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You should be very proud of the way your children have made the adjustment to being back at school. I know it has not been easy for all of them but overall the way they have swung straight back into school life engaging in the learning and the wellbeing activities in place has been wonderful. There have been days when some children have struggled but their resilience, with the support of their families and the staff at school, has been impressive. Each day we remain focused on our three priorities.
Priority 1 – Wellbeing and Equity
Priority 2 – Learning and Excellence
Priority 3 - Transitions
If you have any concerns your child’s teacher is there to support you and your child.
The impact of the Premier’s announcements yesterday will be processed over the next couple of days. The new freedoms will start to flow through to the wider community and schools. In the meantime we will be continuing with the same drop off and pick up plans for this week. At drop off students will head straight to their classrooms and the staggered pick up times will remain in place. Changes will follow and we are prepared to put these in place as soon as these changes are permitted.
My next whole school communication with you will be via the next newsletter on the 4th of November unless Government announcements impact on plans we have in place. If that is the case I will update you as soon as I have the confirmed information and guidelines.
SOME FUN WITH NO STRESS
At the suggestion of some of our senior students we are ensuring that fun activities are built in each week. They are not intended to add any stress to families and the fall back position for the first two suggestions is for students to just wear casual clothes.
Footy Colours Day
This Thursday the 22nd of October will be Footy Colours Day. Children are free to wear casual clothes with a focus on football colours. This is a no cost fun day and no one is expected to buy anything for this day. If families are not AFL fans any football code’s colours can be worn. If your child normally has PE or sport on Thursdays then they will need to be dressed in a way that will allow them to participate including runners.
Halloween Dress Up
On Friday the 30th of October students are invited to come to school in a Halloween Costume or dressed for halloween. If families don’t want their child to dress up then they are able to wear casual clothes on the day.
CONGRATULATIONS
Ashton Hepworth 5PH took advantage of time at home to create a video to enter in Mobile Muster Film Competition focusing on recycling mobile phones. From over 400 entries received Ashton has been chosen as one of four finalists in the Primary school section. The finalists were selected by an expert panel and judged on their relevancy to the theme, creativity, technical skills and ability to convey the environmental message.
This link will give you the opportunity to view Ashton’s creative video. MobileMuster Film Competition - St Peter's Primary School The winners will be announced in the lead up to National Recycling Week on 2 November 2020.
FRONT BASKETBALL COURT ACCESS RESTRICTED
The bright space that we now have at the front of our school has become a beacon for visitors after school and on weekends. On some days there have been nearly 50 people gathered. Last Monday we picked up a large number of drink bottles, pizza boxes and general rubbish. As I am concerned about any COVID implications for our school and wider community I am now locking all gates making the school site unavailable outside of school hours. This is a temporary arrangement and will be reviewed at the end of this week. If you require access to the school grounds from 3:45 - 5:00pm on weekdays please call the office on 9575 0909 and someone will let you in.
PLANNING FOR 2021 - FAMILIES LEAVING
As I continue to plan for 2021 I am grateful to the families who have already advised me that they will not be returning to St Peter’s in 2021. If you know that you will not be returning in 2021 I ask that you advise me via email principal@spbentleigheast.catholic.edu.au as soon as possible.
PUBLIC HOLIDAY
A reminder that as the premier has declared Friday the 23rd of October a public holiday there will be no school this Friday. As it is a public holiday OSHC will also not be operating.
NEXT NEWSLETTER
Our next newsletter will be sent home on Wednesday, 4th November due to the School Closure Day on Monday, 2nd November and the Melbourne Cup Public Holiday on Tuesday, 3rd November.
CSEF
I SAW GOD!
Even with the most introverted of us the period of lockdown is beginning to wear off. But last Sunday I was able to go to the Botanic Gardens as it falls in the 5km radius allowance.
Firstly, Sunday was so beautiful. A typical Melbourne Spring day. The blue sky above the wonderful trees and plants was an image of the beautiful God we love.
It was just wonderful to see so many people enjoying the sun whilst they ate, drank, laughed and slept.
Two people caught my eyes.
The first was a small boy in a wheel chair, who I think had some form of cystic fibrosis (but I am not a doctor) and the second was a woman who was either the boy’s mother or carer.
The LOVE they showed towards each other moved me to tears.
The care that this woman gave to the boy as she helped him out of his chair. The massaging of the feet she gave him. The hugs they gave each other. The laughter and excitement on each person was so beautiful. At one point the boy walked in his particular way to another couple who were hugging each other. They stopped and acknowledged the boy with waves and voice greetings. It brought smiles to many people.
I am a great believer that there are blessings in disasters.
I experienced a blessing on Sunday. If one thing I have learned from this time it is the realisation I can rejoice in the smallest of things. Being able to focus on the plants which have begun to show their new leaves and the smiles and laughter of people are two things which brings energy to my heart, which at times has struggled with lockdown.
God is still so ever present. Yes, at times we have to work harder to find God. But God is still present.
On Sunday I saw God!
Edward Dooley (Mission and Faith Leader)