In Saturday’s Courier Mail, Q Weekend, William McInnes wrote about the beautiful way that a mother explained to her three young children about why people are wearing masks.  It reminded me that these are challenging times for young children who are being bombarded with negativity 24/7.  The children pick bits and pieces of what they hear and then this becomes parts of their conversations.  They watch and hear what we, the adults, are saying and doing.  The Physical Education department at Caloundra City Private School has had very open and honest conversations with our students about the virus, what it entails and what they can do to limit exposure to themselves and others.   A reminder that the school has a subscription to School TV – it has an excellent segment on answering the questions that children have about the virus.  Well worth the watch if you have the opportunity. Postponements and Cancellations due to the Current Community Restrictions Firstly, a very big thank you to all the students and parents for your understanding over the past week or so as we (the School) receive information and then react to the guidelines that the various community organisations and levels of government issue.  The School’s administration and School Board have also been very proactive in ensuring these and other measures are enacted as soon a physically possible.  Still our ‘rule of thumb’ for our community is – ‘if in doubt, avoid the situation/happening and keep your personal hygiene and distance from others’. All large gathering sporting events that Caloundra City Private School are involved in the students will no longer be part of until further notice.  Monday Night Netball has re-scheduled lost games, but these are also on hold until further updates from the government are received.  Our Cross Country Carnival will be re-scheduled to a date and time that I will advise all when we are able to.  This date is likely to be late Term 2 or even in Term 3.  The SCISSA District Cross Country Carnival was to be held on Tuesday May 5 has been cancelled and will not run at all.  Any student who would like to nominate to run at the Regional Carnival on June 9 is asked to contact me for details.  At the moment the Caloundra City Private School Year 3 – 12 Athletics scheduled to be held at the USC on Friday May 22 is also on hold awaiting further advice from the University and Federal Government re the status of large gatherings at that time. All changes, postponements, cancellations and re-scheduling on sporting events and carnivals will be forwarded to the community via texts, the Parent Portal and in this Weekly Newsletter. Our normal HPE classes, Tuesday Afternoon Sport and Friday Afternoon Sport programs and lessons will continue.  Plans for the first four weeks of Tuesday and Friday Afternoon Sport in Term 2 will see all of the students based at school undertaking Athletics field event training, fitness programs and ball skill activities in small age and year groups.  Again, further planning of weeks five and onwards will be released after the school holidays. Years Seven and Eight Camp – Re-scheduled New Date The Year Seven and Eight Camp has been re-scheduled to Monday June 15 – Wednesday June 17 inclusive.  The camp will still be held at Somerset Outdoor Recreation Centre on Somerset Dam.  The Parent Information evening about this camp will now be held on Tuesday May 19 at 6.30pm in RBH 3.  This re-scheduled date will also be reviewed as the weeks go on. Students Absent and Physical Activity A number of parents have contacted me and asked what can they do to continue the son or daughter’s physical activity whilst at home?  Whilst these students are restricting themselves from contact with others, many activities can still be undertaken.  Set up an activity/exercise program plan in and around the house.  Schedule this program into the student’s day just as their subject study is.  Many simple items can be run to keep the young ones active – skipping, shuttle runs in the back yard, step ups, exercise bikes (if you have one), sit up and push ups, agility courses.  Being at home doesn’t mean being a ‘lounge lizard’. Practical Assessments in Physical Education for Years Seven – Eleven The department has been fortunate in receiving advanced warning of possible absenteeism and other issues.  With this knowledge, practical assessments have been bought forward and occurred this week instead of next week.  We shall continue with the current practical units until the start of next term as planned. Peter McMahon Head of Physical Education