” As we enter a period of great uncertainty, it is important we strive to be people of hope who row together. I will do my best to keep you informed of all changes and challenges we will encounter this year. The intention is to make the learning experience feel as normal as possible for the students. I am sure that you will continue to support our beautiful community just as you have over the past two years whilst dealing with Covid. Last year, we focused on the virtue of Gratitude. This year, our focus will be Resilience, which I think is going to be very relevant. Last Thursday, the staff spent some time with a wellness coach looking at the virtues of Gratitude and Resilience. I will share more about this focus throughout the year.
Dec 8, 2021
I would like to say a huge well done and thank you to all our students, staff and parents for your wonderful participation at our concert night last week. The Spirit of Jesus is certainly alive in our community. It was a wonderful way to end the year. Today, your children found out who their teachers will be for next year. It is our practice to mix the classes each year so the students get a greater opportunity to expand their friendship circles and to also learn social skills from a wider base. The whole list of staffing for 2022 is attached to this final newsletter.
Nov 24, 2021
I would like to say a huge thank you to the members of our School Advisory Council and P&F for their commitment to our community this year. At the Annual Community Meeting, we heard about their amazing achievements in 2021, all of which were based around putting our students first. I take this opportunity to say a massive thank you to Albert Ferraloro, our outgoing Chairperson of the School Advisory Council. Albert’s youngest child, Marco, goes to Chisholm next year which means we say farewell to his family. Albert has been on the Board/School Advisory Council for at least eight years, the last five as Chairperson. He has worked tirelessly and has been a level head, offering suggestions along with sound advice to help us navigate through the very challenging times the last eight years have presented as we transitioned from a triple stream school to a double stream. I am pleased to say that with Albert’s help, along with all Board/School Advisory Council members, we have come through the process in very good shape. Our finances are in sound order and our enrolments are strong. The school is almost completely full next year with only a few vacancies available.
