Welcome to Parent Talk
Welcome to the sixth edition of CCSP's Parent Talk for 2021.
As we approach the end of this unusual school term, we can be confident that things will change for the better in the not-too-distant future.
I, like many other citizens of NSW, am delighted that Premier Gladys Berejiklian has announced the roadmap to freedom. The milestone for easing of restrictions is 70% of adults (aged 16+) to have received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
The previously announced return to school dates for local government areas in lockdown remain unchanged at this stage.
Term 3, which has seen an unprecedented amount of disruption to schooling, is nearly finished. On behalf of the parents and carers of NSW/ACT, I would like to thank all teachers for their ongoing dedication. We hope you enjoy a restful holiday away from screens. Thank you to the system leaders and school principals for prioritising the health, safety and wellbeing of all staff, students and their families.
Catholic Schools NSW (CSNSW) continues to work with the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) and NSW Health to update guidelines for school operations. Your school will keep you advised about return to school arrangements as more definite decisions are made.
Thank you to those school communities who have already entered submissions to the 2021 Roger O’Sullivan Memorial Award. Your community has until 20 October 2021 to submit an entry.
There was no sign of Zoom fatigue from the attendees at the recent CCSP Council Meeting and CCSP Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Parent Committee meetings. Members shared many valuable insights from their dioceses, including their disappointment that COVID-19 has caused plans to change and school-based learning activities to be severely limited. More information about these meetings are in this newsletter.
I am continuing to work on various projects identified in the CCSP Strategic Plan and joint projects with Catholic School Parents Australia, CSNSW and NESA.
The majority of people in NSW will not be able to attend Mass in person until NSW reaches the 70% double dose vaccination milestone. I urge you to help reach the milestone. If you have not yet done so, please make an appointment to be vaccinated.
Let us continue to keep in our thoughts and prayers everyone affected by this global pandemic and do what we can to help those around us. At the same time, let us not forget about families in the nation of Afghanistan who once again, face the risk of tumult and oppression.
Please take care and keep well.
Kind regards
Peter Grace
Executive Director