The variation in school start time is in response to education directives.

Our 8.45am plan reflects the CE Cohorting considerations we need to apply for maximising a safe return for students:

• Schools will limit unnecessary physical interaction between students on school grounds and the mixing of student cohorts (those not routinely learning together) where possible.
• This may include dedicated entry and exit points for different Year groups based on school-specific requirements.
• Student cohorts will have identified shared areas and use of shared spaces will be staggered. 
• Limiting interaction between students does not apply to siblings.

At Sacred Heart we have planned for staggered use of shared spaces during the days and other breaks. However, before school drop off was going to be too hard to stagger cohort arrival times or to designate different arrival areas for different year groups.

Instead, we have limited physical interaction and offered support to all families by shortening the time before class begins; by requiring students to only sit in lines for a short time; and asking staff to be on the playground 10 minutes early.

We anticipate as the ACT rules relax and the mornings warm up that this change to the start of the school day will only be a short-term variation.

The changing COVID routines – an update to previous communication

Arriving in the morning

• Children to arrive at school from 8.45am as there will be no supervision before that. This is to assist with cohort separation on the playground.
• Drop your child to the blacktop area, via either of the two drive-through points. You are also welcome to park in the side streets off Murphy St* or in the main school carpark and walk with your child up to the waiting teachers. Parents are asked to avoid entering the school grounds.
• We will have many staff members outside from 8.45am to greet you and help your child make their way to the class line. We have music and things planned to build the joy.
• *Parking off Murphy St will give parents the best opportunity to watch your child until the bell goes. If you need a clean break (as for some that is best), staff will be ready to support your child while you leave. We have found most children calm quickly once they are in the classroom with their teacher. We will phone you if we have concerns about them settling in.

Masks

• Students from Kinder – year 6 are not required to wear a mask.
• Updated correspondence we have received says -

“Students in Years 3 to 6 are encouraged to wear a mask at school if they are comfortable doing so (at the discretion of the student and their parents/carers). Children in Preschool to Year 2 should not wear masks as they are likely to be worn incorrectly and may present a choking hazard, (also at the discretion of the student and their parents/carers). Masks may not be suitable for students with disabilities. Schools will make allowances for those students to not wear masks if required.

Ventilation and jumpers

• We are hearing from our colleagues across the border that open windows are a little cool for kids who have been inside for weeks! Remember to send your child to school with a jumper
• Remember your drink bottles please.

Reading every night continues to be essential. Other than that please use your afternoons to reconnect as a family without the need for teaching!

All the details and in our 'Frequently Asked Questions' page, please follow the link to the Sacred Heart website

2021 Return to School Social Story

Sports Uniform days for Term 3

• Kinder- Wednesday and Friday
• Stage 1- Wednesday and Friday
• Stage 2- Tuesday and Friday
• Stage 3- Tuesday and Thursday

Tournament of the Minds

Our team of seven talented students represented the ACT at the national final for Tournament of the Minds last weekend. The final was held in two parts this year due to lockdown restrictions in  Australia – online or live. In normal times we would have travelled to Perth to compete! Our team performed well, but did not come away with the win.

We delivered their finals pack of goodies to them last Friday. Here they are posing with their packs and the ACT trophy.

Congratulations to our talented, and hardworking, students.