WELCOME TO TERM THREE 2020

Welcome back to all our students, staff and community members. I hope you have had a wonderful holiday, sharing many great moments with your family and friends. This week we welcome a new family to St Michaels- the Hosan Family. Benjamin Hosan is in Year 3 and Levi Hosan is in Year 5. We wish Benjamin and Levi a great start to their new school. I am sure all our students and staff will make them feel very welcome.

REFLECTION
Yesterday, our Director of Schools, Mr Peter Hill, spoke via ZOOM, with all of the Principals and Assistant Principals of our Diocese. He spoke of the current situation in which we all find ourselves in and acknowledged the many people who are suffering during this time, not only here in Australia, but across the world.

Peter shared this poem by Brother Richard Hendrick, a Capuchin Franciscan living in Ireland, who has penned a touching poem about coronavirus.

Lockdown

by Brother Richard:

Yes there is fear.

Yes there is isolation.

Yes there is panic buying.

Yes there is sickness.

Yes there is even death.

But,

They say that in Wuhan after so many years of noise

You can hear the birds again.

They say that after just a few weeks of quiet

The sky is no longer thick with fumes

But blue and grey and clear.

They say that in the streets of Assisi

People are singing to each other

across the empty squares,

keeping their windows open

so that those who are alone

may hear the sounds of family around them.

They say that a hotel in the West of Ireland

Is offering free meals and delivery to the housebound.

Today a young woman I know

is busy spreading fliers with her number

through the neighbourhood

So that the elders may have someone to call on.

Today Churches, Synagogues, Mosques and Temples

are preparing to welcome

and shelter the homeless, the sick, the weary

All over the world people are slowing down and reflecting

All over the world people are looking at their neighbours in a new way

All over the world people are waking up to a new reality

To how big we really are.

To how little control we really have.

To what really matters.

To Love.

So we pray and we remember that

Yes there is fear.

But there does not have to be hate.

Yes there is isolation.

But there does not have to be loneliness.

Yes there is panic buying.

But there does not have to be meanness.

Yes there is sickness.

But there does not have to be disease of the soul

Yes there is even death.

But there can always be a rebirth of love.

Wake to the choices you make as to how to live now.

Today, breathe.

Listen, behind the factory noises of your panic

The birds are singing again

The sky is clearing,

Spring is coming,

And we are always encompassed by Love.

Open the windows of your soul

And though you may not be able

to touch across the empty square,

Sing

We have been very blessed that our community in Mittagong, has be relatively safe physically from the stress of the virus, however I know many of you are struggling in various ways with the current pressures of these times. Please don’t hesitate to contact either myself or one of our staff members, if we can help you in any way. I am particularly mindful of our wonderful students who are immersed in a world that has changed for them. As a staff, we are supporting the students by keeping their lives at school relatively “normal” and happy. If your child though, is feeling anxious in any way, can you contact me. I wish for everyone, a very happy Term 3 and let us pray, that we all remain safe and supported by this very special community of St Michael’s Mittagong. Take care everyone.

SUMMARY OF COVID-SAFE MEASURES ACROSS OUR DIOCESAN SCHOOLS IN
TERM 3- from the Catholic Education Office Wollongong

• Our increased COVID-safe cleaning regime, which meets the enhanced NSW Health standards, will continue in Term 3.
• All students and staff continue to be required to practise personal hygiene including regular and thorough washing of hands with soap or hand sanitiser (with appropriate support provided to students to ensure they are practising good personal hygiene).
• All adults—including teachers and other school staff—will continue adhering to social distancing requirements in line with government health advice.
• Rigorous infection control procedures remain in place, including rapid response processes when a student or staff member presents unwell while at school.
• The school’s contactless infrared thermometers will only be used in the event of a student or staff member presenting unwell to the sick bay.
• NSW Health continues to advise that face masks are not recommended for the general population. However, we maintain a stock of masks for use by any person on site who is displaying symptoms of COVID-19 while they await collection/departure.
• We are prepared for the possibility of a positive case of COVID-19 in our school community. We have a detailed local response plan, underpinned by additional support from the Catholic Education Office and Public Health Unit.

REMAINING A VIGILANT SCHOOL COMMUNITY
Despite the strict measures we have in place, as a school community we must remain vigilant. It is important that we each do all we can to keep ourselves and others safe as we follow the advice of NSW Government and health authorities.

With this in mind, we continue to request your assistance in a number of ways:

• If your child is unwell, please ensure they stay home until they are fully recovered.
• If at any point your child is displaying COVID-19 symptoms, self-isolating or undergoing testing, please let us know as soon as you can. Any child who undergoes a COVID-19 test will need to contact our school with the test results.
• If your child has attended a known high-risk venue (see the NSW Health website for details) or returned from Victoria or overseas and is required to self-isolate, they must not attend school until their self-isolation period is complete.

Please note, students who are required to self-isolate during Term 3 will be supported to learn remotely in the same way they would if they were temporarily unable to attend school for any other reason (e.g. following minor surgery).

Thank you again for your continued support as we navigate these difficult circumstances together. Remember, you can stay up to date with the latest information about our systemic response on the Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong website.

https://www.dow.catholic.edu.au/about-us/general-news/covid-19-information-centre

Have a wonderful week everyone,
Take care and God Bless
Katrina West