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Dear Parents, Guardians and Community,
We are looking forward to the return of some of our students next week in classes. It will be great to have the noise of the classes returning. Honestly, it will be just great to start to return to normal. Our thanks continually goes to the students, staff and families. We know it has been a long journey, exhausting and frustrating at times. Thankfully we are almost back to having all our classes on site.
Covid Guidance: We have included a section on the latest Covid advice. A few families have contacted about the wearing of face masks and other points. We have tried to have answer as many questions as possible. We plan to link this section in the newsletter for the next few weeks.
FAMILY SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT SURVEY (MACSSIS SURVEY)
Throughout each year, we pause to listen to our students, families and staff to gauge how our learning community is travelling. This feedback is invaluable to our progress as effective school communities and is backed by evidence-based research and best practices.
Soon, 70 families will receive an online survey. This survey is called the MACSSIS Survey (Family School Improvement Survey) and is organised for all schools by the Melbourne Archdiocese of Catholic schools. Families are selected randomly to give us a representation of parent voice. The survey will go out annually with the view that different voices are heard each year. Parents, staff, and students (Year 4, 5 & 6) complete this survey and the information gathered helps us plan for the future, making St Mary's an even better place to be for families and of course the students.
All participation is invited, welcomed and 100 per cent voluntary. The surveys are not a test, they are an inclusive way to support the work we are already doing to improve our school. The survey window opens Thursday 7th October and closes on Thursday 28th October. We are working with our IT Company to get those survey invites out soon.
I strongly encourage you to take the opportunity to complete the survey, so that you can have a say in our future planning for St Mary's.
Online Enrolment Process. We have started on our journey of making our Enrolment Process a more automated process. We have had a newer enrolment form on the website for a little while now and we have been receiving our latest applications through this. This will move to an even more automated process and the application will be able to be completed online. At the moment, families can make a general enquiry, request a handbook and a tour. These only became live last week. We are working with Enquiry Tracker on getting the application online at the moment. Here is the link to the request a parent information pack page if you wish to have a look. https://www.smwilliamstown.catholic.edu.au/enrolment-information/request-a-parent-information-pack
Class Groupings 2022: We remind families that St Mary's does not take requests from families for classes, particular teachers, friends etc. The reason for this as we aim to treat each child the same and not do something for one child that we would do for another. Class groupings is something the school spends a lot of time on as we try to balance ability levels, gender, needs, friendships and other criteria. We always aim to try and balance out the classes as best we can. (This includes the emails that starts with... I know you said the school does not take requests, but....)
God Bless and Stay Safe
Anthony
To Summarise the Return to school
Indoor events will remain subject to the obligations such as caps and density quotients. All eligible adults must be fully vaccinated.
Week 1 (Beginning) Oct 4 - Remote Learning - Essential Workers etc Children at School
Week 2 Oct 11 - Remote Learning - Essential Workers etc Children at School
Week 3 Oct 18
- Preps - Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday
- Grades 1/2 Thursday/Friday
- Grade 5/6 Friday
Remote learning continues for all other students when not at school. Essential worker's etc Children at school
Week 4 Oct 25
- Preps - Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday
- Grades 1/2 -Thursday/Friday
- Grades 3 and 4 -Tuesday/Wednesday
- Grades 5 and 6 -Thursday/Friday
Remote learning continues for all other students when not at school. Essential worker's etc Children at school
Week 5 Nov 1
Monday Nov 1 - School Closure Day
Tuesday Nov 2 Melbourne Cup. Public Holiday No School
From Wednesday Nov 3- All students return to school full time.
*Year level teachers will email parents and post updates on the google classroom each week about the online learning timetable.
*Any whole school information will be communicated through Schoolzine.
Week 4
All year levels will return to school part time. Teachers will communicate how this week will look for each year level. There will be whole class meetings at 9am and 11:40am but no teacher groups this week. Teachers may complete follow up assessments.
Week 5 All students return to school.
Mask Wearing
Directs students in Year 3 to Year 6 to wear face masks when indoors on school
premises, unless an exception applies.
• Recommends that all other children wear face masks when at school, attending an
OSHC program, or when travelling to and from school on public transport, taxis or
ride share vehicles.
Visitors to Schools/ Volunteers
The use of Service Victoria QR codes for electronic record keeping is now mandatory in all schools to enable the effective contact tracing of any COVID-19 cases.
All visitors on school site (including contractors, diocesan education office staff and building and maintenance staff) Need to Check in using a QR Code
All parents who enter school buildings when on school site Need to Check in using a QR Code
Parents who come onto school grounds for drop off or pick up, but do not enter buildings. Do not need to check in?
Schools can permit parents to enter buildings onsite for student pick-up and drop-off providing sufficient QR code locations are available for parents to check in. Where this is not possible, parents should not be permitted to enter buildings for pick-up and drop-off.
Vaccination for Volunteers: We have had a few questions on this. We are waiting on direction on this from MACS, so no announcement on this one yet.
Private Music Lessons: Singing, brass, woodwind classes and groups in metropolitan Melbourne and other Restricted Areas must be postponed or occur remotely during this time. ( From this announcement, it would appear that we can have guitar, keyboard, violin etc as they are not listed.)
Practise good hygiene
All staff, students and visitors to schools should undertake regular hand hygiene, particularly on arrival to school, before and after eating, after blowing their nose, coughing, sneezing or using the toilet. Staff should direct or supervise young students where required.
Hand sanitiser should be made available at entry points to classrooms. Age-appropriate education and reminders about hand hygiene should be provided. If soap and water are not readily available, hand sanitiser that contains at least 60 per cent alcohol should be made accessible.
Sharing of food is not permitted.
Use non-contact greetings (not shaking hands, hugging or kissing).
Stay home when unwell and get tested
The most important action school communities can take to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19, is to ensure that any unwell staff and students remain at home and get tested, even with the mildest of symptoms. Everyone should consider their health before they start work or attend school and ensure that they are free from coronavirus symptoms and have not had contact in the past 14 days with a person confirmed to have coronavirus or a person suspected to have coronavirus.
Let us pray.
O God, whose only begotten Son, by His life, death, and resurrection,
has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life, grant, we beseech Thee, that meditating upon these mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
we may imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise, through Christ Our Lord.
Amen
October, Month of the Rosary
The month of October each year is dedicated to the Most Holy Rosary. This is primarily due to the fact that the liturgical feast of Our Lady of the Rosary is celebrated annually on October 7. It was instituted to honor the Blessed Virgin Mary in gratitude for the protection that she gives the Church in answer to the praying of the Rosary by the faithful.
The Rosary draws its mysteries from the New Testament and is centered on the great events of the Incarnation and Redemption with each decade referring to an event in the life of Jesus and Mary. The Mysteries of the Rosary give us “thumbnails” of the life of Christ and his Mother.
- The Joyful Mysteries are taken mostly from Saint Luke’s Gospel in the New Testament. They involve the joyful events of Jesus’ childhood.
- The Luminous Mysteries bring a deeper understanding to the public life of Jesus. They fill in the blanks between the childhood of Jesus and His suffering and death on the cross.
- The Sorrowful Mysteries remind us of how much Jesus loves us. They recall how He suffered and died just for us.
- The Glorious Mysteries tell us what happened after Jesus died-His Resurrection, the descent of the Holy Spirit and the love Jesus had for his Mother.
Sacraments 2021
Emails were sent last week to parents of the Year 4 & 5 children in regards to First Holy Communion dates. If you did not receive an email, please contact Michelle Ebinger at mebinger@smwilliamstown.catholic.edu.au
Upcoming Events
TERM 4 |
|
Sunday 28th November 8.30am & 10.30am |
Prep Family Masses
To accommodate the large number of people and families attending this event, 2 Masses will be offered to families. Please keep an eye out for a sign up sheet which will be released closer to the date. |
Saturday 4th December, 6pm Sunday 5th December, 8.30am, 10.30am & 5pm |
Year 5 First Eucharist
Please note that the following restrictions will be in place for this event: ● 5 members per family (including the communicant) ● Masks to be worn by attendees over 12 years of age ● Sign in to Mass using a QR code ● Government mandates require that church adult attendees be fully vaccinated. |
2022 |
|
Saturday 19th February 6pm
Sunday 20th February 8.30 & 10.30am
|
Year 4 First Eucharist
Bookings will be transferred from the original date and time to the new date and times
If these new dates create any problems, then please feel free to contact Father Greg directly after November 6th. |
Check out a video with Dr Anthea Rhodes as she highlights some common concerns parents and children have, and how you can support your child in the lead up to the big day.
Video linkWe have set up “Leah the Lego Lorry” and are looking to increase supplies at school for students to
use their creative skills during recess and lunchtimes. We are also seeking any Matchbox cars you
no longer need to top up the ones available in the Rainbow Retreat.
Donations are being accepted at the school office.
In continuation of supporting families with guiding students in the online world, please find the following resources to support your family through navigating the world of technology safely with your family.
A reminder that the following interactive webinars are being offered online by the Australian Government’s e-safety Commissioner to help parents and carers.
eSafety parent guide to digital technologies and mental health
This webinar will provide parents and carers with strategies to help young people and their mental health when they are online.
It is designed for parents and carers of young people aged 10–18.
It will cover:
- what do to about accidental exposure to content about suicide, self-harm or eating disorders
- using games, apps and social media to support mental wellbeing
- the pros and cons of digital mental health platforms
- strategies for young people to support friends online.
Term 4 Year Level Newsletters were emailed to families last week. Teachers have shared the learning that will be covered in Term 4.
During remote learning the specialist teachers have been a tremendous support in working with our students who are required to be at school. Due to this the specialist teachers have not been able to teach their subjects this semester. Each week the specialist teachers plan activities students can select to complete while learning online. As we return part time, the specialist teachers will still need to support the students who are required at school. They will resume their specialist lessons in week 6 when all students return to school.
What we have been able to do is plan for Mr Jordan Lovett to take PE lessons in week 3 and 4 when the students return part time.
The PE newsletter with the learning and skills that will be covered in Term 4 is attached.
Welcome back to those children returning to school and looking forward to seeing the other year levels in a staggered return later this month. We are working in the background to support the kids coming back to school with various P&F activities. Given the evolving nature of restrictions and lockdowns we have had to make some changes to our plans in Term 4, we have provided an update below.
Our next meeting will be held on Monday 15th November at 7pm, email secretary@smwilliamstown.catholic.edu.au if you would like to join.
Chocolate Drive
Thank you to everyone that participated. We have a few outstanding boxes that need to be returned or money that still needs to come in. if you have any concerns or questions please email president@smwilliamstown.catholic.edu.au
School Disco
With a heavy heart we will need to cancel the School Disco. We were really looking forward to hosting this event for the children and we have looked at all possible options to get it happening this year but despite these efforts it is unlikely we will be able to run it before the school year ends. We have arranged for all families to receive a refund via CDF which will remain as a credit on CDF that you can use for any future purchase.
Christmas Cards
Coming soon……due to the popularity of our pilot last year we will once again be running Christmas Cards in Term 4. An update on how to order and timing will be coming out next week so keep an eye out for updates.
Second-Hand Uniforms
Thanks to Sherrine McInerney and Meagan Burke for volunteering to take on this valuable school service. These ladies are working hard behind the scenes to establish a click-and-collect model as students transition back to school in Term 4. Parents are now able to email uniform requests directly to the 2nd Hand Uniform Service, and will be notified directly if their request can be fulfilled.
The email address is uniformspf@smwilliamstown.catholic.edu.au. Orders will be left at the front office for collection, and parents are requested to pay by EFTPOS. Parents have 7 days to organise payment and collection before uniform items are returned to the shop. The first physical uniform shop day will be Wednesday 27th October at 8.30am in the school hall. In the meantime, please leave clean uniform donations at the office.
Jemima Bowen
P&F President (president@smwiliamstown.catholic.edu.au)
St Mary's School is a Child Safe School and as such complies with all aspects and legal obligations that relate to the Child Wellbeing and Safety Act 2005 (VIC)