From the Assistant Principal

Welcome to the 2022 school year. It is great to have all students back on school grounds. The explosion of excitement during our first days back saw the familiar buzz of MSCW return as well, a buzz that always confirms my appreciation for being a part of this wonderful community. We had the privilege this week of opening our school year with the Opening Mass. It is always a special time when our community comes together to celebrate. It was an opportunity to welcome and bless our Year 7s and new staff to the College, and recognise our Year 11 students as members of our Senior community. 

As we begin the new year, we continue to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, to ensure our students return to school in a safe way but also experience all aspects of school life. I would like to thank our parents who have supported this transition with such short notice.

Our current COVID-safe practices are in line with the Public Health Order which schools are a part of. A summary is below:

Key Features of Our College Safety Plan:

• Cohorting 
• Staff and students are mandated to wear masks indoors and it is highly recommended they are worn outdoors
• Classrooms are well ventilated
• Restrictions on visitors. When visitors are onsite and providing a service to the College they are required to be double vaccinated.
• A rigorous schedule of cleaning, sanitising and distancing
• All staff are double vaccinated

Masks

Masks are required by law to be worn at all times on public transport, this includes school specials and private chartered buses. Health NSW guidelines indicate masks need to be well fitted surgical masks or N95 masks. Cloth and vented masks are not recommended.

Rapid Antigen Testing Program

This week the College distributed the RAHT kits to all students for testing to occur in Week 3 and 4. I ask for the support of parents and carers in ensuring that their daughters are tested on a Monday and Wednesday morning at home before coming to school. Thank you again for your support in this process.

A Positive RAHT 

If you receive a positive result it is important that you log that result with NSW Health through Service NSW and call the College Attendance office to report your positive result. Once you have registered a positive result with NSW Health they will provide a Medical Clearance Notice. Please attach this notice to your daughter’s COMPASS attendance note. Your child and members of your household will need to isolate for seven days.

A Negative RAHT 

If a test is negative students can attend school as normal, there is no need to report a negative result.

Students who have already had COVID, do not need to test for 28 days from the day they tested positive unless symptoms reappear. This also applies to isolation periods.

COVID Symptoms 

It is important that everyone is vigilant regarding their health and their children’s health. Please do not send your child to school if they have any COVID symptoms (including runny nose, cough, fever, sore throat) even if they have returned a negative RAHT test. This is important for the safety of all our staff, students and their families.

Over the last week, you would have received communication via COMPASS when the College has had a confirmed positive case. It is a requirement that schools identify the cohort to parents of that year group and the wider community is alerted to the positive case. The number of notifications you receive can be overwhelming, however, it is important that you monitor your daughter for symptoms following this communication. 

School Events

Activities such as excursions, camps and sports have returned and will be managed according to COVID-safe practices and advice provided by NSW Health, the Department of Education and Sydney Catholic Schools. All school events that occur offsite will require COVID-19 consent from parents. Consent will be required for external School events via COMPASS. For events such as camps and retreats, it is mandatory for all students to engage in a Rapid Antigen Test on the morning of the event prior to coming to school. This information will be made clear in the event notification you will receive via COMPASS.

Finally, I take this opportunity to remind parents/carers and students of the following expectations of the College

Personal Presentation

I  would like to congratulate most students and their families on the way in which they have presented themselves on return to the College. The wearing of the College uniform reflects our College to the wider community and the expectation, therefore, is that all students maintain a high standard of neatness while wearing our uniform. It is important that all students adhere to our expectations and in advance, I wish to thank all of the parents and guardians for their support in this matter. 

Mobile Phones

I would like to remind students that there is to be no use of mobile devices from the time a student enters the College gates until the final bell at 3.15 pm. Where a student needs to make contact with home/parents during the course of the school day, students should attend the General Administration Office to use the College phone or seek permission to use their mobile device in Pieta Place. Please be reminded that messaging or texting on a mobile device is inappropriate and will result in devices being confiscated.

My best wishes to each student and each family as we begin our year together in 2022! 

This article on College life meets The Archbishop’s Charter for Catholic Schools – Charter #2, #6 & #8