Dear Parents, Carers, Staff and Students, 

Welcome back to Term Four! I trust that the student holiday break provided families with the opportunity to spend time together without the  need to keep  schedules and plans. As we journey ahead into term four we look forward, with a sense of excitement and celebration, to see the return of face-to face learning. As we stated in the letter sent out to all parents today, students across the state will now return to face-to-face learning according to the following schedule:

• 18 October 2021: Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 12

• 25 October 2021: All remaining year groups

Throughout this whole process of remote learning,  at St Anthony’s we have centred all that we do  around three key elements:

• as a Catholic school, a continued focus on our faith and quality learning. 
• the highest priority given to adhering to safety of all by following mandatory health requirements. 
• prioritising the wellbeing of our families, our staff and our students.

As the students return to face-to-face learning over the next few weeks I would like to highlight the key strategies that will support the continued focus on our three key elements:

As a Catholic school, a continued focus on our faith and quality learning

As the students return to school we are reminded that we are Catholic School first foremost. Planning is underway to ensure students are able to participate in and celebrate liturgy, prayer, mediation, and reconnect with their Catholic community, St Anthony’s. Our quality learning will focus on the Key Learning Areas of English, Mathematics and Religious Education, with an emphasis on social and emotional learning. A natural concern from parents is the impact that remote learning has had on their child’s learning and the need to seek clarity to where their child is, at in relation to expected learning outcomes for their grade. Upon the return for students, teachers will work to assess where students are at and provide guidance for the next steps in their learning. As educators, we need to find the balance between assessment of learning, quality learning and teaching activities that engage the students' joy for being back at school whilst not ‘jumping back in the deep end’ by overwhelming the students with unrealistic expectations.

The highest priority given to adhering to safety of all by following mandatory health requirements

During the staged return, our school will follow the prescribed NSW Health Level 3 / Level 3 Plus restrictions, which apply across NSW. I ask that you read the note sent home today that prescribes, in detail, expectations around adhering to all mandatory health requirements.

Prioritising the wellbeing of our families, our staff and our students.

The pandemic and extended lockdown have impacted students, parents and our staff's social and emotional wellbeing to varying degrees. The wellbeing plan aims to create a safe and supportive environment and will include opportunities for student connection, growing a sense of belonging, and the building of social and emotional skills. Our Positive Behaviours For Learning (PB4L) is an essential component and will focus on re-establishing predictable school routines and rituals so that students feel safe and secure.

As we look forward to the return of our students over the next few weeks can I share with this lovely prayer:

"Lord, 

As we prepare to walk into the future we pray for the "new normal" to come. 

May the tender moments of seeing someone again in person be all the more rich and treasured. 

May the reunions, interactions, and moments ahead be held with more meaning.

May we find the face of God in each other.

And may all this be done with a sense of gratitude.

Amen."

Mr Justin Devlin

Principal