From the Principal's Desk

Dear Parents and Caregivers

As Western Australia moved to the COVID-19 Roadmap Phase 4b on Monday 15 March, we have been busy planning and putting into place the quickest and safest ways for our community to be present at whole school events and in the classrooms, as part of curriculum based activities, in accordance with Phase 4b restrictions, pending no further outbreaks in WA. I ask you to keep in mind that for the remainder of this term all our school based events have been already planned for with the Phase 4 restrictions in place, so we are pleased that from the beginning of Week 9, we will be welcoming our parents back in, albeit in a careful and considered way. We are re-arranging the planning for our Holy Week Paraliturgies, being held in the last week of the term, to safely accommodate family members of the students who are leading the Paralituries. We will be keeping a running tally of adults entering the Ahern Centre and if necessary some attendees may have to be redirected, by staff, but be assured  we will work towards accommodating everyone, as much as possible. It is an expectation that all adults scan in using the SafeWA codes situated on the fence near Gate #7 and the doors as you enter the Ahern Centre. If you have members of your extended family with you who do not have the SafeWA App, could you please add them to your registration. Hand sanitiser will be available outside the Ahern Centre as you arrive and on the wall to the left as you enter. NB entry will only be through the top Ahern Centre door which will be supervised by the staff member counting visitors in.
ASSEMBLIES: We will be welcoming the families of students receiving certificates, students in Class Performance assemblies and students performing in our Instrumental Music Performances from our first Certificate Assembly in Term 2, on Friday 30 April. I thank you in advance for adhering to the same protocols as outlined above for the end of this term, pending no further outbreaks in WA.
As all our students will be present family members attending are required to sit on the steps closest to the top doors (opposite the Year 4 classrooms) leading into the Ahern Centre as well as on the chairs but leave the bottom two steps vacant to keep to the 1.5 physical distancing principles, from the students. Staff will be there to usher visitors in and assist with seating. At the end of our class performances and certificate assemblies, whilst we are still in Phase 4b, parents, please take heed of our  Year 6 Publicity Ministry who will explain the exiting guidelines.  You will be instructed by our Yr 6 students to leave the venue from the top doors, immediately after and to make your way out of the grounds before our students are taken back to their classrooms.
Another exciting development is that parents will soon have the opportunity to enter the classrooms with your child but due to Phase 4b restrictions it has to be on a roster basis with strict physical distancing from students other than their own. More information will be sent out by classroom teachers soon, in readiness for the start of term.

PARKING BAYS IN CARPARK #1 – Could parents using the drive through pick up in the bottom carpark #1 please refrain from parking in the bays as the parents of students in Pre Kindy, Kindy  & Pre Primary need to park and leave their vehicles as they are required to pick up their children from the classrooms. I thank you for your support in only using the bays if you are a parent of students in Pre Kindy, Kindy or Pre Primary or if you are leaving your car to enter the school grounds for any reason.

SCHOOL ADVISORY COUNCIL COMMISSIONING MASS

On Sunday 14 March the Advisory Council (formerly known as the Catholic School Board) for 2021, were blessed and commissioned by Fr Elver at the 5.30pm Mass. I look forward to working collaboratively with all members of the Advisory Council as they fulfil their roles in actively contributing to and enriching both the Catholic ethos and informed, proper governance of the school. Through strong partnerships and by the coming together of various people with a range of gifts and talents, the school will become a stronger community and be more effective in its religious dimension, individual identity and educational charter.

Our 2021 School Advisory Council comprises of:
Chair: Basil Manganaro
Vice Chair: Nicola McVay
Treasurer: Clare Combe
Secretary: Jessica Schafer
Co-opted members: Kanwar Trevisan-Singh & John Croxford
P&F Representative: Angela Ford
Parish Priest: Fr Elver Delicano

PARENTS & FRIENDS COMMITTEE
I met with the P&F Committee for our second meeting of the year, back in the Ahern Centre last night and already there are a multitude of events being discussed and planned for 2021, by the ever enthusiastic group of parents.  I encourage you to keep an eye on the P&F section in our fortnightly school newsletter and the P&F Facebook Page to keep abreast of the many events and opportunities for parents organised by the P&F for our parent community. Meetings are now being held on Tuesdays @ 7.00pm to coincide with the Advisory Council Meetings @ 5.30pm. All parents are welcome to attend the P&F Meetings. Our 2021 P&F Committee is listed below:

President: Davide Trevisan-Singh
Secretary: Kath Warner
Assistant Secretary: Sarah Musca
Treasurer: Angela Ford
Assistant Treasurer: Kerrie Serrano
Class Re Coordinator: Cee-Anne Fraser.

VALUES MEDALS
Our students from Year 3 to 6 have been working with Mr John Greenhill to create and design individual concepts based on our School Values of Faith, Trust, Respect & Mercy.  The students have been producing digital designs to capture the essence of the Values and we will be working with the graphic artist, who designed our school branding package in 2015, to create individual medals for each Value.  Please enjoy looking at some of the draft designs by our talented students!  We hope to have our first medal for the Value of Trust ready early in Term 2.  At the end of this term recipients of the Value award for Trust will be presented with the current medal  but they will then be given the new Trust medal as well, when they arrive.

CHILD PROTECTION CURRICULUM  -  All classes will be working with the Keeping Safe: Child Protection Curriculum that has been adopted by all Catholic Education WA schools.  The curriculum is based on two main themes: 1. We all have the right to be safe  2. We can help ourselves to be safe by talking to people we trust. A separate letter will be sent out to all families so that parents and carers have a sound knowledge of the program so we can work together to ensure all our children can flourish in a safe and healthy environment.

CONGRATULATIONS AND WELCOME
On behalf of Mr & Mrs Keegan I would like to introduce you to their beautiful baby boy, Robin Stewart.  Mrs Keegan announced the birth of their beautiful boy on Tuesday 2 March.  He was safely delivered the night before and the new family are relishing spending time with their precious bundle.

INCURSION & EXCURSION PARENT INFORMATION LETTER

A letter will be coming out to parents and carers, via Seesaw, regarding the process we will be following as a school for future incursions and excursions, so keep an eye out for it early next week.  The letter informs parents and carers that the teachers will still be sending out all the information in a timely manner (two weeks prior to the event) but we are just removing the burden of signing and returning permission slips for compulsory activities. You will be informed of any preparation required with enough detail to allow you to engage with your child’s involvement. Signed permission slips will still be required if it is an optional activity eg Choir performances outside of school and Performing Arts involvement.

KINDY 2022  ENROLMENTS

If you have a child born between 1 July 2017 and 30 June 2018, they will be eligible for Kindy 2022.  If you haven’t already handed in your Enrolment Application Forms for your child, please do so as soon as possible.  The forms can be downloaded from the school website.  If you have any friends or neighbours in this age group, please advise them that we will be interviewing soon and that we would love to have them join our Liwara Community.

Wishing you God’s blessing.

Andrea Millar