I would like to first of all begin with a heartfelt thank you! Thank you for all the emails of support and for your patience during this time. This is new territory for everyone, and I have been most impressed with how we have continued to care for each other and pray for each other, as a
united community. The messages on the weekend, were all very confusing. But my hope and goal is that there will be clarity in this letter for all families.
This is our Catholic Education System priorities:
1. To ensure the safety and welfare of our staff, students and community,
2. To ensure continuity of learning as far as possible for all students,
3. To provide support to vulnerable students and families who need our assistance,
4. To provide a safe place for learning for the children of workers in essential roles that support the community and nation to function.
Therefore, for the remainder of this term:
1. Merici College will remain open to students who need a safe place to continue their learning, as per our normal timetable, from Tuesday 24 March until at least the end of Term 1, Thursday 9 April, as long as we can operate safely with sufficient staff and resources.
2. We support your right, as parents, to choose to keep your daughter at home, if you wish.
3. We will offer a program of learning that can be accessed remotely using Moodle and Email.
4. Staff will prepare remote learning programs for Term 2, such as video conferencing eg. Microsoft Teams however, we are not in a position to live stream classes this term. In order to ensure we can operate safely I would ask that you let me know, in writing (via email to [email protected]), if you plan to keep your daughter at home until the end of Term 1, Thursday 9 April. In case of an emergency, I can be contacted on 0409 482 483.
We realise that there may be changes to some families employment status directly due to COVID-19 and should any family experience difficulties in paying fees, you are asked to contact [email protected] who will provide you with information about assistance that may be available.
Yours sincerely
Loretta Wholley
Principal
