Mary Immaculate Primary Newsletter

Term 1 Week 2: Monday 31st January 2022

Principal's Message

Welcome to the 2022 school year!

I hope that over the break you were all able to reconnect with loved ones and friends in ways you were not during 2021. We go into 2022 with still restrictions on what we are permitted to do at school which will continue to make school life different for our community and young people. However, we of course continue to make the most of all available opportunities in a covid safe manner. 

Our main educational goal for 2022 will be to return to support student learning and wellbeing in ways that we could not for much of this past pandemic period. Learning is so significantly relational that long periods of physical disconnection hamper many aspects of learning. Globally, it is being reported that students returned to school, after lockdown, having lost many skills that they previously had. This means not only educational skills but also relational and Assessment Capable learning skills that we had been developing in our students so well before the pandemic. We are aiming to make sure that our students are again extended in those skills. These skills go a long way to supporting the students’ wellbeing as effective learners and as people.

We are very much  looking forward to what can be achieved with our young people in 2022. Together, we will again make the most of all opportunities to support our MIPS community. 

With appreciation for your ongoing support, 

Stephen Dowd

Principal



Rapid Antigen Testing

Rapid Antigen Testing

The school will distribute packs of rapid antigen test (RAT) kits for all students and staff before the return of class groups for Term 1. Families will be supplied with enough RATs for two tests for each child for each week for the first two weeks of the term. It is recommended that tests should be completed at home in the morning on Mondays and Wednesdays before attending school that week.

It is recommended that students and staff who return to school after recovering from COVID-19 do not participate in rapid antigen test surveillance for 28 days (four weeks after recovery) following release from self-isolation. This is due to NSW Health advice that people who have recovered from COVID-19 have a low risk of contracting it again in the following 28 days. After 28 days (from week five after recovery) students and staff may resume participation in RAT surveillance.

RATs are a quick and easy screening tool to help detect COVID-19 and their use is an important step to support the health and wellbeing of our students and staff. It is a simple process of placing a nose or throat swab in a chemical solution which is put onto a scanning device. Results can be ready within 15 minutes. Use of RAT kits is highly recommended but not mandatory.   

Instructions are included in the kits detailing how to use the tests, check the results and dispose of the tests safely.

If your child receives a positive RAT test, you need to:

1. record the positive RAT result through the Service NSW website or Service NSW app

2. notify the school of the positive RAT (or a PCR test) result as soon as possible

3. follow NSW Health advice to isolate for 7 days.

Negative results do not need to be reported to Service NSW or to the school. Please also note that school staff will not be administering RATs to students.

Here is a link to a video by ABC presenter Jeremy Fernandez on how to take a Rapid Antigen Test. You may find this useful.

Picking up your RAT kits

To collect your RAT kits, please come to the school front gate a few minutes ahead of your child's MAI assessment scheduled time. As per education department guidelines, only parents of Kindergarten students are permitted on school grounds. Parents and carers are required to wear a mask and should leave the pick-up location immediately after picking up their packs of RAT kits.

Refer to the TGA table with instructions for all approved RATs if needed. https://www.tga.gov.au/covid-19-rapid-antigen-self-tests-are-approved-australia

 Wearing a mask at school

A reminder that wearing a surgical mask indoors is required for all students in Year 7 and above, and strongly recommended for all primary students. Unfortunately, the NSW Government requirement is that these masks must be surgical masks and that no vented or cloth masks should be worn.

If you have any questions, please refer to the correspondence attached. Thank you for your support as we keep working together to respond to COVID-19. 

 

Assistant Principal's Message

Welcome back everyone. We are excited to have all of the children back and can not wait to see all their smiling faces over the next couple of days. We look forward to sharing all of the wonderful learning that will take place in 2022. We are fortunate to have such a supportive community and know through experience that we will conquer all challenges together and make 2022 a fantastic year for our students. 

Sharon Mizzi 

Assistant Principal

Counsellor's Message

Hello!

I am looking forward to another year at Mary Immaculate and will be available at school on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday each week. During the year, I will be providing a whole range of information related to wellbeing through this newsletter. I have attached a general list of community support resources that are available for all.

Wishing you all well for the start of the school year.

Justin 

School Counsellor

Supporting Children’s Return to School During COVID-19

Resource Lists 2022

Resource Lists 2022

Learning at MIPS

Daily Schedule

8:55am-11:00amLearning Session (Uninterrupted Learning)
11:00am-11:50amLUNCH
11:50am-1:50pmLearning Session
1:50pm-2:20pmAFTERNOON TEA BREAK
2:20pm-3:20pmLearning Session

Latest News

QKR App

Welcome to 2022!

Please remember to update your child’s profile in QKR with their grade and classroom for 2022.

For all new students to the school, please download the QKR app as this will allow you to purchase school uniforms and items from the canteen online.

Uniform Shop

The  first delivery of school uniforms for 2022 will be Tuesday 1st February 2022.

Delivery to the school is every Tuesday and Friday during the school term. Orders must be placed using the QKR app by 4:00pm Monday for delivery on Tuesday and 4:00pm Thursday for delivery on Friday. Please refer to the delivery dates on the QKR app before ordering for any changes.

Please choose carefully as we do not refund if you simply change your mind or make a wrong selection. However, we gladly exchange within 14 ( school term) days.

Returned merchandise MUST be in its original condition with all tags still attached and accompanied by proof of purchase otherwise the exchange will not be honoured. Any item that has been worn will not be exchanged.

Please email all exchanges to elle@ozfashions.com.au

Please note that Oz Fashions warehouse in Granville DOES NOT sell the Mary Immaculate Uniform in store.

If you have any enquires please contact Elle elle@ozfashions.com.au or 0421 216 414

School Canteen

Paula's  Pantry will reopen on Tuesday 1st February 2022. 

Paula's Pantry will be open before school from 8:25am, lunchtime and recess.

All orders for breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea are to be placed online via QKR app. Please note that the cut off time is 7:50am. Therefore it is advisable to plan ahead and place your order the night before. Please be mindful that you are selecting the correct date/day/child(class) when placing the order. 

Breakfast food can be collected from the canteen window. All other orders will be sent to your child's classroom in their lunch tubs. 

Cash is acceptable ONLY for frozen goods (eg ice cream/ice blocks).

The Canteen will reopen on Tuesday 1st February 2022. 

SCHOOL FEES 2022

CEDP will raise 2022 school fees on 14th February 2022. Invoices/statements will be mailed to your postal address.

Please note that fees are split into 3 instalments (not by term), you will receive instalment 1 in late February.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact Liz Padlan on imac-qkhlfees@parra.catholic.edu.au.

Happy Birthday to the Following Students Celebrating Their Birthday in February

Orion A, Sanarthana V, Isabella C, Zoe B, Timothy S, Nathasia A, Chloe B, Isaac H, Alana K, James P, Victor T, Shayan C, Zane W, Anne P, Eva P, Lourdes K, Fraser M, Ethan L, Elyse D, Henry L, Sharnie B, Ashton J, Jasmine S, Zara F, Maia B, Mahi P, Felipe R, Penelope D, Benjamen C, Alex J, Jonathan C, Zechariah J, Nahalia D, Zoe B, Saissha P, Balkaram S, Jamie M-H, Byron L, Casey S, Addison R, Vrinda K, Caleb M-R, Elora T, Azalea P, Jamie J, Gavin P, Amelie P

Upcoming Dates

Friday 28th January and Monday 31st January2022 Mathematics Interview Assessments
Tuesday 1st February First day of school for Years 1-6
Wednesday 2nd February First day of school for Kindergarten 
Friday 11th FebruaryKindergarten ID Photos taken

Community Advertising

"Please understand we are happy to support local businesses and programmes. However, the following notices are supplied for community information.
This by no means surmounts to an endorsement by the school." (Principal, Mr Stephen Dowd)

Download the SkoolBag App

https://moqproducts.com.au/skoolbag/installation-instructions/

At Mary Immaculate we communicate with parents via the free Skoolbag app that is available from both the App Store and Google Play Store. Skoolbag can be installed on any iOS (iPad or iPhone) or Android device. Downloading the app means you immediately receive updates and reminders to your mobile phone or ipad. Remember to subscribe to your child's Year Group so that you will receive messages relevant to their year.  Instructions on how to download the Skoolbag App are available via this link.

Please refer to instructions provided by Skoolbag if you have changed your email address, so to ensure you still receive skoolbag notifications.

Mary Immaculate Primary Quakers Hill