Newsletter 52 - April 29th 2022
Prayer of the Week:
God of love and liberty, we bring our thanks this day for the peace and security we enjoy, which was won for us through the courage and devotion of those who gave their lives in time of war. We pray that their labour and sacrifice may not be in vain, but that their spirit may live on in us and in generations to come. That the liberty, truth and justice which they sought to preserve may be seen and known in all the nations upon earth.
This we pray in the name of the one who gave his life for the sake of the world, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Principal's Report:
Welcome
COVID Update
The Victorian Government has announced some important changes to COVIDSafe measures for schools for Term 2.
Face masks
From 11:59 pm Friday 22 April, face masks, while recommended, are not required in any school setting. This means students in Grades 3 to 6, staff and visitors in primary schools are no longer required to wear face masks. Any student or staff member who wishes to wear a mask may do so, including those who are medically at-risk.
Screening requirements
Students who have tested positive for COVID-19, and have completed their 7-day isolation period, now do not need to undertake rapid antigen test (RAT) screening for 12 weeks after their release from isolation. This was previously 8 weeks.
Household contacts
Students who are household contacts of a COVID-19 case are not required to quarantine. They may return to school as long as they undertake rapid antigen tests (RAT) 5 times during their 7-day period. They are required to notify the school that they are a household contact.
Students aged 8 years and above who are household contacts are required to wear face masks when indoors at school unless they have a valid exemption.
If a student household contact returns a positive RAT result, they must isolate for 7 days.
Vaccination requirements for visitors to schools
Parents, carers and other adult visitors (not performing work) are no longer required to show evidence of two doses of COVID-19 vaccine.
RAT screening program reminder
RATs will continue to be supplied for the first 4 weeks of Term 2 to support the early detection of COVID-19 in our school.
The testing recommendations will remain the same this Term for students and staff with:
- mainstream schools – recommended to test at home twice a week
- specialist schools – recommended to test 5 days a week at home due to the higher risk of severe illness for medically vulnerable children.
As we approach winter and flu season, the vaccination of children aged 5 to 11 and booster shots for students 16+ remains the best way to ensure protection for students and staff.
If you have any concerns about getting your child vaccinated, please get in contact with your GP or another health professional who can answer your questions.
Staffing Announcement
Acting on medical advice, our Foundation teacher Mrs. Lauren Sharp will be required to take leave from the start of Term Two. On behalf of the school community, I would like to wish Lauren and her husband Rohan all the best as they prepare for the arrival of their first child.
To ensure the best possible learning outcomes for our students the following staffing arrangements will be in place from the beginning of Term Two for the remainder of the 2022 school year. Miss Lillie Comitti will be the Foundation Classroom Teacher with additional support from Mrs. Judy Giles. Mrs. Fiona Harney will be the Junior HC (Grade Two) Classroom Teacher with additional support from Mrs. Michelle Howard.
Master Plan Survey
Later this term, architect Russell Hawkes from the firm Morton Dunn will visit the school for a site visit as we continue to develop our Master Plan. This plan will set out how we wish to operate as a school in the future and the facilities needed to support this. If you haven’t yet had your input to the Master Plan, please use the link below to complete a short survey: https://forms.gle/ywhoJMDc4nUo8xXA9
Upcoming Events
Our Parents and Friends Association will be running the annual Mother’s Day stall on Thursday, May 5th. If you are able to help out on the day please contact Nicole Osborne 0438 684 477. This will be followed by a Mother’s Day liturgy and luncheon on Friday, May 6th.
The school Athletics Carnival will be held at North Park on Monday May 9th.
With Faith in our Future
Chris McAloon
A Word from the Office:
Are your details up to date?
Please remember to update our records should there be any change to your details, including;
- Address (residential or postal)
- Phone number
- Email address
- Bank Details (for those with scheduled Direct Debits)
- Contact listing (Emergency Contacts and/or those listed as authorised to collect students)
To update your records, please request a Change of Details form from the office.
Kind regards,
Anna Wadge, Business Manager
Wellbeing:
Welcome back to Term 2, I hope you all had a lovely holiday break and got some much needed rest.
We’re all very pleased to see everyone back at school smiling and laughing as we know it truly is the best medicine.
This Term we will be joined by Jodie from Catholic Care Victoria who will be at school on Mondays. Jodie is a School Pastoral Care worker who will be conducting one-on-one and small group counselling sessions for students.
We would like to thank Jodie for taking on the opportunity to work with our sensational team at St Patrick’s Primary School and wish her the very best. If you see Jodie around the yard on a Monday make sure you stop and say hello.
Catholic Care has wonderful values that coincide greatly with us at St Patrick’s.
Catholic Care Values:
Strengthening families & communities
At CatholicCare Victoria we empower communities, build strength and resilience, and work to help everyone reach their full potential.
We support those who find themselves on the fringes of society, and we help to bring them in.
Human Dignity, Solidarity, Subsidiarity, Equity and Respect are our guiding principles in the way we work to support our communities, and in how we work with one another in our CatholicCare Victoria family and beyond.
I look forward to working alongside Jodie and supporting our students and their Mental Health and Wellbeing to the best of our abilities.
If you have any questions or concerns with your child/s Mental Health and Wellbeing please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Thank you, Lillie Comitti - Mental Health and Wellbeing Coordinator.
Teaching and Learning:
Assembly:
How exciting - Whole school assemblies are back. We are able to have all parents & friends in the hall. All assemblies commence at 1:50pm on Friday afternoons in the Hall.
Assembly roster for term 2:
Week 1 Senior F/M 5/6
Week 2 Junior H/2
Week 3 Middle H 3/4
Week 4 Junior R/1
Week 5 Senior F
Week 6 Middle B 3/4
Week 7 No Assembly
Week 8 Senior M 5/6
Week 9 Foundation
2022 Foundation Families BBQ dinner - Wednesday 11th May, 2022.
Parents of current 2022 Foundation students are invited for a BBQ dinner, meet and greet on Wednesday 11th May at 6:00pm.
Staff will also present practical information about how you can best support your Foundation child/ren at home in developing their reading skills. They will share their expert knowledge, reading strategies and activities that all families can implement at home. Foundation parents will be able to meet the staff at St Patricks and ask any questions they may have.
Could you please RSVP to Anna in the office by Monday 9th May, 2022 for catering purposes.
Professional Development:
At St Patrick’s Primary School we are committed to Professional Development of our team. At various times staff members will be working off site which may result in classroom teachers being out of the classroom.
Maryanne Comitti - Teaching and Learning Leader
Anzac Day
Some consider Anzac Day the fabric of our society. It is a time for the community to come together to remember and recognise the sacrifice and service of many, commemorating the Australian and New Zealand forces landing at Gallipoli in 1915. The Anzac legend for many can often be described as tough, brave, fair, hard working and looking after your mates or something that defines us today, or that it is something we should remember, celebrate and aspire to.
Thankyou to our School Captains and Vice Captains: Isabelle, Will, Archie and Teepika who represented St Patricks so well at the Anzac day service. Thanks to their families for ensuring our school leaders were able to be present.
On Tuesday staff took part in first aid training. Continual professional development in First Aid prepares staff to deal with a range of medical emergencies , from common injuries such as cuts, sprains and breaks to major injuries such as trauma to the head and cardiac arrest.
Katie Burt observing our skills.
Living in Faith:
Please return any project compassion boxes you have to school so we are able to collate and send our donation to Caritas Australia.
We thank you for your support.
ACU study: It is great to have Fiona Harney, Natalie Hughes and Georgia Fleming beginning study into Enhancing Catholic School Identity (ECSI). This course is designed to introduce and support teachers into the theological background of ECSI. Enhancing Catholic Identity is Catholic school Teachers learning how to develop Catholic identity in meaningful and authentic ways in our contemporary society.
There will be a meeting with Fr Andrew for the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist on Wednesday May 18th, 2022 at 3.15pm or 5:30pm in the Middle/Senior hub.
Thankyou to those parents who have expressed interest in the Sacraments.
If you would like any information regarding the Sacraments please contact me.
Maryanne Comitti
Mothers day/ special persons day celebrations:
When: Friday 6th May 2022.
Where: Junior hub and hall.
Students will know the area they will be in. Please enter via the hall.
Time: 12:30pm
Guests gather with students for liturgy. Students each have lunch with their guest/s.
At approximately 1:15pm guests go to the hall to share a cuppa, light luncheon and chat.
Please RSVP by Wednesday 4th May, 2022.
(invitation sent home with return slip)
Parents and Friends News:
Mothers Day and Aths sports day update:
What is happening this term....
We have a very busy return to Term 2 with the Mother's Day Stall on Thursday 5th May (week 2). In the background we are busy getting some beautiful gifts organised for the wonderful mums/special persons in our community. We are looking for helpers on that day to assist children in making the perfect selections, wrapping presents etc if you could let Nicole know of your availability on 0438684 477 .
Then the following Monday 9th May we back it up again with the athletics day. If you have 1 hour or more to spare on the day, then please contact Libby on 0409 405 105.
Birthdays:
Congratulations to our students having their birthday this week:
Xavier Larkin
Callum Reading
Around Our Community:
All Grade 5 and 6 students parents/carers invited to attend.
Please follow us on instagram @stpatsstawell
Mass times/Church Bulletin:
Upcoming Events:
Thursday 5th May - Mother's Day Stall - children are able to buy a gift/s from $1-$5 each, for their special someone/s
- F-2 11:30am Excursion to Town Hall
Friday 6th May - Mother's Day/special persons liturgy and shared lunch 12:30pm
- Black Ranges Cross country for qualified students
Sunday 8th May - Mothers Day
Monday 9th May - Whole School Athletics Day-please wear house colours - North Park
Tuesday 10th May - Friday 20th - Naplan online Testing window
Wednesday 11th May- Foundation Meet and Greet BBQ Dinner 6pm
Monday 23rd May - Catholic Education and Reconciliation Week
Tuesday 24th May - Open Morning 9am for 2023Enrolments. Details to come
Wednesday 25th - Senior 5/6 Winter Sports Day
Thursday 2nd June - Junior R and H excursion to Historical Society
Friday 3rd June - School Photos (TBC)
Tuesday 7th June - Wellbeing Day
Friday 10th June - School Closure Day RE PD for staff
Monday 13th June - School closure Day - Queens Birthday public holiday
Acknowledgement of Country:
We acknowledge the Djab Wurrung and Jardwadjali people as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of this land. We pay respect to Elders past, present and emerging. We thank them for sharing their cultures, spiritualities and ways of living with the land in this place we all now call home.