News & Events

Dear SJMS Community

We are getting closer!

(In alignment with SA Department for Education announcements made late yesterday 15/6/20)

Current school access arrangements (until 29 June)

A reminder that essential service staff (including support staff) can attend schools, Preschools and Early Childhood Services (at the request of Mrs Benci for SJMS).

This includes psychologists, speech pathologists and occupational therapists, school improvement support, and any other service that is vital to the health, wellbeing and learning outcomes of students.

From Monday 29 June, the following activities can resume providing government health advice and physical distancing requirements are strictly followed:

• Parents, volunteers, school support and other service providers may again enter school and Preschool grounds. All external service providers and volunteers must complete the site access forms on entry.
• School assemblies.
• Class photos.
• All intrastate camps and excursions with particular restrictions.
• All school sport competitions, sports days and carnivals, including inter-school competitions (but the use of change rooms and shower facilities is not permitted).
• Inter-school choirs, bands and other performing art activities.
• School formals, socials and discos.
• Playgroups and occasional care.

Requirements that remain in place:

• It is important that students and staff stay home if they are unwell.
• Physical contact (even between students) must be limited. Non-physical greetings should be encouraged.
• School, Preschool or Early Childhood visits to nursing homes cannot recommence.
• The general public should not access school playgrounds or play equipment.
• Parents must continue to physical distance, including at school pick up and drop off.
• Interstate and overseas travel remains on hold.

Co-curricular offerings

Mr Siinmaa has written about the return of sport in today’s newsletter. In addition, I have also written to parents yesterday about the recommencement of Debating for those Year 5 and 6 students who expressed an interest in this at the beginning of the year.

Year 6 Canberra Trip

While all SA borders will open on 20 July, the Department will consult with SA Health regarding interstate school camps and provide further advice.

Under the current SA Department for Education restrictions, the Canberra trip would not be able to go ahead. However, knowing that the potential relaxing of restrictions may allow the Year 6 Canberra trip to go ahead in late Term 3, Mrs Vassallo-Wakefield yesterday wrote to all Year 6 parents about the intended support of the Canberra trip if restrictions were to be relaxed by early next term when we would need to finalise travel arrangements. I look forward to seeing these, which we will share the outcome. The outcome will inform us, so we can be agile in our planning moving forward. 

School Board

Last Wednesday the School Board met. The outcomes of the meeting were that the school will proceed with the installation of a new play space at Bridge Street before the end of the year.

In addition, we also discussed Swanbury Penglase’s next iteration of detailed plans for the William Street Office and Ground Floor which you can via the links below:
Plan 1
Plan 2
Plan 3

I would love to hear your thoughts on these and have provided this link if you have any feedback.

Finally, we collectively contributed towards the drafted update of the CESA Fee Policy.

Reports

Please be reminded that reports are due to come home next Friday 26 June.

Mr Heaney

Thank you to everyone for your well wishes for Mr Heaney, I have passed these on. May we continue to keep Mr Heaney in our prayers that he has a speedy recovery.

God Bless

Brady Stallard

Photos: Year 6 students wearing their Leadership jumpers. Thank you Mr Heaney for your coordination and work to ensure the students receive their jumpers.