Dear Parents and Caregivers,

This is the final newsletter of what has proven to be a very challenging and disrupted term. However, I think as a community, we have come through in good shape. Whilst most big events were cancelled or postponed, we have remained open and the staff has done a mighty job in providing the best education possible for your children under these circumstances. I ask you to please show your gratitude to any staff members you interact with as it certainly has not been an easy term. At its peak, we had to isolate seven classrooms and had as few as one hundred students turn up to school, with the rest doing some sort of remote learning for a week. All up, we have had over 70 positive cases of Covid amongst our students with many more family members infected and being required to isolate. I am really hoping that the worst is now behind us and that when we return next term, things will be mostly back to normal. I too would also like to extend my personal thanks to the whole staff as we had to deal with many rule changes, most of which were thrust upon us with very little notice. All of these changes were accepted gracefully and every endeavour was made to comply in the interests of keeping everyone safe and healthy. Let’s hope we don’t have to go through that again!

Resilience Reflection We all have the inner resources for resiliency. Sometimes we simply need to re-acquaint ourselves with the resources we have. At other times, it’s necessary to deliberately cultivate resiliency resources.

First Reconciliation I would like to thank Mrs Chloe Phiri and Miss Kali Koncurat for their wonderful efforts in preparing our Year 3 students so beautifully to make their First Reconciliation with either Fr John or Fr Mark on Saturday 19 March. I know both priests were delighted with what they heard and saw.

Edu Dance I know how hugely popular the Edu Dance programme has become here and I understand your disappointment at us not being able to attend a full concert in the hall due to the current Covid restrictions. However, we will be providing the parents of the students in the Pre Primary to Year 6 Blue classes with the next best thing. The ‘concert’ will be filmed throughout the day and will then be made available to those parents via the Seesaw app. I realise that it is not as good as the real thing, however, you will at least get a good idea of the work the students have been doing throughout the term in this wonderful programme. Thank you for your understanding.

Staffing Updates Please join me in wishing Mrs Kystie Clark every blessing and success as she embarks upon a new position at St Helena’s in Ellenbrook. Krystie last worked with us in Year 1 in 2020. Krystie has been a part of our community for many years and she will be greatly missed. Also, we wish Mrs Aleshia Procopis all the very best as she takes up a new position at Padbury Catholic Primary School from the start of next term. Aleshia has also been a part of our community for many years and this is an exciting opportunity for her. Aleshia has secured a two year contract at Padbury. I am very pleased to announce that Mrs Barb Stojkovski will be working in Year 1 every Monday to Wednesday until the end of the year (Barb currently works in that class on Fridays) and we have been very fortunate to engage the services of Mrs Marina Thompson to work on Thursdays and Fridays. Marina is a very experienced teacher who is currently working on Mondays to Wednesdays at St Michael’s in Bassendean so it fits in perfectly with us. I’m sure you will make Marina feel very welcome in our beautiful community.

Term 2 Dates Please note that the students will start Term 2 on Thursday 28 April. I realise this is a very short week due to the ANZAC Day holiday and two staff development days which focus on the Making Jesus Real programme and investigating best practice strategies in Reading. I think after the term we have just had, we all deserve an extra long holiday. I take this opportunity to wish you a safe and healthy holiday and please remember to support Fr John and Fr Mark by coming to Mass this Easter. It is the most significant date on the Christian calendar as we focus on the resurrection of Jesus which will also become our own resurrection one day.

World Autism Day To finish the term in a fun way, and to acknowledge World Autism Day, we will have a free dress day next Friday 8 April where all students are encouraged to wear the bright colours of the spectrum. There is no need to bring any money. It is an awareness raising day, not a fundraising day. More details are included in this newsletter.