From the Principal's Desk

WELCOME BACK

Dear Parents, Caregivers, Staff and Students,

Welcome to the new school year!  I wish everyone a blessed and positive 2022.  It has been wonderful to have the students arrive at school this year in a calm and settled manner and I  thank all parents and caregivers who have played a significant role in preparing the children for the year ahead.  Together with our amazing staff team, I look forward to another rich and fruitful year at Liwara.  A very special welcome is extended to all our new families this year and our new and returning staff members.

The staff and I look forward to working alongside you, as we journey together in 2022 to engage the students in fun and purposeful learning opportunities.  With the full support of our parents, we strive to educate the students in engaging and collaborative spaces so that they can take safe and informed risks as they develop into confident, faith filled individuals.

OPENING MASS
We will be  celebrating the start of the school year at our Opening Mass for the 2022 school year.
The Mass will be celebrated at 11.15am on Friday February 4 in the All Saints' Parish Church.

PARENT INFORMATION PRESENTATIONS                                                                                                                                                                                  Classroom teachers are currently preparing their digital Parent Information Presentations to be uploaded to Seesaw on Tuesday 8 February.  We will be using a digital platform due to the uncertainty of our current COVID situation.  Items that will be covered are listed below:

School start times /punctuality.                                                                                                                                                                                      Before and after school procedures
Religious Education outline
‘Levels of Behaviour’ chart
ICT Responsibilities
‘Keeping Safe’ Programme
Homework structure/expectations
Parent/teacher communication expectations and contact details
Specialist teachers/timetable outline
Social Worker                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Reporting schedule
Medication/Allergies – Medical Action Plans
Absentee/Late attendance processes
Canteen days and volunteers                                                                                                                                                                                      Crunch & Sip, healthy lunch
Uniform expectations
Excursions/Incursions
P&F Involvement & Support
Important dates 

NEW STAFF
In 2022 we welcome back Mrs Kel Biggar, from parental leave, who is teaching in Year 2 Red, alongside Mrs Paula Dawe in 2 Green.  We welcome Ms Taylor Carter our new PP Green teacher, Ms Deb Nodding Kindy Green, Ms Cate Ross Kindy Red, and we welcome back Mrs Lisa Strauch who will be working in Kindy Green. Mrs Ruth Harris is our new Visual Arts teacher, Ms Jessica Licastro will be teaching Italian this year and Mr Marco Cilli is teaching Music in 2022. Mrs Lucy Siciliano will be Mrs Deb Fraser’s new partner in the canteen.  Please make yourselves known to all our lovely new staff.  They have spent many days here already during the holidays settling in with all our 2021 staff team and creating vibrant and exciting learning environments.

COVID READY PLAN
With the input of the Psychology, Safety and Wellbeing Team at Catholic Education WA, who have sent through some informative COVID support links.  I will be sending home a ‘Creating a COVID Ready Plan’ to support families in our Liwara Community.  Please take time to read it and keep it somewhere close at hand in the event that you need some extra guidance or assistance.

OVAL PLAYGROUND
As many of you would already be aware, the old oval playground has been demolished and the new space is waiting to house the replacement playground for our students.  This is still a few weeks away as most companies have been on their long summer break.  The P&F will be working together this year to get ideas and plans in place for more equipment to be added to extend the play space, even more in the future so we built the limestone wall with this addition in mind.  The replacement for the old playground is being funded by the Stronger Communities Grant which I applied for at the end of 2021.

MSP SCHOOL PHOTOS

Class and Portrait photos are scheduled to be taken by MSP Photography on Tuesday 15th and Wednesday 16th February.

OSHC NEW GATE# 6 ACCESS
Over the years we have tried to ensure our students and families attending our OSHC program have easy and safe access to the school entry but since COVID-19, with gate closures necessary, our families have had to use Gate #4 to access the OSHC Centre and on the odd occasion when the OSHC code is forgotten it has been difficult to communicate this to the OSHC staff!  However, in 2022, I am extremely pleased to announce that we now have a dedicated entry gate, Gate #6 for all our OSHC families attending the program, from 6.30am – 8.00am, between 3.30pm – 6.00pm and during Vacation Care which will be accessible by using the OSHC code.  The code will be deactivated outside of these times, for security reasons, so it is only our OSHC families who will be able to access the school before and after school and during Vacation Care.  We have also put in an intercom, with a camera, WHICH IS ONLY CONNECTED TO THE OSHC BUILDING AND NOT THE FRONT OFFICE so OSHC staff are able to view drop off and pick up persons if they do not know the code, during OSHC times. Please note that Gate #6 will be accessible for all students from 8.00 – 9.00am (no code needed) and after school from 2.45-3.30pm (no code needed).  All families currently enrolled at OSHC have had a separate letter emailed out to them earlier today.

LONG SERVICE LEAVE (LSL)
Since October 2020 Catholic Education staff have been asked by the Executive Director to work with their school Principals to utilise some of their accrued LSL as the impact of COVID-19 and the associated travel restrictions has resulted in a vast number of CEWA staff postponing their planned LSL. We have all been asked to work together to significantly decrease the amount of LSL accrued (but not taken) by CEWA staff to support the capacity of CECWA to continue to financially sustain the liability associated with large amounts of unused LSL.   Hence, we have a few staff responding to this ‘call to action’.  Mr Barry McGilloway will be taking Tuesdays off in Semester One and Ms Marita Burston will be teaching the students in 4G each week.  Mrs Burston has also requested Mondays as LSL in Semester One.  Mr John Dols will be accessing some of his LSL on a Monday and Mrs Christina Smith will be filling in for him each Monday. Mrs Anne-Marie Kelsall will be taking Semester One off.  Mrs Tracy Pearce will be working Tuesday to Friday this year. Mrs Lee Hansen will be working three days this year down from four and Mrs Julie Basso will be working on Wednesdays to support the Admin Team. I will be utilising some of my LSL at the beginning of Term 2 and Term 3 and I will keep the community informed of any other requests for LSL during the year.  Please be assured that all LSL replacements are familiar and confident in their ability to take over the roles and responsibilities allocated to them.

God bless,

Andrea Millar