Dear Parent/Guardians

Ara aktar l-isfel għall-verżjoni bil-Malti.

Following the announcement that schools will only re-open in September 2020, there are a number of logistical issues that we need to consider. We are trying our best to reach out and support but please appreciate that we are dealing with an unprecedented scenario and may not have immediate answers to all your questions.

A few points:

There is only a skeleton staff at school and no one to answer your calls. If you have urgent issues then you may reach us via email. However, as advised earlier I cannot guarantee we will be able to answer every single query.

Children’s Belongings – We appreciate that many children left books, worksheets and other belongings at school. For the time being it is not possible for us to allow any parent to pick up any material from school. We are trying to find a way how parents can pick up their children’s belongings without putting anyone at risk. Please bear in mind that we need to deal with over 400 children. Ultimately, any way forward will have to be cleared by the Health Authorities. We will not make any exceptions whatsoever.

Moneys – As a result of schools closing, outings and other events have had to be cancelled. Some outings had already been paid for. We will take this into consideration when we start school again in September 2020. In so far as Year 6 students are concerned, we will liaise with the Middle School to make up for any money that has already been paid. Some parents had also paid for Figolli. Unfortunately, we cannot make any Figolli available and we will refund money in due course. We do not know when this will be possible yet.

Continued Support – We are working with teachers to find ways how to continue supporting our students during this period. We are looking at various possibilities but there is no clear-cut solution. We will be advising you of a way forward in due course.

Given the situation we need a shift in mindset. It would be foolish to assume that things can go on as if nothing is happening in the world. We need to consider the fact that children are experiencing this pandemic and first and foremost they need support to be able to deal with it. Content can be covered next year but we need to take of care of children’s mental well-being now.

The activities that we are making available aim to develop other skills and competences that children still need to develop over and above content. Children need to know how to navigate online environments along with the numerous online tools that are available. Knowing how to retrieve information online, critically reflecting on sources, creating online presentations and collaborating with others online are important skills that all our children should develop along with becoming independent, life-long learners.

We appreciate your co-operation and support during this difficult time. We will keep you updated with any developments.

Thank you, regards and stay safe!

Charlot Cassar
Head of School