St Monica's Primary North Parramatta Newsletter

Dear Parents and Carers,

Our transition back to face-to-face learning has been both smooth and exciting.  We have some great learning to do between now and the end of the year and we have been so impressed with everyone’s attitude to learning. 

Below is a snapshot of what our students think about being back at school and their new learning spaces.  They can say it better than I can! 

What do our students think about being back at school?

ES1

Kiaan - I like that I get to learn and I get to play with my friends.  I like that our new classroom has stairs.

Hunter - I get to see everyone. When we were on zoom, I only got to say ‘hi’ and ‘bye’ to my friends.

Ellie - Playing with friends.  I like working at school and I like the windows.

YEAR 1

Jonathan - Playing with my friends and playing on the playground.  I like sitting on the floor and I like the curved tables.

Dominic P - The best bit is that we got a new classroom.  I like that it’s brand new and we get cushions instead of spots.  I get more quiet time at school because I have a baby brother at home.

Christian - I like the new classroom because it’s a big area.  I like learning at school because we get to play outside.

Lottie - I like seeing Miss Frost in person and I like the standing up table.

Olivia - I like getting to do Maths and Religion because I like talking about God and I like counting by tens and twenties.  I like the new learning space because we get to bring our own pencil cases and we get to sit on cushions.

YEAR 2

Oceann - The best thing about being back at school is bringing our own pencil cases and learning new things.  It took a long time to be back at school.  On the first morning, I felt so happy and excited.

Olive - Getting to see all my friends and all my teachers and getting out of the house.

Archie - I really liked seeing all my friends. I like face-to-face because I get more distracted on zooms.

STAGE 2

Lydia - Meeting my friends and teachers.  I would definitely pick learning at school because when you’re learning at home you can’t see your friends as much.  The new learning space feels more comfortable and bright.

Juo - I can talk with my friends.

Olivia - We get more education when we’re at school because we’re more interactive with the teacher and we learn better than being online.

STAGE 3

Barry - When you’re back at school you can meet everyone again, have your own space in the classroom and feel like a learner.  The new classroom is just incredible.  It’s more organised and feels like a better classroom.  My favourite part is the breakout room.

Siria - The best part about being back is seeing my friends, the new space and the new furniture.  If you need a teacher, they’re right there.  I feel like it’s better for explaining.  I like all of the new furniture - grey is my favourite colour.

Helen - I like seeing my friends and seeing the new classroom.  And I like asking questions to the teachers and they can answer them straight away.  I like the breakout rooms the best.

Will - The best bit is seeing my friends and getting back to work and playing in the playground.  I like the new TVs and the new working areas and the sliding whiteboard.  I like the breakout room, it’s like you’re having a meeting.

Max - I like being able to see my friends and see the new classroom.  I like the new chairs, they’re really nice.  I like the booths a lot because they’re enclosed and they have nice seats.

Stay safe ?

Lisa Crampton
Principal

The SMNP Staff would like to thank the parents who sent in special food treats on our return to school.  It was much appreciated!

Thank you for your thoughtfulness and generosity. 

A reminder that supervision at St Monica's commences from 8:20am.  There is no supervision for students prior to this time.  Thank you for waiting until after 8:20am to drop off your children at school.

From 2:45pm, students in Years K-2 (as well as their siblings) can be picked up from Kiss 'n' Ride (vehicles) or the hall gate (walkers).

From 3:00pm, all other students may be picked up from Kiss 'n' Ride (vehicles) or the hall gate (walkers).

Thank you for wearing a mask at drop off and pick up!

SMNP Staff

In an effort to keep everyone safe, we are trying to limit the number of people who are attending the office.

A table has been placed outside the office door with Partial Absence Notes, hand sanitiser and pens for you to use. 

LATE ARRIVALS

If your child is arriving late we request that you follow the instructions below.

After checking in using the QR Code on the gate:   

• Please wear a mask. 
• Use the Hand Sanitiser provided. 
• Complete a Partial Absence Note for each child (please ensure you complete all sections of the form - including your child's name/stage, reason, your name/signature and date).
• Your child may hand the Partial Absence Note to the office staff. 
• Parents do not need to enter the office.  

EARLY PICK UP

If you need to collect your child early for any other reason (illness, appointment), please follow the instructions below.

After checking in using the QR Code on the gate, we request that you:  

• Please wear a mask. 
• Use the Hand Sanitiser provided. 
• Complete a Partial Absence Note for each child (please ensure you complete all sections of the form - including your child's name/stage, reason, your name/signature and date).   Please leave your note in the Early Dismissal Box on the table and the office staff will collect it.
• Parents are requested to please wait outside the office and your child will be sent out to you.

If parents need to enter the office for any other matter, we request that only one family enters at a time.   Please ensure you are wearing a mask.

Thank you for your assistance and for keeping the staff and students of St Monica's safe. 

SMNP Staff

Dear Parents and Carers,

As previously mentioned, CEDP is working hard to support the families in our communities who are struggling financially as a result of COVID -19.

As always we encourage parents who are experiencing hardship to seek support.

You are welcome to contact School Fees via email at mnic-parfees@parra.catholic.edu.au

As mentioned in the last newsletter School Billings have processed reversals for our cancelled Stage 3 overnight camp. 

They have now also reversed any anticipated excursions planned for Term 3 & 4 that cannot go ahead for Years K-6. These should be reflected in your next statement.  

The payment of $10 received from participating students of Stage 2 towards the Diocesan Soccer has been applied to the fees account as well.

If your account is in credit due to the reversal, the credit will be applied against your 2022 School Fees. 

Lata Rebello
Senior Finance Officer

Staff

As per advice from the NSW Government and Catholic Schools NSW, all staff must wear a face mask or covering at all times when indoors.  

Students

• Masks are strongly recommended for primary students when indoors and outdoors (unless eating or exercising). 
• We are not able to enforce this, but we strongly recommend that all students wear masks. 
• Masks are not provided by the school.

Parents  

• If parents enter the school foyer, they must wear a mask. 
• Parents are also asked to wear a mask during Kiss ‘n’ Ride and at the gate when dropping off and picking up children.

Congratulations to the following students who received awards at our recent assembly. 

Parents are requested to please supply your child with a plastic fork or spoon should they require one to eat their recess or lunch. 

Thank you.

Due to Covid-19 restrictions and the inability to mix cohorts, students are currently unable to borrow books from the library.  

We will keep you updated and hope that borrowing from the library will be back up and running again soon.  

Mrs Rita Davino

Library Assistant

As students return to school for Term 4, we would like to remind parents of the guidelines regarding school uniform and haircuts as set out in our Parent Handbook.  

Students are to return to school in their SUMMER UNIFORM.  Please see the requirements listed below. 

Hairstyles    -   Hair is to be clean and neatly cut.

Girls

• Shoulder length or longer hair must be tied back.
• Ribbons or scrunchies in school colours only must be worn.
• Hair colouring is not permitted.  This includes streaks, colour, dyes or excessive gel. 
• Decorative headbands are not permitted.

Boys

• Neat and simple haircuts.
• No undercuts, shaved heads, number ones, mullets, rat’s tails or ponytails.
• Hair colouring is not permitted.  This includes streaks, colour, dyes or excessive gel. 

To our valued Customers,

 Hope you and your families are safe and well in these uncertain times. We thank you for your ongoing support and appreciate your patience in these difficult times.

 As Per Public Health Orders

 From Monday 11th October our store will reopen to the fully vaccinated from 9am-5:30pm weekdays and 9am-4pm on Saturdays. 

When you visit our store we ask for only one parent or guardian to be present during their child’s uniform fitting and that you observe the NSW Public Health Orders:

• check-in with the QR code; 
• be fully vaccinated & show staff your Covid-19 digital certificate;
• wear a face mask;
• hand sanitise as you enter.

If you have any symptoms we ask that you not attend our store, stay home and go and get tested.  

You can still do business with us online, by phone and email. Purchases are also encouraged to be made prior to the new year to avoid lengthy queues in January.

Best regards

OZ Fashions Team

We wish to advise that there are vacancies available in some grades. 

Enrolment applications may be downloaded from our school website

You may contact the school office on 8832 4100  or by email stmonicasnparra@parra.catholic.edu.au for more information.

PLEASE READ

Dear Parents and Carers,

Please see NSW Health and CEDP guidelines below for students returning to school after an illness (NB: these guidelines have not changed):

• Students must not attend school if they are unwell.  This includes even minor flu symptoms.
• Students must return a negative COVID-19 test result and be symptom free before returning to school.
• Schools must sight the negative COVID-19 test result prior to allowing students to return to school.

If you are unwilling to allow your child to undertake a COVID-19 test or provide the school with a negative COVID-19 test result, the student is to be excluded from school for a 10-day period.  Additionally, the student must by symptom free for at least 3 days before returning to school.

SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19 (as per the Government Health Guidelines)

Symptoms of COVID-19 can range from mild illness to pneumonia. Some people will recover easily, and others may get very sick very quickly.
People with coronavirus may experience symptoms such as:

• fever
• respiratory symptoms
  • coughing
  • sore throat
  • shortness of breath.

Other symptoms can include:
runny nose, acute blocked nose (congestion), headache, muscle or joint pains, nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting, loss of sense of smell, altered sense of taste, loss of appetite and fatigue.

To stop the spread of COVID-19 people with even mild symptoms of respiratory infection should get tested. 

Thank you for your cooperation in ensuring the safety of all students and staff at St Monica's.

To keep informed of upcoming events, parents may subscribe to the School Google calendar.  The Google calendar will be the primary source of information about school dates in the future.

Go to our School Website and scroll to the bottom of the calendar.

Click  “subscribe" near Parent Calendar.

Thank you to those parents who have downloaded the Qkr! app.  

To ensure payments are processed correctly, we request that you please update your child's profile.  A profile needs to be created for each child. 

Please check that you have correctly entered your CHILD'S NAME and CLASS.  If you are unsure what class your child is in, please contact the office.

There are a number of payment options available on the app.

• Enrolment Deposit - only to be used for NEW students to the school.
• Library Book Replacement Cost - only for parents who receive a letter from Mrs Davino requesting payment for library books.

Please do not use these two payment options unless you have been requested to. 

Instructions to download the Qkr! app can be found here.

Thank you.

Skoolbag is the school’s primary avenue for immediate communication with parents.

Skoolbag is a communication app which all parents are strongly advised to install on their smartphones, ipads etc. 

Please ensure you have this app downloaded so that you do not miss any important messages.   

Remember to subscribe to your child's class group! 

Once you open the St Monica's Skoolbag app - Select Groups - then add your child's class.      You may add/remove class groups as required.