Assistant Principal - Mission and Wellbeing

Welcome back to Term 3. We started the term with an assembly which focussed on providing the students with some very clear COVID safe practices and procedures that we need to have implemented within the school. These are some of the points that need reinforcing: 

Mask requirements

NSW Health and Catholic Schools NSW, although not mandatory, have recommended that all staff and students in secondary schools wear masks. When we had lockdowns last year the research on the effectiveness of masks in preventing the spread of the disease had not been published, now we know how beneficial they are. For the students' own safety and for the health of others it is recommended that masks are worn inside.

Masks are mandatory on public transport. This applies to students aged 13 years and over, and staff when travelling to and from school and during school excursions by public transport or by chartered or private transport services. 

Masks will be available for students each morning at the front of the school by the Meet and Greet staff and will also be available at the front office. Students may bring their own appropriate masks (no offensive logos or imagery).

Feeling unwell 

If your child is unwell and has cold or flu symptoms, please follow the health advice, get tested and stay at home while unwell. Students who are unwell and attend school will be sent home with the request to get tested. This is required to help minimise the spread of any infections. 

Uniform 

As pointed out in the last newsletter of last term, uniform has become a concern for some students. We have a very clear Uniform Policy and Procedure which is outlined in the College Planner that each student is given. Of major concern at the moment is:

HAIR -  Hair is to be well groomed and tidy. Long hair over the collar must be tied back. Extremes of hairstyle, including extremes of colours are not permitted

JEWELLERY - Jewellery should be modest and kept to a minimum.

NAIL POLISH - Fingernails are not to have coloured nail polish.

SPORTS UNIFORM - All students must arrive and leave the College in full school uniform – not sport uniform (except Thursday) and in line with the procedure for PDHPE. 

It is important to remember the following:

The full College uniform is to be worn to and from school and at all times during the school day unless there is a timetabled practical PDHPE/PASS/SLR/DRAMA lesson in Periods 1 and/or 2 or Periods 5. The following rules apply:

• Students who have a practical lesson (PDHPE/PASS/SLR/DRAMA) in periods 1 and/or 2, wear their sports uniform to school and change at recess

• Students who have a practical lesson (PDHPE/PASS/SLR/DRAMA) in periods 5 and/or 6, can change at lunch and wear their sports uniform home from school 

Please support the College by ensuring your child follows our policy. The procedure for uniform infringements is below:  

• Students who wear the incorrect uniform and do not have a uniform pass will attend lunch detention.
• The following list outlines the action for repeat offenders or students that don’t turn up:

Parent Support 

Each newsletter I will aim to share some information with you from various sources to help support parents in issues concerning teenagers. This week there are resources from Reach Out regarding supporting your teen during coronavirus and how to help your child develop skills for coping with stress.  

I have also added a great resource from the Butterfly Foundation to support you in having conversations with your child about body image and the warning signs to keep an eye out for if your child is having issues or concerns with their body image. 

You will find these in the Parent Education section of the Newsletter.