Newsletter 26/04/2021 Term 2 Week 12

Calendar

From the Principal

Prayer

Mother's Day Stall

ANZAC Day

We had a smaller group than usual representing the school yesterday however they all did a great job in fairly cold conditions. 

Many thanks to the families who came along to support this important event, well done to our school captains and thanks to the local sporting associations for delaying their starting times to allow for this event to be given the due respect deserved. 

School Advisory Council

Our April meeting is on tomorrow night from 7.30 in the staffroom. Some of the items up for discussion are:

• Plans for 5/6 wing
• School Review
• SWPBS update
• Auslan update

School Review

Our school review is on Thursday 29th & Friday 30th April and is the completion of the school review process we have been working on for the last 18 months.

The review team consists of Mary Lovelock- external reviewer, Sandra Harvey - Deputy director CEB, Lee Schlooz - Education consultant southern zone, and Matt Uzkaratis - Principal St Thomas' School Terang.

Thanks to the 10 parents who agreed to be a part of the parent group for this Thursday @3.00. We really appreciate your input. 

The review team will meet with staff, leadership, students, parents and use our own school reflection report to help guide us in confirming our main goals for the next 4 years. 

School Wide Positive Behaviours Support (SWPBS)

I have provided the link below to let you know more about what SWPBS is and why we will be implementing this framework across our school.

Over the next few weeks we will be working on developing our Behaviour Matrix and when this is completed we will let you know. 

https://www.smore.com/quekd-ch6-pbis-parent-newsletter

Parents as Helpers

We will be having a Parents as Helpers session on Wednesday 12th of May from 2.30 - 3.15 with Mel Fox to work through some tips and advice for working with children in the clasroom. 

This session is designed for parents who have not worked in our school before and would like to work in a classroom. 

If you have completed one of these courses before you don't need to complete another. 

If you would like to attend this session please fill in the form below so we have some idea on numbers

Mother's Day Activity

This year we are changing up what we will be doing for Mother's Day due to the logistics of only 130 adults being allowed in the Big Room at one time.  It makes the usual breakfast very difficult to manage. 

We will be having an open day on Friday 7th of May where mums and special ladies in our children's lives come through the school to visit classrooms, enjoy a coffee, some cake and receive a flower. They would have the opportunity to spend some time in their child/rens classroom or outside and can get a family photo taken with their children.

The time will be from 10.45 until 2.45. I am hoping that there might be some time in this window where you may be able to come in. 

The school day will be a relatively normal one with assembly @10.45, recess between 11.00-11.30, class time from 11.30-1.30, 2nd lunch break from 1.30-2.15 & class time from 2.15-2.45.

Grade 4 Camp to Sovereign Hill

This will be happening on Tuesday 11th & Wednesday 12th of May. Info is available on PAM as well as a permission note for those families to complete.

It is a wonderful camp where childen get to experience life in the gold rush era by dressing up and spending time in one of the schools at Sovereign Hill. 

Newsletter Survey

NAPLAN

Our NAPLAN testing is on Tuesday 11th, Wednesday 12th and Thursday 13th, with a catch up day on the Friday. 

Resilience Project: Free Parent Webinar

We have a Reslience project parent webinar which will be on Thursday 13th of May  with Hugh Van Cuylenburg on Thursday 13th May, 6.30pm-7.30pm.

Here is the Zoom link for use on the nigh: 

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84154966762

 The Resilience Project delivers emotionally engaging programs to schools, sports clubs and businesses and provide them with evidence based, practical strategies to build resilience and happiness. The Resilience Project has delivered programs to over 1000 schools around the country and worked with many elite sporting teams including Australian cricket, netball and soccer, NRL and AFL clubs. Through presentations, wellbeing journals, schools curriculum, teacher diaries and their App, The Resilience Project seeks to help all Australians become mentally healthy. 

Programs offered by The Resilience Project are based on the following strategies:

• Gratitude - Appreciating what you have, not begrudging what you don’t. 
• Empathy - Thinking of the needs of others/kindness.
• Mindfulness - Being present in the moment, not becoming distracted by unhelpful or negative thoughts.

During this presentation, Hugh will share his experiences and combine them with practical strategies that can be implemented everyday to improve our overall wellbeing.

Catholic School Culture

Confirmation: Thursday May 6th 

This week children who are making the Sacrament of Confirmation will continue their preparation program at school and at home with their families. Children will need to choose a Confirmation name and a sponsor. A note will be coming home this week along with a candle and transfer for their stole. Please return the note as soon as you can or email the information to Tracy. This sacrament will be celebrated on Thursday 6th of May at 6pm at St. Patrick’s Church in Camperdown.

Please keep the following children in your prayers as they prepare to make the Sacrament of Confirmation: Tom Atkins, Halle Barake, Emma Bonner, Orson Capizzi, Maisie Cunningham, Rhys Darcy, Bailey Fox, Jed Gaut, Etti Glennen, Madison Lucas, Luca Macchiesi-May, Cooper Mahony, Mali Maskell, Bryce Miller, Edie Molan, Tristan O’Connor, Beau Ponting, Wally Rees, Brady Rippon-Hanson, Caitlin Rundle, Elaine Ryan, Abi Sinnott, Harry Sinnott, Darby Sinnott, Riley Spence, Vince Titmus, Taj Woodmason and Clem Walsh. 

Students of the Week

Birthdays

From St Patrick's 

To the following students that celebrate their birthdays this week

28th April

Fletcher Hickey, Taj Woodmason

1st May

William Ryan

COVID

Testing- Symptomatic (Feeling unwell) or Asymptomatic

If a member of a family is recommended by their doctor to have COVID 19 testing, this person is asked to self isolate until the results are known. Any children/siblings of this family are requested not to attend school unless the results of the testing are known. At best we will restrict the spread of possible contact with the virus if the test is positive. At worst we will have cost some children a few days at home if the test proves to be negative. This is a duty of care for all at school. If your child is ill or is feeling unwell, they must not attend school. They must remain home and seek medical advice. Any unwell children WILL be sent home. We will temperature check any child we feel is unwell.

Sick Children at School

Every student that presents to the sick bay with cold or flu like symptoms will have their temperature taken and as we are operating on a zero tolerance, they will be sent home.

Visitors to St. Patricks

At this stage parents, volunteers, or community groups can come onto the school premises or grounds.  Parents and guardians are asked to continue to maximise the use of phone (5593 1962) and email communication with the school or directly to their child’s teacher.

As per our pre-COVID regulations, anyone coming in for longer than 15 minutes will need to sign in at the office. 

Cleaning & Hygiene

To support the health and wellbeing of students and staff, the school will continue an enhanced cleaning routine and will encourage frequent handwashing by staff and students. Hand sanitizer will be located in high traffic/high touch areas and the classrooms.

Drop Off & Pick Up Arrangements

Drop Off- Parents are welcome to drop off at the normal time from 8.30am onwards. All children will need to enter the school via Dimora Ave. Pick Up- Children being picked up by parents or walking home will continue to do so at 3.15. Children being collected from the church will leave school at 3.05 for F-2 children and 3.15 for grades 3-6. 

Bus Travel

Please also remind your children who travel on school buses of the importance of:

•       practicing good hygiene, including using hand sanitiser
  
•       obeying all instructions from bus drivers

Community Events

COBDEN TENNIS CLUB

Stay active through winter!!  Join a fun social tennis group.We welcome beginners, current players and those who haven’t played for years.Come and try with the Cobden Winter Tennis Group onMonday April 19th and April 26thFrom 11am at the Cobden Recreation Reserve For more information or to confirm your place please contact :Paula Fleming 0409950738  Or Nic McVilly 0438846984  Or Anita Chivell 0448357085

Corangamite Hockey Club

"Welcome to Hockey"COME AND TRY DAY

All primary school aged children welcome

Sat, April 24  9.30am Mockridge Park, Camperdown

For information call 0438 233 706Follow on Facebook

Cobden Winter Tennis Group