Dear mums, dads, carers and colleagues

Week 1 of Term 3 is finished and our plans for what lies ahead are indeed, very exciting.  We still need the restrictions to keep reducing and this will take the honest efforts of everyone if we are to achieve this.  The coronavirus can still be an enormous risk to our community if we become complacent.  Victoria is looking squarely at Level 4 restrictions and this is a scary prospect.  Everyone in our community continuously doing the right thing must surely go a long way to keeping everyone safe and well.  

The stringent standards of hygiene and safety that we were maintaining at the close of Term 2 will continue into Term 3, and until we are instructed otherwise, we will continue them. 

As the COVID-19 restrictions continue to be eased in Queensland, and following further advice from the Chief Health Officer and Australian Health Protection Principal Committee, the Operating Guidelines for Queensland State Schools have been updated. We are now planning to resume:

• Some excursions and swimming lessons
  
  • Whilst we are now able to consider excursions, there are strict guidelines and protocols, including all venues to have approved COVID Safe Industry Plans and schools to undertake detailed risk assessments. 
• School sport
  
  • The Department has released guidelines for rebooting Queensland School Sport. We are currently planning so that we may recommence training, competitions and programs in a safe, responsible and low risk manner that complies with the latest health advice. The Department of Education has released FAQs for parents around intra-school sport, inter-school sport, representative school sport and gathering restrictions. Click here to read guidelines.  
• Instrumental music program, ensembles, choir and school musical
  
  • Our instrumental music program, ensembles and choirs and school musical cast are able to rehearse at school providing strict safety protocols that the teachers will continue to make our students aware of. These safety protocols are non-negotiable and any students who do not follow them will not be able to participate. Unfortunately, inter-school and external venue rehearsals or performances (such as eisteddfods) are still not to be undertaken just yet.

I am excited that the school musical cast is now able to begin rehearsals Mrs Zander and Mrs Blyth are getting their group of talented students together to begin rehearsing for what will be a very different but still interesting musical this year.  It was a great afternoon filled with lots of laughter and much excitement! While we do not yet know how we will be able to share the final product, we can confirm that our ‘performance’ dates are Friday 23 and Saturday 24 October 2020. Dancers will hopefully be chosen next week and then they can being practising too! 

Attendance

There are 48 school days in Term 3.  I urge all families to aim for the highest possible attendance rate for the term.  If your children are sick they are required to stay at home and recover but otherwise, every school day matters greatly.  

Semester 1 report cards

Report cards will be sent home to families via email on Thursday 30 July.  Families who access QParents will be able to access the reports a day earlier on Wednesday. Please keep a close eye on your email accounts for them.

Year 5&6 dance and drama program steps out

The Year 5&6 students enjoyed the start of their dance and drama programs this week.  Everyone had a wonderful time learning from the professionals at Footsteps.

Thank you sincerely for your continued support of our school and your child.

Kind regards
Vic