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Dear Parents, Guardians and Community,
This week we finally got to celebrate 100 days at School for our Preps. There was grey hair, walking sticks a plenty as the students celebrated the day with some olden days activities. It was terrific to see them getting into the spirit of the day.
Covid Update: Our students from Grade 5M will return to school this week. We are one of the few schools that had not had a case, so I guess we all knew it would happen at some stage. The good news is that the student is going well and no other students have tested positive. Schools fall under the responsibility of the Education Department when it comes for Health advice for how to respond to Covid cases.
School Crossing: Can I remind families to please use our school crossing. We had a very close call this morning with one of our students. Drivers look to the crossing and the crossing supervisor. I notice from my window many families crossing within a few metres of the crossing, especially when arriving late. We need our students to get into the habit of using the crossing and using it correctly. Peripheral vision is still developing in young students so we need them to have good habits to support this. So can I please ask that families use our school crossings.
In this newsletter I have included new advice for schools on Rapid Antigen Testing. Schools received information on this on Monday and the roll out has began in schools. Unfortunately we missed out on using it for our first case, however we will be able to use it for any new case. It needs to be stressed that Rapid Antigen Testing can only be used for declared Personal Close Contacts (PCC), if your child is unwell you will still need to go to a testing site and have a proper PCR test, an Rapid Antigen Test result will not be accepted.
2022. As we move closer to the end of the year we continue to do much work in preparation for 2022. This includes Prep visits, class lists, ordering resources, finalising staffing and many many other things. Our Big Four for our School Improvement Plan (2022 to 2025) will be the basis of all this 1. Instructional Coaching. 2. Improved Behaviour Support 3. Student Agency and 4. Data Literacy (How to read all our data better.) Do not forget that we have our session on December 3rd at 9 am where our Leaders will talk about our plans in more detail if you are interested.
Shade Sails: We now have approval for new Shade Sails and I have had some companies out quoting. Obviously we have a small site and limited space as to where to put it. The Government Grant stipulates that it is about creating an outdoor teaching space. Speaking to the companies, the best place they are advising is outside the Grade Six room where we normally hold assemblies. We are looking at a cavalier system which does not have poles in the middle of the playground.
Holes: You may have noticed some holes in front of the school on Cecil st and Parker St. Our builders and Architects are currently in discussions about the rectification of these problems. We have had engineers and soil specialists out looking at the problem and we hope to have it fixed soon. The holes have been fenced off and there is no danger to students.
Traffic Plan: I spoke to Council yesterday about the Traffic plan and Cecil St. The original plan was to complete all works in the area together, however Covid has caused some delays and Cecil st has been delayed until 2022. Cecil street will be made a one way street with the creation of pick up and drop off zones. In front of the school entrance will be a large raised area to slow traffic, realignment of the crossing and an extension of the footpath to make it more visible for cars around our trees. If you look at some of the works on Parker st you will get a sense of what they will do, however from what they have told me, the raised area will be of a much larger scale.
I am working from the hospital this Friday as my son has his monthly catch up with his oncologist and another round of chemo. I am hoping to run into Paul Burke in his new capacity as Hospital Teacher. I wonder if he is missing yard duty?
God bless and stay safe
Anthony
Roll out of Rapid Antigen Testing
Dear Parents and Carers
The Victorian Government is implementing a rapid antigen testing program for students who are identified as close contacts of a confirmed COVID-19 case from Monday 15 November.
It will be available to students who have been identified as a close contact because of school contact, but not to those identified because of household contact.
This program will help unvaccinated or partially vaccinated students to safely return to school as quickly as possible after being identified as a primary close contact (PCC), reducing their isolation period to seven days instead of 14.
To support the roll-out of this program, resources to support parents and carers can be found at coronavirus.vic.gov.au. This information will be added to over the coming weeks.
How the rapid antigen testing program will work
The at-home rapid antigen testing program is an opt-in program for unvaccinated, or partially vaccinated, students. Parents and carers can choose if their child will participate. Our school will provide you with rapid antigen test kits if you opt in. You do not need to buy these test kits.
Following an exposure at our school, you will be notified that your child has been identified as a primary close contact (PCC) of a confirmed COVID-19 case.
If your child is eligible (meaning they are unvaccinated, or partially vaccinated and not a household PCC) and you want to take part in the at-home rapid antigen testing program, your child must first quarantine at home for seven days.
On day six of quarantine, your child must get a standard (PCR) test at your local COVID-19 testing site. If the test is negative, you must bring evidence of the negative test to [the front office].
We will then provide you with a supply of rapid antigen tests which come with instructions.
Your child will then be required to complete a rapid antigen test at home before they come to school on any day between days eight to 14.
Before coming to school each day, you must report the result of each test using a web page (we will provide you with the link). If the test is negative, your child can come to school. If the test did not work for some reason, your child cannot attend school. And if the result is positive, you must take your child for a PCR test as soon as possible. Your child does not need to complete the tests on weekends.
Parents should continue to follow current school policy and public health advice. If your child is unwell, even with the mildest of symptoms, they must stay at home and get tested for COVID-19 with a standard (PCR) test, regardless of a negative rapid antigen test result. Rapid antigen tests do not replace PCR tests for the diagnosis of COVID-19.
If we do have a confirmed COVID-19 case in our school, we will communicate with you as soon as we can, including with instructions on how to access the tests, conduct them, how to report the results, and support available if needed.
The statewide roll-out of rapid antigen testing is one of many strategies currently in place to support schools during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure we are doing everything we can to keep students and staff safe.
The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
(November 21st)
When Mary was asked to be the mother of the Savior, she was completely free to accept or reject the offer. Her response, “Let it be done to me,” was a great act of faith. Because she did not understand what was happening, she must have known that there would be difficulties ahead.
She replied yes to the angel's announcement and agreed to become the mother of Jesus, and the Church has declared Mary to be the Mother of God. Because she was the first to say yes to the Messiah, the Church has declared her to be the Mother of the Church.
Thank you!
Many thanks to our marvelous Year 6 students who presented our Remembrance Day ceremonies to our P - 5 classes across the school last Thursday. A job well done!
**** 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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Sunday 28th November 8.30am & 10.30am
*** spaces for the 10.30am Mass are now full *** |
Prep Family Masses
To accommodate the large number of people and families attending this event, 2 Masses will be offered to families.
Please note that the following restrictions will be in place for this event: ● 5 members per family (including prep child) ● Every attendee will be required to register for Mass at: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/stmarys ● 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. |
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) ● Every attendee will be required to register for Mass at: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/stmarys ● 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 December 6th.
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Upcoming Liturgies
At this point in time, we are still unable to gather as a whole school group in the church, we will continue to provide liturgies of important feast dates and occasions over the loudspeaker.
Celebration |
Date |
Year Level |
1st Week of Advent |
Thursday 26th November |
Year 1 |
2nd Week of Advent |
Thursday 3rd December |
Year 4 |
Feast of the Immaculate Conception liturgy |
Wednesday 8th December |
Year 1 |
3rd Week of Advent |
Friday 10th December |
Prep |
End of year liturgy |
Wednesday 15th December |
Classroom teachers |
THIS WEEKEND (20th - 21st): Grand Re-opening of Masses!
ST MARY’S PARISH: Memorial Mass for recently deceased Parishioners and Family.
As a parent, you play an important role in helping your kids build self-respect and knowing how to be respectful to others.
- What kinds of respect do you expect?
- How do you recognise respect in a relationship?
- How can I help my kids learn respect?
- What creates respectful relationships?
Click the link for further information from Kids Helpline on how to facilitate children to build respectful relationships with others.
St Mary’s Lego Station
St Mary’s School is gratefully asking for donations of any unwanted lego, particularly Lego Mini- Figures you might have at home.
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 familyeSafety 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)
Thursday 18 November 12.30 to 1.30 pm
eSafety’s parent guide to online gaming
This Term 4 webinar will provide parents and carers with an understanding of the benefits and risks of online gaming.
It is designed for parents and carers of young people aged 8–13.
It will cover:
- eSafety’s State of play research
- the games young people are using and how they are engaging with them
- the benefits of gaming and how to mitigate risks
- practical strategies to use at home and where to find help and support if things go wrong.
Dates (Australian Eastern Daylight Time)
15 November 12.30 to 1.30 pm
24 November 7.30 to 8.30 pm