Dear Parents and Caregivers,

As our School year and indeed our calendar year rapidly draws to its inevitable close, a subtle paradox is evident, for it is at this time of year that we enter the Season of Advent. This wonderful season is yet another of our church’s great gifts to us. It provides a time during which we are called to reflect, to pause and ponder, and wait with patient expectation for the coming of the Christ Child. It is a season that provides a new beginning; the birth of a child, born to be the Saviour of the World.

Given the extent of hype and the multitude of commercial paraphernalia that herald Christmas it becomes easy to overlook the Season of Advent. We can too readily become pre-occupied with the preparation for Christmas feasts, with the purchasing of gifts and the bidding of farewell to the year that has been and to acquaintances moving in different directions. All these are in themselves wonderful experiences of love, yet we are also called to enter into a phase of prayer, of promise and of expectation.

During the remaining weeks of school, our students will be drawn into the Season of Advent. This sense of waiting and wondering will form the focus of class prayer and school liturgies, as well as our formal Religious Education lessons.

Accompanying this preparation for Christmas will be the use of symbols that invite us to enter more deeply into these mysteries. The Advent Wreath calls us to focus on the light that is to come. Like many of the Advent and Christmas symbols, this symbol is one inherited from the Northern Hemisphere where the days are becoming shorter and darker and the candles are used to illuminate the way.

Last weekend we began the Liturgical Season of Advent. In Australia, we also use such symbols, and although they may not have the same connection with the seasons, they form part of our traditions and we rightly celebrate their use. A particular and unique aspect of our Advent season is the burst of blooms from the Jacaranda trees and Agapanthus plants. In what seems to be a particularly brilliant spring, these mauve blossoms adorn the trees and adorn our pavements and yards and in a particularly Australian way, they herald the Season of Advent. As we drive through our neighbourhoods marvelling at the Christmas lights, may we also pause to admire these delicate purple blossoms and turn our thoughts and those of our children, to this Season of Advent. 

As we to embark upon our 2020 Advent journey in what has been a particularly challenging year,  may we all be open to the opportunity for a fresh start and allow God’s grace to guide us and to work within our lives.

Tina Murray

Principal

EMERGENCY PROCEDURES - The safety of your child and all students in our schools, as well as the safety of the school staff and support personnel is very important to us. In order to maintain a safe environment for our students to study and learn, it is a necessary compliance requirement that we practice our emergency and crisis response plans by having drills designed to exercise our procedures. 

In response to parent feedback regarding the lockdown drill that was conducted last term, we are providing the following information to help parents understand the importance of these practices as well as to understand each type of drill.

The students and staff of our school are required to practice the following emergency drills each year. Each type of drill is explained below.

EVACUATION DRILLS - The school is required to conduct an “evacuation drill” on an annual basis.  

During an “Evacuation Drill”, students will be safely escorted along a designated evacuation route to our pre-determined evacuation site – the Infants Grass Area.  

At the conclusion of the drill, all students will be escorted back to their classrooms. We want each student to understand and be aware of the importance of this drill and not be afraid when the alarm is sounded.  By practicing they will know what to do and how to do it in the event of an actual emergency.

LOCKDOWN DRILLS - The school must conduct at least one “Lockdown Drill” throughout each school year. This type of drill will secure the school building and safely shelter all students, staff and visitors inside the building.  The purpose of this drill is to keep the students safe from any danger outside or inside the building. During a “lockdown drill” all of the perimeter doors to the school building will be locked and will remain locked until the danger or issue outside or inside the building is removed.  To enable everyone to remain safe, no one will be allowed to enter the building or leave the building until the drill is completed.  

In the event of an actual emergency, to maintain the safety of everyone involved and to maintain order, we respectfully ask that you abide by the following:

• Do not come to the school site.
• Do not call the school offices (as we will be busy with the drill or actual emergency).
• Do not contact students or staff members via mobile phone or social media (as they will be busy with the drill or actual emergency).
• Avoid social media posts. Correct information will be disseminated through the Compass system as soon as possible.
• Please make sure that your contact information is current at all times so that you can be reached without delay in the event of an emergency.
• In the event of an actual emergency, you will receive notification about where to pick up your child as soon as practicable.

Please remember that these safety practice drills are done to help maintain our schools as a safe place to learn and work.

Please discuss these procedures with your child. Our final drill for 2021 will be an evacuation drill and is scheduled to take place next week.

Tina Murray

Principal