From the Principal

Welcome to our Week 3 newsletter for Term 2. It has been wonderful to see our students return to school and see the settled learning that is happening in classrooms. I have enjoyed the conversations I have had with children who are able to express what they are learning, what they find challenging and, what they are enjoying. With the current restrictions in place, we will continue with no visiting adults and parents on the school grounds for Week 4. I look forward to starting up music lessons, support and assessments on site in the future. The canteen has continued to provide food for our staggered break times as well as Temple students this week. We have really appreciated the extra effort and flexibility our staff are showing each day. The Uniform shop will not reopen just yet, so we will notify you when this does occur. Now that South Australia is in a relatively safe position, we will give you information through the newsletter one week and a memo to update you on the other week to stay up to date with how we will gradually return to a new normal. Our increased hygiene practices and temperature checks are continuing at this stage.

Thank you for your responses to our survey for parents last week attached to the memo. We continue to listen to the community as we shape the adjustments that we make in the way we work and learn together. Our desire to continually improve together has been one of the distinctives of our school and I appreciate your participation. Our teachers are having many conversations about what we value and how we can use this interruption to our normal as an opportunity to make worthwhile changes. I was reflecting on some of the major disruptions that have happened in history and how they often sparked new opportunities that we now enjoy today. Invention and innovation are often sparked as we are forced by circumstances to change.

This week we have asked for a 360’ tour to be filmed to help us in continuing our enrolment process. Thank you for those who have given permission for your child to be a part of these photographs. This will enable us to run a School Tour without bringing visitors on site. Please continue to take care of your family’s health and take care as restrictions are gradually lifted. We want to see community interaction returned and it is as we each take responsibility to do our part that this can occur. Each week I am reminded of how blessed we are here at Bethany and I often pray for God’s protection, guidance and peace for you and your family.

God bless,

Wendy Matear
Principal

Memory Verse

Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.

Romans 5:1

Deputy's Corner

I would like to take the time to personally, and on behalf of our staff, thank everyone for refraining from coming onto the school site during the COVID-19 social distancing restrictions. Your support has made our work a little easier. An unexpected benefit from having students walk into the school site without an adult has been the growth in independence from our students. Our students also need special commendation, as they have been so settled in the mornings and start each day with a positive attitude and terrific focus.

With over 90% of our students attending the school site this week, and with Temple Christian College resuming face to face learning, I am sure that you have noticed the increase in drop-off and pick-up time school traffic. If you choose to use our turning circle or kiss ‘n’ drop, can I please encourage you to be patient with the increased traffic and to abide by the traffic signs and speed limits? Please be mindful of the time periods when you can turn left into and out of our turning circle onto Countess Street. Thank you to everyone who has demonstrated patience and observed the road rules, because it helps us keep our students safe. Some parents have decided that it is quicker and easier to park in neighbouring streets and walk to school to drop off or pick up their child each day. If you choose this option, please be aware of where you park so that we can show great respect for the residents in our neighbourhood.

We are assembling the students at 3.05pm each day to manage a prompt dismissal at 3.10pm from the two access points in our school – the front turning circle and the back kiss ‘n’ drop zones. Thank you for your patience when you are asked to either park your car to wait for your child, or choose to do another ‘loop’ to give your child sufficient time to be ready to be picked up!

It is a difficult act to juggle being a parent, working and managing a household during the global pandemic. Thanks for your patience, resilience and for working with us.

I wish you and your families well this week.

God bless you,

Deb Clifford
Deputy Principal

Highlights

Weekly Information

Important Dates

Date	Event
Friday 5th June	Pupil Free Day - Camp Australia Open
Monday 8th June	Queen's Birthday Public Holiday

2020 Term Dates
Term 1	Term 2
Monday 3rd February to Friday 3rd April	Monday 27th April to 3rd July
Term 3	Term 4
Tuesday 21st July to 25th September	Monday 12th October to Wednesday 9th December