This week’s newsletter is all about gratitude. I start with thanking the teachers and support staff, for their absolute dedication during the last two weeks, their ability to continue to deliver learning at point of need during this time is outstanding. There is a teacher shortage across all of Victoria, due mainly to the challenges of the pandemic so replacing staff when they are unwell is really challenging. The illness at school has continued with COVID, the common cold and now reports of influenza (the flu) across all areas in the school. It has taken its toll with staff as well as the children. And although it is not directed by the health department currently, I thank you all for keeping to the RAT testing schedule. This is the best way to identify COVID and help to minimise the spread. At school we have maintained a double cleaning schedule during the day, have air filters in all learning areas and still have the play equipment cleaned between play times.  Please allow yourselves and your children the time to recover when needed, we are all in the same situation and to function well in all areas of our lives we need to look after our health.

Children who have any symptom of illness must stay at home regardless of the RAT result.

FAMILY INFORMATION EVENING

Please accept my apologies for the postponement of our information night for families. This will now take place on Thursday 9^th June at 6:00pm. The evening will explain the latest initiatives of the school, outline an invitation to parents, carers and family members about opportunities to support the school at school. The students attending will be offered a hot chip supper and some fun activities while the presentation for adults is being delivered. Then the children will have an opportunity to showcase some of their work. A new note requesting attendees will come home today.

If you know of any new families interested in our school please invite them this evening all are welcome.

• Teachers will be available to talk with parents about the general running of the classroom and expectations.
• The classrooms will be open for the students to show case some of their work to parents.

CONFIRMATION

I ask you to continue to pray for the children who have begun their journey of preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation. With illness we have had to cancel and renegotiate meetings for their preparation. Please continue to keep them in your thoughts at this special time in their lives.

If your child is in Grade 6 and has received the sacraments of Baptism, Reconciliation and 1^st Eucharist in the Roman Catholic church please return the forms sent home, or contact Mrs. Inchincoli on minchincoli@shmorwell.catholic.edu.au for further information.

Whole School Mass

We will be having a Grade 3-6 school Mass next Friday 3rd June at Sacred Heart. 9:15 am. All families are welcome to attend.

Kinder Visits

On Tuesday 31^st May, the Grade 6s are hosting an interactive STEM session with the children from Maryvale Kinder to begin the celebrations of Catholic Education Week. The students in Grades 3-6 have been looking at changes in particles and from this study have been designing steam engines that make movement. The children will showcase their inventions and then guide the kinder kids in interactive experiments based on the things that they have done in Term 1 and Term 2.

Please enjoy the blessings of your children over the weekend,

God Bless,