Dear Parents and Caregivers
Thank you for your ongoing support during this difficult time as we work in partnership for the learning needs of your daughters.
As directed by the Federal and State Governments we remain open for delivery of curriculum. As parents you have the choice whether to send your daughters to school or keep them home until the end of term. We understand there are family decisions you have made in the best interest of your daughters and your family contexts.
As of Monday 30 March, we will be moving to our Online Learning Program which will chiefly be delivered through SEQTA Learn and a select number of online platforms such as Teams. These will be used according to the teaching modes of departments as they see fit. This will be the mode of delivery for students who attend school and those who are at home.
We will be following the normal school timetable and we expect your daughter to complete work at the scheduled time. Teachers in all learning areas will be available for questions and clarification according to their availability at these times. It is the expectation students will attend to tasks and learning documents throughout the next two weeks until the end of term on Thursday 9 April.
We will inform you at a later date of plans for the Online Learning Program should this be required to continue in Term Two.
Unless we are directed to alter this plan by the Department of Health and government authorities, Mercy Education Limited and Catholic Education Western Australia, we will continue to keep our College open and deliver teaching and learning programs online.
We understand this may prove challenging for some students; however, we are dedicated to assisting all students at this time with this particular mode of delivery.
As mentioned in a previous email to you, assessment programs will continue until Friday 27 March. If students are not here to complete assessments, they will not be disadvantaged.
We will suspend in class written and practical assessment programs from Monday 30 March as already stated. While in class written and practical tests are not going to be set, there will be other assessments set by your teachers through SEQTA that your daughters will be expected to complete. If not completed, the rules of the Assessment Policy will apply.
Assessment programs for Term Two will be modified when we have a clearer picture of how schools will be impacted by government restrictions in light of the COVID-19 situation.
As communicated earlier this week, the School Curriculum and Standards Authority and the Tertiary Institute Services Centre are continuing to deliberate on the outcomes of the disruption to education for all year groups. This communication from Wayne Betts, Executive Officer at TISC, was sent on Monday 23 March:
TISC is closely monitoring the unfolding situation and acknowledges that there will be unavoidable and significant disruption for all school communities this year. While the situation will affect all students, we are particularly mindful of the impact it will have on Year 12 students..
I want to assure all Year 12 students that TISC will be working closely with WA universities, the School Curriculum and Standards Authority and other states’ Tertiary Admissions Centres to make sure that fair and transparent admissions processes are available for everyone seeking entry to university in 2021.
Students continuing to attend school from Monday 30 March
Students attending will need to meet at Coady Sport Centre at 8.20am where they will be directed to a specific section of the College to engage in online learning by their Head of Year. Social distancing regulations will apply and students will be provided with hand sanitisers and other items to assist with their hygiene.
Students will need to bring a fully charged and functioning device with headphones or earbuds, and other relevant resources.
Please reinforce with your daughters the importance of social distancing and hygiene standards as we work together to ensure your daughters’ safety at this time.
Please note: If your daughter is feeling unwell in any way, please keep her at home.
School Operations
• Catherine’s Café – will be open as usual
• Bus Services – these will run as normal
• Homework Club – this will continue to operate as normal
• Uniform Shop – this will operate as normal
• Music Tutors – students are to please liaise with tutors about arrangements
• Speech – Mrs Ritchie is using Teams to work with her students and work will be posted at the beginning of each week.
• College Psychologists – these will be available through email
• ICT Support – these personnel will operate between 8.00am and 4.00pm
• Teaching Staff – will be available by email for specific support to students between 8.30am to 3.45pm.
We acknowledge the hard work and dedication of our staff who have worked tirelessly to provide resources and upskill in the area of online learning. They have appreciated the positive comments of so many parents during this difficult time. Your daughters’ learning and health are the key priorities of our staff and we will seek to progress through this.
We will continue to update you as information and developments occur. Please keep in your prayers the whole College community, health workers and essential services who are working to support the wider community during the COVID-19 experience.
If you have any questions or clarification, please contact us at the College.
Yours sincerely
Mrs Kerrie Fraser