From the Principal's Desk

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

One more week of school! It is hard to believe we are so close to the end of Term One. A term that has brought many challenges to our usual programme of events. We wish to thank all students, staff and parents who have been so patient and understanding of the continual adjustments that have had to be made as a result of the constantly changing conditions under which we are operating. Our priority in decision making has always been in the best interest of all in the community, in particular, the safety of our staff and students and the quality and continuity of education for our students.

I must acknowledge and thank all our amazing staff members for what has been a difficult term to work in education.  In particular, I thank our classroom teachers for their extraordinary efforts in preparing and delivering the classroom learning programs whilst also having to prepare and send home remote learning resources to students in isolation. This ‘doubling up’ of duties is yet another example of our staff and the teaching profession in general, going above and beyond for our students.  Despite all the challenges the pandemic sent our way this term, our staff just carried on and got the job done – we are blessed to have such a great team!

Thank you to all our Liwara families for your support, patience, understanding and consideration through the weeks of Term One.  It has been a term like no other! As a community, we have travelled the journey of COVID-19 as well as has been possible.  I am extremely proud of how we have come together and done all we could to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of our students, staff and families.  THANK YOU!

Holy Week Paraliturgies

The first week of the coming school holidays is Holy Week, however, as it is the most important season of the Church year, Liwara will continue with its traditional Lenten and Easter remembrances, including the Holy Week Paraliturgies and the celebration of the Risen Christ.   We remind families of this wonderful opportunity to remember Jesus, his sacrifices and his good works at this time.  Our wonderful P&F have been working diligently in the background to offer our community the popular Easter Egg Raffle.  What a great initiative the cashless - e-raffle is and thanks to our wonderful Publicity Ministry the children have been getting regular reminders over the school PA system, full of energy and enthusiasm!

Values Awards

Presentations of the School Values Awards for Respect, which are usually presented at the last Mass of the term, will now be made within the classroom setting and photos of the presentation sent home to parents. This is a very significant Award, presented to one student in each class, as it highlights the importance of Respect as a valued attribute of the Liwara community. A heartfelt congratulations goes out to all the recipients.

Term 2 Commencement Date

We return to school next term on Tuesday 26^th April, following the ANZAC Day public holiday, with all students in Winter Uniform. How nice it will be to have some cooler weather.

MAIN ROADS DEVELOPMENT       

Main Roads are planning to start and finish the work on the bottom carpark #1 during the school holidays starting next week so it will have the least impact on our school community. As you can tell they have begun clearing along the oval freeway section as they move towards coming into the grounds on the freeway side of the shed and right through the path where the limestone composting bays are currently housed. Be assured that at no time will the health and safety of our students and staff be compromised. The limestone bays are going to be re-housed by Main Roads behind the shed, once the car park is completed. Unfortunately during the process we will be losing a couple of our beautiful trees in the area they will be re-developing but many hours of audits and site inspections cannot save them all. Fingers crossed that they are able to complete the carpark in the time they have put forward.  I will keep the community informed if there are any delays to the project which may impact on our start back of Term 2

CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN - Stage One                                       

I was informed by the architect, just yesterday, that the builder’s possession of site date is being brought forward by almost two weeks!  This is wonderful news but there is also a lot to be done leading up to the holidays as we will need to have vacated the Yr 4/5/OSHC/Enrichment block before the end of term.  OSHC will be re-housed in the Ahern Centre in readiness for Vacation Care, Year 5 classes will be setting up in the back half of the library and the Year 4s will be relocating to the Science & Languages rooms and the specialist area teachers will be mobile for the term.  So much to sort out but with the support of the wonderful staff things are slowly taking shape and gaining momentum.

The entire block will be re-roofed, new ceilings will be fitted to all rooms and the installation of reverse cycle ducted air conditioning to the classrooms and OSHC block will be the icing on the cake! The staff and students have been absolutely amazing whilst the planning and funding process has been going on behind the scenes for the last three years.

Our OSHC families will be getting a letter early next week outlining all the specific protocols that the centre will be putting into place for the beginning of Vacation Care and into Term 2.

COVID-19 UPDATES                                                                                  Please note the following recent COVID-19 updates:

• In line with the new national guidelines, anyone who has recovered from COVID-19 is now exempt from being declared a close contact for the 12 weeks following their recovery – provided they do not have symptoms and are not immunocompromised.
• Please continue to report any COVID positive results for students over the holidays on the Self Reporting portal https://cewa-collections.powerappsportals.com/COVID-19-Self-Reporting-Form/ The link is also available on the Liwara Catholic Primary School website.

Kindergarten 2023/2024

We are beginning our 2024 Kindy interviews next term so please spread the word so that we can welcome new families into our Liwara community.  If you have a child due to start Kindy in 2023 and you haven’t yet enrolled them, please contact Karen Rosser our enrolment officer on karen.rosser@cewa.edu.au and she will support you through the enrolment process.

WINTER UNIFORM                         

A reminder that all students are to return to school next term in their full winter uniform.  If you have any uniform requirements please contact Jenny or Jodie at sales@jfe.net.au or by phone: 9204 1701

On behalf of the school community, I send our love and prayers to our family members and staff who are currently unwell and/or are in isolation! Get well soon and thank you to the household close contacts for staying home in order to keep others safe and well!  Please continue to do the right thing to limit the spread of germs next week as we have many families who desperately want to continue with their holiday travel plans and don’t want them interrupted by illness!

Wishing you God’s blessing as we journey towards Easter.

Mrs Andrea Millar