It has been wonderful to have our Year 11 and 12 students back this week, and I am looking forward to the whole school re-uniting onsite next Monday!

A positive of remote teaching is that video interactions and collective stress have lent an element of closeness to teacher/student relationships. Students can be in no doubt that their teachers care for them, and perhaps relationships between students and their teachers that we see in the senior year levels might develop earlier in the pre-senior classes.

This week marks the beginning of National Reconciliation week (27 May-3 June 2020).

In 2016, I was humbled by the welcoming address to delegates of a combined, Australian and New Zealand Catholic Secondary Principals conference in Queenstown, NZ.  Without translation nor explanation, it was given in Māori … and this was no 10-second sound bite, but an address that went on for several minutes.  I came away with an appreciation of the level of regard that is accorded the indigenous Polynesian people of New Zealand and a vision of where Reconciliation can lead us.

Recent experiences, however, have given me cause to reflect further upon Reconciliation. One such experience was watching the documentary, The Australian Dream.  For me, it was both informative and formative.

I will continue to keep you in my prayers,

Frank Pisano

Congratulations to the Ruffels, Abraham and Willet Families on taking out top prizes at the Virtual Trivia Night.  If you haven't collected your prize yet, they are at the Caritas Office.

Well done to the Gausden family and Abby Marcello for the winning Lyons themed platter. Great effort by all entrants.

Congratulations to the Thomas Boys with the F Bro's Cooking Show - you were awarded First Prize in the Anzac Biscuit Cooking Competition.  There is a prize for you at Caritas Reception also.

Certificate II in Salon Assistant students completed their Covid-19 Infection Control training today. The salon and their tools and equipment are now ready for them to continue their VET studies. It is so lovely having students and life back in the salon. 

In March, two of our students (Mitchell Nield and Annalee Bidwell) attended a Cancer Council Tasmania (CCT) Sun Smart workshop for secondary schools. The workshop focused on improving students' knowledge of UV risk , improving sun protection behaviours and reviewing CCT's engagement with adolescents. The intention was for students to leave the workshop empowered to disseminate Sun Smart messages and act as role models for fellow students in their school. 

It was a very successful day with lots of learnings for students and also for CCT to increase engagement with schools and students.  

Extension of fare amnesty to Sunday 5 July 2020

The fare amnesty period for both general access and fare charging school bus services has been extended to Sunday, 5 July 2020. This means that no contracted bus operator should charge any fares until Monday, 6 July 2020.

The fare amnesty is being extended to provide extra time for passengers to access a smartcard and non-cash credit top up arrangements (where available), or other options for cashless payment.

Advice to families is that students without a smartcard should apply for one from their bus operator (where available) as soon as possible during the fare amnesty.

Students who travel on a school bus that does not have a cashless ticketing option should be encouraged to purchase a ten-trip ticket to minimise the frequency of cash handling on the bus when the fare amnesty has ended. Where possible, parents/carers are encouraged to purchase ten-trip tickets from the operator’s sales office or depot location to further minimise cash handling on the bus.

The Department of State Growth has advised families (through the Department of Education) to contact their operator for information on cashless options available on their services – so please be prepared to respond to any enquiries and where possible, make information available on your website.

As on-site learning resumes for all students, passenger numbers on bus services will increase. If you have concerns about overcrowding on your bus service, please contact the Passenger Transport Branch by email ptscontracts@stategrowth.tas.gov.au or call (03) 6166 3343 with the information. A team has been established to investigate issues and respond quickly.

Further announcements may affect ongoing service requirements and the department will continue to update you as information becomes available. New information on school bus arrangements and the fare amnesty can be found on the website at: www.coronavirus.tas.gov.au/fam...

Passenger Transport Branch | Department of State Growth

At Merseylink we take bus safety very seriously and always look for ways to improve and

make bus travel safer for students.

We have recently designed a new Bus Safety Brochure, which includes tips on bus safety,
safety rules, riding the bus, exiting the bus and tips for parents.

It is essential that children and parents understand the importance of safety both as a
passenger on the bus and as a pedestrian around the bus. Attached is a brochure focusing
on bus safety. We would like to encourage you to distribute this to all students and parents.

Brochure available HERE

Kind Regards,
Jorja Horton
Operations Support Officer