Dear Parent/Guardian,

Along with other schools in Shepparton, we are currently experiencing high levels of staff and student absences. These are mainly due to high levels of COVID transmission and a bad strain of influenza circulating in the Goulburn Valley. Our teaching staff and Casual Relief Staff have been covering these absences to date; however, we are becoming more stretched each week. We are limited in how many extras we can allocate to our teaching staff by our Enterprise Agreement and our teachers have already covered many more classes than would be usual in previous years.

In consultation with Catholic Education Sandhurst Limited we have made the difficult decision to cancel classes for some year levels over the coming fortnight. These are as follows:

Tuesday 17 May – No classes for Year 10 students*
Wednesday 18 May – No classes for Year 8 students
Thursday 19 May – No classes for Year 11 students
Friday 20 May – No classes for Year 7 students

Monday 23 May – No classes for Year 8 students
Wednesday 25 May – No classes for Year 11 students
Thursday 26 May – No classes for Year 7 students
Friday 27 May – No classes for Year 10 students

*All year 10 students who are participating in Goulburn Murray Division of School Sport Victoria (GMDSSV) tomorrow are still able to attend. Please ensure you arrive at the Mercy Stadium at 8:45am as per your instructions for the event.

Any Year 10 or Year 11 students who are accelerating a VCE subject are also able to attend school and go to their accelerated classes. If they need to stay at school they are able to go to the library and study.

A supervision program will be available to support students whose parents are essential workers. This will be conducted in the Library from 8:45am – 3:15pm. You must book your child in CLICK HERE and use code WS7VU, if your child will be attending for supervision on the day your child’s classes are cancelled. Full school uniform is required for all students onsite.

Although there will no remote lessons provided to students on these days, we would expect that they use the time to catch up on tasks and complete home study.

In addition to these measures and to prevent further spread of illness, we are also cancelling all overnight camps for the rest of Term 2. Some staff organising these camps may give considerations to alternative day trips, if they do this, they will be in touch with further details.

We are grateful for your patience and understanding as we navigate this period of time.

Sincerely,

John Cortese,
Principal