Dear Parents and Carers

It is wonderful to see students slowly returning to school one day a week over the past two weeks. It was so invigorating to see the students walk through the gate each morning with a smile on their faces, so eager to see their friends and their teachers. On Monday 25 May we see a return of all students five days a week. While there are many changes and adjustments to our daily routine to ensure the health and safety of staff and students, the opportunity to re-connect with our staff will be a highlight. I must say that school has been a bit lonely without all our students.

Thank you to all the parents and carers for respecting and complying with the regulations put in place for the drop-off and pick up of students. Please take the time to read the information on Compass and in this newsletter regarding the students return to school. Again, I thank you for your support, patience and understanding throughout this challenging time.

In the gospel last week weekend we were reminded of these beautiful words,  Jesus said, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.” John 13:34-35

It is good to know we are never on our own. It is also good to reflect on the capacity we have for love. Since the outbreak of the present pandemic, however, we do not have the look far to find countless people doing just that. It is often through our presence that we show love, yet today our Christian ethical obligation is to show love through our physical absence. We can be “present” in other ways through our prayers, phone calls, texts, emails and video chat technology.

May we continue to reach out to others and show love to all those in our school community. 

Given the presence of COVID-19 coupled with the commencement of the influenza (flu) season, we wanted to brief you on what to expect if your child presents unwell at school. The first symptoms of COVID-19 and flu are similar, in that they both can cause fever, cough, sore/scratchy throat and shortness of breath.

Throughout this period, we ask that you keep your child at home if they are unwell. In the event your child is unwell at school the normal processes apply: Your child will be cared for at school in the sick bay by a qualified first aid officer, while they await collection from an appropriate parent/guardian/carer.  

Schools have Personal Protective Equipment in order to support students and staff. The student will be provided with a medical mask to reduce the risk of transmitting droplets or respiratory fluids. The first aid officer who is assisting the student will also be wearing a medical mask and gloves. The student’s temperature will be taken using a non-contact thermometer to assess the severity of presenting symptoms (note that regardless of the child’s temperature, all students who present unwell will be sent home). 

When the parent/guardian/carer of the student collects their child from school, a letter will be provided to them, which outlines the steps required for the student to be able to return to school. These steps include gaining a medical clearance certificate (where possible) and only returning to school once the student has fully recovered.  

We are advising you of these measures in advance so that you may discuss them with your child in the event this situation arises. 

We thank you for your support in keeping our school community safe. 

As from Monday, 25 May and in accordance with the announcement of the NSW Minister the following will apply:

• All students will return to school on Monday, 25 May 2020 and the pre-COVID-19 attendance procedures will apply;
• Students will be marked present, and if a student is absent the standard attendance procedures, including follow up, will apply;
• Normal attendance recording in Compass will be reinstated in preparation for Monday so that parents/carers can record the reason for their child’s absence.
• All absences must be reported with an explanation and or a medical certificate if required.
  

COVID-19
Under these uncertain and changing circumstances, we do understand every situation will be different, we simply ask that you make contact with the school and provide written confirmation of any medical or family illnesses and your reasons for your child's absences.

Parents must have their children at school from 8.30 am to 3.00 pm. 

If your child is absent from school, it is a requirement that you provide a reason for your child's absence.  To explain the absence parents enter this in their Compass Parent Portal. 

All absences must be explained.
Please make appointments outside school hours, where possible.  If your child needs to be collected early for an appointment, a note explaining this is required to be given to the teacher by the student.

• Students to say goodbye to parents at the front gate.
• Students sanitize their hands as they enter the school playground using the sanitiser provided.
• Parents to remain in your cars and adhere to signage in these areas.
• Parent walkers are required to immediately leave the front of the school premises and are discouraged from gatherings in groups.
• Please do not enter the playground.

Afternoon Pick Up:

• Dismissal will commence at 3.00 pm via the front gate and the back lane.
• Parents to remain in your cars and adhere to signage in these areas.
• Parents walking to school are required to practice social distancing and not arrive before 3.00 pm. Parents are discouraged from gatherings in groups while waiting for their child/ren.
• Please do not enter the playground
  

Back Lane Pick Up:
This is another option when collecting your children from school and practices social distancing. To avoid the traffic on Flagstaff Road at this busy time, we ask parents when exiting the back lane to turn right on to Bruce Road and then right onto Oxlade Street.  This will miss the traffic on Flagstaff Road. The back lane is supervised by staff and allows a more consistent traffic flow.  Please see the diagram below. 

UNSW / ICAS Assessments - Online
St Francis will continue to participate in the ICAS Assessments this year. ICAS is designed to target students' higher-order thinking and problem-solving skills in English, Mathematics, Science, Writing, Spelling and Digital Technologies. The assessments are suitable for students wishing to extend themselves academically and take up the personal challenge of competing in an international assessment.

ICAS Assessments are now online, allowing greater accessibility for students and faster delivery of results. 

Parents may order and pay for the assessments online this year.

We hope our families had a wonderful Mother's Day. This year we celebrated Mother's Day very differently. I was unable to see my mother this year, here is a letter I received from her. An account of Mother's Day from my mum's perspective.

MEMORIES OF MOTHERS DAY 2020
This is my first Mother's Day without my Mum. This year it is just my husband and I alone on Mother's Day, so very different to every other Mothers' Day. No hugs or kisses from my children or grandchildren, we now have pretend hugs and blow kisses through Facetime. Back in the sixties and seventies, my children would bring breakfast into the bedroom for me on Mother's Day. I remember the time when Rod (Mr Green) proudly announced that he had not “cut himself” when cutting the tomato to place on the toast that his brother had made, while his older sister had made the cup of tea. It had been such a wonderful start to the day and there were cards with lots of kisses along the bottom of the card, that had been made in the classrooms. My mother, father and both of my grandmothers would come to have lunch with us and there would be lots of hugs and kisses.

Today in 2020, we have “social distancing”, through emails, Facetime and Zoom meetings. We tell our mothers and grandmothers that we love them. This year I received a very special gift from one of my sons, who you know as Mr. Green and this gift brought happy tears to my eyes. The gift was two emailed videos of St Francis' Mother's Day Liturgy and Assembly. Mr Green, his sister and two brothers all attended St Patrick's Primary School at Parramatta and each year I would attend a Mother's Day celebration there, on the actual Sunday of Mother's Day. We would all attend the 11 am Mass and our Priest Father Larkey would have all of the Mothers stand at the end of Mass, so that he could give all of the Mothers a special blessing. 

This year we can not attend Mass but the special blessings I have are the greatest blessings of all. They are the blessings of having my family, even though we are practicing social distancing. It has given me great joy seeing all of the St Francis' student's faces and photos on the video and you should always remember that you are the faces and future of Australia. Whether you are at school or home schooling, always be attentive to your teacher and lessons, for the lessons you are learning now will help you to have a good life and future success. 

Be kind to one another and always remember that the love your Mums have for you now is a love that lasts forever. Each year Mr Green grows older but in my heart, he is always my curly haired little boy.

Thank you for a Happy Mother's Day.
Mrs Dorothy Green

Mr Green
Assistant Principal

Laudato Si’ Week
This week we are celebrating Laudato Si’ Week where we celebrate by listening, praying, reflecting and participating in Pope Francis’ call to action. 2020 is the fifth anniversary of Laudato Si’ – the environment encyclical where Pope Francis calls us to expand our understanding and experience of the interconnectedness of all life.

During the week have prepared a liturgy titled- “Mercy and the Degradation of Earth – ‘Everything is Connected.’” In Mercy, we enter into this reflective time with each other as we continue to struggle with the shared global experience of the illness and destructive action of the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the same time, we experience the heroism of health care workers, the brilliance and dedication of scientists as they develop a vaccine, the bravery of public leaders holding families, communities and the vulnerable in a social network of care and concern, as well as the selfless dedication of front-line workers and volunteers who are caring for society’s ongoing and practical needs.

We are learning that indeed ... ‘Everything is connected. Concern for the environment thus needs to be joined to a sincere love for our fellow human beings and an unwavering commitment to resolving the problems of society.’ (Pope Francis, Laudato Si’ N.91)

Prayer
In this time of uncertainty, we hope that you are taking time to pray, meditate and relax. We also hope that the children are accessing the prayers and meditation that the teachers are preparing each week. Setting Religious Education lessons has been a challenge as we have missed discussing the stories and reflections with the children. We hope that as parents you have been able to spend some special reflective time with your children and help them with the stories. Please make sure they begin and finish their work each day with prayer.

Mary Help of Christians
This year in these trying times we need the help of Mary more than ever. Mary Help of Christians is the Patroness of Australia. Normally the Feast is 24 May but due to the Ascension, the Feast will be celebrated on the 25 May this year.

The feast day to Mary Help of Christians has been celebrated in Australia since 1844 but the history to this day dates back to the start of the 1800s. Napoleon Bonaparte had jailed Pius VI who died in jail. When Pope Pius VII was elected, he too was jailed by Bonaparte, who kept him, prisoner, at Fontainbleau.

The Holy Father vowed to God that if he were restored to the Roman See, he would institute a special feast in honour of Mary. The military eventually forced Bonaparte to release the Pope and on 24 May 1814, Pius VII returned in triumph to Rome. Twelve months later the Pope decreed that the feast of Mary Help of Christians be kept on 24 May.

The infant church in Australia had a special reason for turning to Mary. No priests were sent to the colony in its early days and Mass was not allowed except for one brief year until 1820. It was largely the Rosary in those early days that kept the faith alive. Catholic Australia remained faithful to Mary and was the first nation to choose her under the title Help of Christians, as principal Patroness.

St Mary’s Cathedral was dedicated in her honour by the Irish pioneer priest, Fr John Therry, who arrived in Sydney in 1820 and assumed responsibility for the planning and initial construction of the Cathedral. When Australia became the first country to have Mary Help of Christians as Patroness, it became the first country to have a mother-cathedral under the same title. Please pray her prayer this week as Mary Help of Christians continues to guard Australia:

Mary Help of Christians patroness of Australia
Almighty God, deepen in our hearts
our love of Mary Help of Christians.
Through her prayers and under her protection,
may the light of Christ shine over our land.
May Australia be granted harmony, justice and peace.
Grant wisdom to our leaders and integrity to our citizens.
Bless especially the men and women
of the Australian Defence Force and their families.
We ask this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Mary Help of Christians, pray for us

The Ascension of Jesus
On Sunday 24 May we celebrate the Ascension of Jesus. We are coming to the end of the Easter Season which ends on Pentecost Sunday a week after The Ascension.

Jesus rose from the dead on Easter Sunday and spent 40 days with his beloved disciples. He taught his disciples many things and told them that he would visit again. He said, "Soon, you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit and receive the power of God. You will tell my story to the people in Jerusalem and to people all over the Earth."Jesus blessed his disciples. Then as they looked at him Jesus became surrounded by bright light. He was taken into the heavens, and he disappeared. Two men appeared and told the disciples that Jesus was in heaven, but that one day He would return.

Jesus says Good-bye!
Adapted from Acts 1:1-10 (for children)
Jesus said to his friends one day,
"Very soon I must go away,
Don't be sad because 
I will come back again!
Jesus told his friends: 
"Tell my story everywhere."
And then as his beloved friends
were standing there
Jesus went up, up, up 
Into the sky!

Mrs Madaschi
Religious Education Coordinator 

YEAR 3
Year 3 have been working really hard with their Remote Learning Program. We have been learning about mass, number patterns, and The Emmaus Story. We used paper chipping and made a stained glass window for art. 

YEAR 4
Each day Year 4 meets at 9.30 am via a Zoom Meeting. This has taken place since the commencement of Week 2 and has given both the students and Mr Gilmore the chance to connect. Year 4 uses the Zoom meetings daily to convey information about the learning to take place that day, as well as give students the opportunity to chat with each other. It has also provided the opportunity to meet 1:1 with students and with parents to discuss remote learning.

YEAR 5 & 6
Can learning be fun? of course it can!
In Stage 3 we are looking at the impact that natural disasters have on people and their environment.  Year 5 and 6 students were asked to conduct an experiment. We would like to share our photos and video on our experiment - “How to make a volcano?”.

Hello fellow readers,
We have great news and that is Book Club is still available to you all at home! There will be no brochures coming to you all, but instead, we are inviting you to go online and browse the catalogue.

Here is the link... so start browsing !!! 

Last week we welcomed Phoenix a new student to 5 Blue. Phoenix was able to meet some of his new class members on his scheduled day.  He looks forward to meeting the rest of his class when everyone returns next week. Welcome Phoenix and family!