Principal’s COVID Update – Wednesday 6 April 2022

COVID DISRUPTIONS

Dear Parents and Carers,

Yesterday and today I have written to families regarding unavoidable changes to the final two days of Term 1, necessitated by COVID disruptions.

Year 10 Closure: Thursday 7 April

Throughout Term 1 the College has been juggling a reduced workforce as a result of COVID cases and staff members required to isolate. We are pleased that up until now we have managed normal operations without any closures. We acknowledge the teaching staff have been allocated additional classes to cover gaps and have been generous with their time.

However, we have exhausted all contingencies in an attempt to manage the staffing at St Mary’s this Thursday. The College has consulted Mercy Education Ltd and Catholic Education Sandhurst Ltd and it has been determined that the Year 10 students will be asked to stay at home this Thursday 7 April. Teachers of Year 10 students have been asked to prepare work for these students to be completed at home on Thursday.

Arrangements will be made for a small group of Year 10 VET Certificate students, undertaking First Aid training to remain onsite. Those students will be contacted separately and individually to confirm.

As the College was having difficulty allocating appropriate levels of teaching staff for Year 11 and 12 classes, the decision to preclude one year level from onsite attendance allows the Year 10 teachers to be reallocated. Please understand that online teaching is not currently permitted within the guidelines.

Friday 8 April will be a normal day, with all students attending onsite and the day will include the Way of the Cross liturgy, Site Assembly, Caritas Carnival and barbeque lunch.

Through Term 2, these closures could well become more common and are already growing more frequent across all educational sectors. The lack of replacement teachers across the board is a massive issue and we are working hard to ensure normal operations for our students.

We apologise for this inconvenience and thank you for your support.

Yours sincerely

Brian Turner, Principal

Last Day: Changes to Schedule on Friday 8 April

Dear Parents and Carers

We have been closely monitoring the fluctuating COVID numbers here at Catherine McAuley College and at our major feeder primary schools. In considering the information, it has been determined that a whole-school assembly could potentially cause further mayhem. We understand that it is the last day of term, but also do not want to create a difficult scenario going into the holidays. The College has always been very diligent in maintaining the COVID protocols and making decisions in the best interests of our community.

Therefore, it has been decided that while programs and liturgies will still take place at each campus on Friday, the whole-school assembly in the gym at St Mary’s is cancelled. The PAM consent for Coolock students will remain unchanged and we ask that those who have not consented for the Caritas Ks Walk please do so. Log in to PAM.

The full letter I sent to parents on Tuesday 5 April can be downloaded below and includes full details of the schedule for each campus on Friday. A reminder that school finishes one hour early on Friday.

Please also remember to donate to the incredible work that Caritas extends across the world. When one observes the atrocities in Ukraine, it highlights the importance of the work that agencies such as Caritas perform.

Yours sincerely

Brian Turner, Principal