St Canice's Primary School Newsletter

Dear Parents, Carers and Members of the St Canice’s Community,

I hope that you and your family are managing the ongoing challenges of the current lockdown. I am certain that the news delivered byu Gladys Berejiklian on Friday, 27 Aug related to return to school was not what you were hoping for. We were disappointed to hear that students will not return until Week 4 of Term 3- Monday, 25th October. 

We have been advised that all of Stage 1 can return with Kindergarten on October 25th and that the return of the remaining students will be staggered. Our low numbers may enable us to return our students to school sooner than larger schools. Any decisions we make will be in keeping with NSW Health advice and with the advice of our system, CEDP, which takes its lead from the Department of Education. Please be assured that we will keep you informed of the changing landscape. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about the return to school.

I include a prayer below that struck a chord with me.

Dear God, 

When I have food, help me to remember the hungry; 

When I have work, help me to remember the jobless; 

When I have a home, help me to remember those who have no home at all; 

When I am without pain, help me to remember those who suffer, 

And remembering, help me to destroy my complacency; bestir my compassion, and be concerned enough to help, 

By word and deed, 

Those who cry out for what we take for granted. 

Amen

Miriam Meaney,

Principal

Mrs Meaney reccommends checking out this first class webinar about supporting children during lockdown.

You can register for the event at the link below. Be quick!

https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing?eid=804758&

All students will participate in an online presentation on Friday this week, “Just Like You”. This presentation is all about building understanding, acceptance and inclusion of those with disabilities. Many thanks to Mrs Friend for providing this opportunity to our children and families. The link to the presentation will be provided to the children in advance.

Next week, we mark RUOK Day, which is on Thursday, 9 September. Marking this day is particularly relevant this year. We ease our own worries and anxieties by reaching out to others to make sure that they are ok. Many thanks to Mrs Karatovic who is coordinating activities school-wide. We look forward to an RUOK assembly later next week and will send out details in advance.

I wish to thank all of those parents who have worked with me recently in discussing future enrolments to St Canice’s. Numbers in our K-2 classes are small. We need to encourage enrolments by spreading the word about our great school. Thank you in particular to Mel, Tori and Sarah for their insights into attracting parents of toddlers and very young children to St Canice’s. Thanks also to Brenda, Maya, Natalie and Rochelle for your support as part of the Enrolments Working Party. To all parents and community members: please keep up the great work that you all do in recommending St Canice’s to other families seeking the best education for their children.

Many thanks to all of the staff at St Canice’s for their enormous effort in keeping us up and running since lockdown began. Our office staff have been on site from 9-11am each day and working from home for the remainder of the day. A reminder to all that phone calls need to happen between 9 and 11. Our teaching staff have been working both virtually and face to face. You would all know how hard the work is. All of your children have been working with learning packs, in Google Classroom and via Zoom. A reminder, Parents and Carers, that we have a very limited staff on site and can only accommodate the children who must be at St Canice’s because of family work commitments or because they cannot learn at home. 

St Canice's would like to thank Ms Marisa for her outstanding enthusiasm and skills in organising this years Book Week celebrations.

Book Week was a great success. Many thanks to both Ms Marisa and to Mr White for putting together a fantastic schedule that ensured the children got excited about books, about engaging with the many activities and about having a whole lot of fun! The online parade got everybody interested. Perform Education's online performance was a great hit. Congratulations, Parents, for your role in supporting and exciting your children. You helped them to find reasons to celebrate and to experience the joy of books.

Sportaus is not only a wonderful resource for teachers and coaches, it is also a valuable resource for parents that has many activities to help keep children and families entertained. You may like to print the resource cards to play continuous cricket or try something different like Yulunga Traditional Indigenous Games where you can learn and experience aspects of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

https://www.sportaus.gov.au/yulunga 

PE with Joe are 20 minute  child friendly workouts via youtube.

The workouts are fun and suitable for all ages and even adults can get involved. You don't need any equipment at all. Joe's YouTube channel link is below for all of the PE with Joe workouts. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvrtftiOOVw

NSW Sport - School camp at home

Check out some great activities for kids and families from NSW Sport. They have videos and activity sheets to help you keep your kids entertained during COVID-19 lockdowns.

https://www.sport.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-04/school_camps_at_home_23042020_final.pdf

Remember to have a break and go outside a couple of times a day. If you can go for a walk around your neighbourhood or a bush walk with the family (see last week's fb post for suitable and local bushwalks).

Stay safe and take care of yourself, 

Kylie Ranson 

Thank you so much for your support as we work together to keep all members of our community safe and healthy. With new COVID-19 restrictions announced by NSW Health, we must remind all families that the expectation is that children engage in remote learning from home.

Supervision will be provided at school only for children of essential workers, vulnerable students, or those who are not at home and have no other options for supervision of their children due to work responsibilities. This learning for these students will be delivered in the same form as for students who are learning at home.

 Thanks again for your cooperation and understanding as we continue to work together to respond to COVID-19.

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the circumstances of many families in a sudden and unprecedented way. We understand that the impact will be felt differently by different families. 

As always, it’s important to reinforce that no child will be refused enrolment at our school due to a family's inability or difficulty to pay school fees’.

if you need to have a discussion please call the office on 4780 6800 between 9am - 11am or email jmacpherson@parra.catholic.edu.au

 In our effort to reduce the number of staff on site, the school administration office will only be open between 9am and 11am until further notice.

If you need to contact your child’s teacher please do so by their direct email. A list of staff, their email addresses and rostered working days were sent to all families via the Compass Parent Portal yesterday. Please keep in mind there may be a small delay in response times.

If you have any other queries please email the school email at stcanices@parra.catholic.edu.au this will be monitored during our normal office hours of 8:30am to 3:30pm.

Phone contact will only be available between 9am to 11am weekdays. We appreciate your understanding at this difficult time. 

We look forward to welcoming parent / carer volunteers into St Canice's in the future.  If you are interested in volunteering your time either in the classroom or at any of the exciting upcoming events, please ensure your Building Child Safe Communities training is up to date.

This module must be completed every two years and is mandatory for anyone wanting to volunteer regardless if you hold a WWCC number or not.

Please follow the link to complete your training

https://www.parra.catholic.edu.au/About-Us/Building-Child-Safe-Communities

Parents of school-age children are reminded to register for their Active Kids and Creative Kids vouchers. The NSW Government’s Active Kids program provides  vouchers for parents, guardians and carers of school-enrolled children to use towards sport and active recreation costs each year and also vouchers that can be redeemed for creative activities  such as drama & visual arts. Creative Kids vouchers are also available to be redeemed for creative activities and craft supplies.

To find out more information on how to apply please visit https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/apply-creative-kids-voucher

Your creative kids voucher can be used to purchase items via approved websites, check out the links below.

Creative Kids Wonderland
Artzee Kids

BrickTastics

As per Catholic Education Office Parramatta school fee policy, a term's notice (10 school weeks) in writing must be given to the Principal before the removal of a student or a full term's fees will be payable.

One exception is that notice in writing will be accepted at any time during term 4 in relation to the following year's enrolment, that is, the notice period of 10 school weeks will be waved in this circumstance.

Special circumstances that may warrant 6 weeks notice include moving out of area due to employment transfer or sale of house.

Thank you to all the generous families and staff in our community who have contributed to the WInter Appeal for St Vincent de Paul.

We have raised an amazing $652.75 .

This money will go to the Katoomba conference to help those struggling during these difficult times.

All donations can be made on our Mini Vinnies fundraising page.

Mini Vinnies - St Canice's

We are now taking enrolments for Kindergarten 2022, if you know of people looking for a school for their child (even if it is for the other grades), please let them know about St Canice’s. The power of your words of recommendation has an enormous effect on our enrolments. Let’s keep working together to make St Canice’s that great school that has been in operation for the past 120 years.

St Mary of the Cross MacKillop Parish

Parish Priest Fr John McSweeney

 Presbytery Contact  Ph: 02 4782 2804

                                     Fax: 02 4782 6090

Website: marymackillopupperbluemountains.org.au

Mass

Monday 8.30am Friday 12.00pm Saturday 9.00am Sunday 10.00am

Confession

Saturday 9.30am Confession outside this time is available on request

Rosary

Saturday Cenacle Rosary and Consecration following benediction after 9am Mass

Stations of the Cross

1st Friday of month, 12.30pm

Exposition of Blessed Sacrament

Fridays (Except 1st Friday) 12.30pm

Benediction

Benediction Saturdays following 9am Mass

Weekly Divine Mercy Hour

Sundays 12.00pm to 1.00pm

Vespers

4th Monday of month - 6pm