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Dear Parents, Guardians and Community,
What great news that school is returning for everyone next week. We do have a closure day scheduled for Monday November 1. With the return to school and students missing many onsite days, we did consider rescheduling this to later in the term, however we thought this would be more inconvenient to families and we know with restrictions being lifted many of our families will take this opportunity to get away. We do have another Closure Day scheduled for November 26 which is where we get any new staff to visit the school and do a lot of the 2022 planning, class lists etc, so we need to keep that one, but we will change the end of school year closure day The last day for school was scheduled for Wednesday the 15th of December, that will now be Thursday, December 16. Graduation will remain with the original booking of Wednesday Dec 15 so families do not have to change their plans.
Mask Wearing: Our year 3- 6 students are wearing masks in the classrooms, however they are not required to wear them outside. Masks are recommended for other year levels, but it is not compulsory.
Welcome to Mia in year 1K. Mia joined us during lock down and her first introduction to the class was via zoom. Mia and her family have moved from the country and actually joined us in the first week on lockdown. I also only met our new teacher Daryl Marmion in Year 6 for the first time on Friday, before that it has all been via zoom or phone.
Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools School Improvement Surveys: (MACSSIS) Tomorrow is the last day for completion of the MACSSIS School Surveys. It would be great if we could get more families to complete these. On last count we only had 9 out of the 70 family surveys completed, which does not really give us an accurate picture. So if some more families could complete their survey, that would be greatly appreciated. ( My wife and I got survey links from all three schools where our children attend, plus I did the staff survey here.... so I know the challenge of completing the surveys!!!)
Online Enrolment: Just to let you know that we are now completed our set up and our Enrolment process has now moved online. We have said goodbye to the handwritten blue form and paper versions. Our office is very excited to be saying goodbye to typing it into our system. It will now also give us also some great marketing data around why people choose our school and more information around the demographics of our families. If you know anyone who wants to enrol their child at our school, direct them to our website. https://www.smwilliamstown.catholic.edu.au/complete-an-enrolment-application
Staffing News: Jenny Peck will be replacing Anita Sharma for the rest of the year. Jenny has worked at the school in many capacities previously. Jenny, as much as she loves technology, is not as skilled in Technology as Anita and will have another focus during her time with classes.
Karoline Cooke: The exciting news is that Karoline has had her baby!!!! A little boy named Oliver John Cooke. A healthy boy weighing 3.98kgs Congratulations Karoline.
As we return full time next week, we will need to collect all IT equipment that has been sent home during remote learning.
On Wednesday 3rd November (full time return) all chromebooks, chargers and any other IT equipment needs to be returned to school.
If there have been any issues with the chromebooks or charger can you please stick a note to the device with a description of the issue to help manage the repairs.
Once the IT devices have been returned they will need to be cleaned, sorted, repaired if needed and then returned to the correct classes. Your prompt return will help with this process.
Parents and Friends (P and F) News: Can I ask that everyone makes sure they read the P and F news today. They have an update about our new lunch order supplier and the Christmas Card fundraiser, which has changed since last year.
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.
Reminder to everyone that school hats need to be worn this term. Please make sure that your child has a hat that is clearly marked with their name. We do not have spare hats and children should not be sharing hats.
October, the month of Mary
Mary loved God and wanted to serve Him with all her heart. But she was just a poor girl in an insignificant town, from a humble family, with little expectations that her life was going to be any different than most. When the angel Gabriel came to Mary to tell her she was chosen and favoured by God to be the mother of His son, despite her own fear, she exhibited great courage and character: “I am the Lord’s servant…May your word to me be fulfilled” (Luke 1:38). She also exhibited great courage and character during Jesus’ earthly life and ministry. She pressed Jesus to provide wine when it ran low at the wedding in Cana, she approached Jesus when He was left behind at the temple, she went from Nazareth to Capernaum when she learned what was being reported their about Jesus, and she attempts to protect Jesus in some of the stickiest of situations. She was a person of discipleship and faith, and the first true follower of Jesus.
**** Please be aware that Father Greg is on annual leave from Monday 25th October until Friday 19th November****
Upcoming Events
TERM 4 |
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Thursday 11th November 10.50am |
Remembrance Day Liturgy
Groups of Year 6 children will be visiting all classes to present a liturgy to each grade in remembrance of this special day. |
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 |
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Saturday 19th February 6pm
Sunday 20th February 8.30 & 10.30am
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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 No 6th.
greg.trythall@cam.org.au |
The Melbourne Archdiocese of Catholic Schools has collated some resources of tips for parents to help their children’s transition to school be as smooth as possible.
St Mary’s Lego Station and the Rainbow Retreat St Mary’s School is gratefully asking for donations of any unwanted Lego you might have at home. We 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.
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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.
Dates (Australian Eastern Daylight Time)
Tuesday 9 November 7.30 to 8.30 pm
Lunch Orders are back from week 5, check out the update below for more details.
We are starting to plan for 2022 so if you have been thinking about joining the P&F now may be a great time to come along and learn more about what we do. Our next meeting will be held on Monday 15th November at 7pm, email secretary@smwilliamstown.catholic.edu.au if you would like to join.
School Lunches are back!
From week 5 school lunch orders will recommence. Lunch orders will be available every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
We are trialing a new supplier - Beaver’s Tail. Everything will be managed directly with Beaver’s Tail (ordering, payment, queries) and not through CDF Pay. This is a change to how lunch orders worked previously - we will be providing all the details this week so keep an eye out for those notices.
We will be seeking feedback from the school community towards the end of term. Happy ordering!
Christmas Cards
Christmas Card orders are NOW OPEN. This year we are partnering with Crazy Camel Fundraising who will be managing the ordering and production of the Christmas cards. Over the next few weeks the children will be busy preparing their artwork. Many thanks to Charlotte Lipnicki and Stephanie Streets who have been providing guidance and tips for the children on their artwork.
Orders close on 5th November. There will be no accommodation for late orders.
You should your flyer over the course of this week as children return to school on different days.
To order please use the link below or the QR code on the flyer
https://www.crazycamel.com.au/10158/10158-greeting-card-8pk
Secondhand Uniforms & Donations
Reminder to parents that Secondhand Uniforms can now be ordered for click-and-collect by emailing uniformspf@smwilliamstown.catholic.edu.au
We are also seeking secondhand uniform donations are greatly appreciated and can be left at the school office. Please ensure items are clean and in a sellable condition.
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)