Newsletter Term 4 Week 7

Dear Families

I would like to start this week’s newsletter by announcing the retirement of Peter Hoskin.  Peter has not taught for much of this year but has been a staff member at Star of the Sea School for 23 years.  Recently, Peter has taught science across all classes of our school and has been instrumental for setting up many of our sustainability programs. Peter commenced his teaching career in 1973 at Solomontown and after a 35 year teaching career is now retiring.  Congratulations Peter on your contribution to so many students over your time in the teaching profession.

There are a few more changes to our teaching staff next year with three of our staff due to have babies next year.  Congratulations Lisa Lata, Abbey Hinge and Breanna Brockman.  Grace Todman has won a job next year at St Pius X, Windsor Gardens.

SA CV19 RESTRICTIONS
I would like to thank everyone in our community for the way we have dealt with the latest restrictions.  I must take off my hat to the teachers at Star of the Sea.  We met last Wednesday at lunchtime to announce that all schools in the State would shutdown at the end of the day.  They swung into action and were able to have their students leave at the end of the day for the 6 day shutdown.  Who knew the children would be back on Monday!  2020 has been a difficult year for everyone but teachers have never faced the disruption to their comprehensive learning programs as they have this year.  If this was not enough, teachers have also monitored closely the wellbeing of all students.

We hope that the current COVID ‘second wave’ and associated restrictions will soon dissipate. The Premier is due to make announcements that suggest a return to a lessening of restrictions after 1 December. During the final weeks of the school year the usual ‘wind up’ activities will no doubt occur, in whatever modes are allowed.

Turning towards the end of year, the School Board met on November 9^th and confirmed a number of events.  At this stage, the event that might need a total reconstruction is the Year 6 Graduation Dinner and the Board is currently looking at this.

Any new SA Health Regulations could change these plans.

CAROLS DAY

• Friday December 4th, during the day
• Venue: oval/grandstand (as usual)
• 11:30am - Reception to Year 2 classes perform
• 2pm - Year 3-5 classes perform
• All students will attend both events
• This event will be live streamed on the School’s Facebook page
• Inclement weather plan – the event will be cancelled

Adult Registration for Carols Day
Each family is allowed one adult to attend each session. You must register on QKR to attend.  There will be a registration for the morning event and a different registration for the afternoon event.  If you are attending the event, on arrival at the Military Rd double gates, please sign in and move directly to a socially distanced chair on the oval.  On departure please move to the Military Road gates when directed being mindful of social distancing. The gates will open 15 minutes before the event begins. Do not attend on the day if you are unwell. 

EOY LITURGY

• Monday December 7^th
• 9:10am – Whole school will walk to St Michaels
• 9:30am - Whole School Liturgy at St Michaels, this event would be a celebration of the school year
• 10:15am - Reception to Year 3 will return to school at the end of the Liturgy
• Year 6 parents will probably be invited to attend this event depending on the SA Health regulations (TBC)

GRADUATION ASSEMBLY

• This will follow on from the Liturgy after a short break
• 10:40am - Assembly begins, this is to celebrate and farewell the Year 6 students
• Awards will be presented at this time
• Year 6 parents will probably be invited to attend this event depending on the SA Health regulations (TBC)

Adult Registration for the EOY Liturgy and Assembly
At this stage this is yet to be confirmed but will probably only be extended to Year 6 parents.

In a year of unmatched impact on the way we live and work, we say thank you for the support that you have shown to each other and the school.

Regards
Damian Weeks

The South Australian Commission for Catholic Schools (SACCS) is pleased to announce the formation of Catholic School Parents SA as the new representative body of Catholic school parents.

Catholic School Parents SA will connect with parent groups across the 101 Catholic Schools in the State.

Chair of SACCS, Professor Denis Ralph, said “Parents and carers have always played a pivotal role in the success of Catholic schools in South Australia.  This new parent representative and advocacy body will further enhance parent engagement and participation in the education and care of children and young people in Catholic schools in South Australia.”

In 2020, the Commission engaged an independent reviewer to consult with parents in all Catholic schools to seek their feedback as to whether they felt they had an adequate voice in the education of their children and what kind of support they would like to see in the future.

“While acknowledging that the current structures have served parents and our school communities well in the past, the review recognised that parents and carers have busy lives and are looking for new ways to engage in and support the education of their children,” Professor Ralph said.

Catholic School Parents SA will be closely aligned with Catholic School Parents Australia, the national body that represents and advocates for parents and carers of children and young people in Catholic schools across Australia, and will seek to have broad representation of parents of students in our schools.

The new group will:

• Engage in a program of listening to the needs of parents across Catholic schools
• Advocate for improved funding and support for children and young people in Catholic schools and preschools
• Ensure parent voice in policy development
• Represent parents on a range of committees and working parties
• Participate in the work of Catholic School Parents Australia.

“We are excited by the opportunity to engage with parents in our schools in new ways in 2021 and beyond,” Professor Ralph said.

Schools will receive further information early in 2021.

Do you enjoy lighting candles as much as me? I love the scent, the ambience and the celebration or memories of family and friends they provide. Recently, my grandson turned 4 in Melbourne. He loved his zoom party. Here, in Adelaide, we had a Bluey cake, so, with me out of screen shot, he blew out his candles, and now firmly believes that he could blow his candles out all the way from Melbourne. This memory of extraordinary 2020 will always make me smile. I hope too, that amongst the challenges and heartache that so many of our community have suffered, you have memories that you can hold on to that have brought some joy. So, as we head into Advent, a time of hope, joy, peace and love, light your candles and remember all those you love.

Please join in our two Christmas giving programs – Vinnies Gift Tags and Bread Tags for wheelchairs. Our small actions, when combined in our community, can perhaps enhance the life of someone who lives near or far. 

May the grace of the Holy Family encircle your family and the Christmas Star shine bright in your sky, guiding you towards the light and love of our saviour, Jesus Christ.

God Bless as 2020 comes to a close.

Stella Foley