Welcome back to school for 2022. I hope that everyone managed to have a restful break over the Christmas period and some respite from the hot Murchison summers. I really appreciated spending time with my grandchildren over the Christmas period.

We welcome back all staff from 2021 to Pia Wadjarri in 2022. We have been very lucky to maintain staff consistency as we enter a year of significant unrest due to Covid.

 Covid is a hot topic as we commence our new school year. School is functioning as normal with all classes running on site. Students are able to attend school daily and participate in their regular learning programme. Each day commences with the students particpating in Mindup and reading.

However, due to the Covid pandemic, we have unfortunately had to postpone several significant whole school events for term one; namely a camp to Perth with CSIRO/Curtin University, a rugby camp to Mullewa and Geraldton and our 20^th Year  school celebration. The Perth camp and the 20^th year celebration will be rescheduled later this year, depending on  what happens with the spread of Covid in 2022.

 Since our return to school for term one, staff have been working in partnership with Department of Communities, Education and the elders of our community in reviewing our plans to keep our school community as safe as possible during the current spread of Covid. We are currently awaiting the revised Covid plan from Department of Communities so that we can utilise it to complement the School Covid procedures.   

We have implemented an increase in our stringent Covid cleaning regime across the school, hand sanitiser is being provided in all areas, and all indoor meetings have been temporarily suspended. The school is strictly following all health guidelines to ensure that students and staff remain as safe as possible.

The Chief Health Officer has directed that no parents or visitors are allowed into classrooms for the current time. If you have any queries with school or your child’s teacher please feel welcome to make contact at the school via telephone.

As part of our Covid planning, we would like all families to update their contact details at the school. If there is a reason to make urgent contact during the Pandemic, it is important that the Principal or AIEO’s can make contact at any time to keep everyone updated about the constantly changing circumstances of Covid.

Some great things are happening at school this year, despite Covid restrictions. We have commenced a senior Boys and Girls club, with our AIEO’s Bradley and Kylie taking on a mentoring role each week with our senior students. Sean is going to be running a whole school Design and Technology programme each week, allowing all students to participate in 3D printing, woodwork and some construction. Marika is running a programme to show our little ones what it was like to live in the “Olden days,” even though for some us, it does not seem so long ago!

Whole school testing has been underway this week, so all students will be able to be provided with developmentally appropriate learning programmes. Teachers and AIEO’s will soon be contacting parents to talk with them about their child’s learning plan for semester one.

On entry Testing for Pre Primary students will be taking place at the school at the commencement of week 3- parents of the children concerned will be contacted before the testing commences.

I appreciate that some students have not returned to school yet due to Covid uncertainty, but we hope to see everyone back as soon as families feel reassured to return to our school community.

Have a great fortnight everyone, and keep safe.

The Secondary Assistance Scheme [SAS] is to assist low-income families with secondary schooling costs for students in Years 7 to 12. To be eligible for the school, the parent or guardian must hold at least one of these concession cards:

• Centrelink Health Care Card
• Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card
• Veterans' Affairs Pensioner Concession Card [blue]

The concession card must:

• be valid for at least 4 weeks
• be valid for some time wihtin term 1 [31 January - 8 April 2022]
• have the student listed on it
• not be expired at the time of applying for SAS

If you require further information or assistance in completing an application please see Susan Trigwell, Bradley Barbuto or Kylie Simpson.

The new look uniform has arrived and can be purchased from the office. See Ms Kylie for assistance in applying for funding or contact Ms Sonia on 9923 5204 for bank details.