Newsletter 11/10/2021 Term 4 Week 32

From the Principal

Prayer Reflection

Assembly

Assembly this week will once again be out on Facebook by Friday afternoon. 

School Learning Update

We are in for a busy week with lots happening at school:

• F/1/2 children are all onsite all week
• Grade 3-4's are onsite Tuesday & Wednesday & Remote Learning Monday, Thursday & Friday
• Grade 5-6's are onsite Thursday & Friday & Remote Learning Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday

We will also be completing parent teacher chats (article below) this week as well:

Foundation on Monday from 10.00am -5.00pm

Grade 1/2 on Tuesday from 10.00am -5.00pm

Grade 5/6 on Wednesday from 10.00am - 5.00pm

Grade 3/4 on Thursday from 10.00am - 5.00pm

A few reminders of where we are at:

School supervision:

• If School supervison is required for a student/s in grade 3-6 on the days they are offsite then please fill in the request form (link below) by 4.00pm the day before supervision is requested. All requests need to come by this link please so we have documentation.  
  

Grade 3-6 masks

This was mentioned last Friday at the press conference that these will be mandatory into the future. We have no other information as to when this will be implemented, how it will be enforced etc.  So please bear with us as we work through this new initiative which has been mandated by the government. As soon as we know anything we will let you know. Masks for grades F-2 will continue to be optional. 

Other Info

• The schoolzine app, WEB page & emails are our main form of communication. If you haven't been receiving any emails, please contact the school to double check your email address. 
• We are still restricting non essential staff coming into the school.
• Please keep children home if they are not well.
• Extra ventilation in encouraged in the classrooms by windows and doors being left open and we will be trying to get outside more as the weather gets better. 
  
• Ensuring we are moving away quickly after school pickups. Church pickup is back as an option for pick up now the F/1/2's are back on site.
• Maintaining COVID rules & cleaning regimes.
• If a computer is required by any grade 3-6 students, can you fill in a form to request please.  These are ready to be picked up from the school.
  

As usual if anything changes I will let you know. 

Parent Teacher Interviews

These parent teacher chats are this week. The chats are an opportunity for the teacher and the parent to set some specific goals or areas of improvement for your child for the remainder of the year so we can all be more focused on what to work on. 

These can still be booked if you haven't done so already, so please do so as a matter of urgency. 

There will be no child involvement in the actual interview, however the goals will be passed onto them by the teacher and reinforced from you at home. 

As we cannot have parents onsite, the interviews will be held on different days and will be an online chat (preferred) or a phone call. 

Monday: Foundation (today)

Tuesday: Grade 1/2

Wednesday: Grade 5/6

Thursday: Grade 3/4

Parent Teacher Interviews are still open on PAM which you can access through School Zine app, you just select your time and select google meet or a phone call, a link will be sent to you.

Mick M on LSL

As my letter stated last week, I am away on LSL, with Tuesday being my last day before going on leave.  

In my absence: Annie will be Acting Principal

Mel acting Vice Principal

Tracy Hickey: REL & Exec Leadership 

Many thanks to Annie, Mel & Tracy for stepping up for the remainder of the year, I am very grateful. 

Friday 12th of November pupil free day

Due to COVID interruptions, we have had a lot of issues trying to get our pupil free day for RE completed this year. We have decided to postpone the RE since we cannot do this face to face and staff will complete their First Aid update module on this day. 

This means there will be no school for students on this day. 

Mandatory Vaccines for staff

This note came from the Catholic Ed office in Ballarat for newsletters: 

The Victorian Chief Health Officer has determined that vaccination will be mandatory for staff who
work in schools. This includes principals, teachers, administration and education support staff,
including casual relief teachers, pre-service teachers & parent volunteers. 
All staff are required to be fully vaccinated by 29th November 2021, unless a medical exemption applies and will be required to show evidence of their vaccination status.

Vaccinations for children over 12 are still voluntary and it is up to parents to follow this through if required. 

Due to privacy, schools cannot divulge information relating to an individual’s health (including their vaccination status).

Class Lists for 2022

While there are still many decisions to be confirmed about classes for 2022, class list preparations will begin over the coming weeks. If parents have a special need, this must be put to me in writing and sent into Annie by letter or email to principal@spcamperdown.catholic.edu.au.

Your views will be treated with the strictest confidence, but must concern important issues - not preference for a particular teacher. Please understand that parental views will be taken into consideration when preparing the class lists, however staff decisions which are based on the interests of all children and the need for well-balanced classes will take precedence.

Just to clarify the position of siblings in the same grade - our position is that brothers & sisters won’t be in the same room unless requested. If you would like your children in together, you will need to write requesting this. Some parents may have talked with me previously about classes for 2022, so I reiterate what I said at the time that I need these in writing please.

It would be greatly appreciated if these can be in by the end of October please. 

Uniform

We still have very sporadic weather at the moment so I am happy for the children to wear whichever uniform they feel comfortable in until we get into warmer weather. 

We will need hats this term so please track them down, clean them up and send them to school for all the warm weather which is coming our way!

Term 4

We are still a bit unsure of what we will be able to keep in regards to school based activities planned, especially for the next 3 weeks or so while we are transitioning back to everyone at school. We have some dates booked in however at the moment everything is TBC. 

We are still not sure about swimming for F/1/2 and when this can go ahead.

Grade 3 camp: We are still working through some dates.

Grade 6 camp: Looking at December 7th, 8th, 9th & 10th. 

Grade 5/6 excursions: Booked November 19th.

Arts Night: Still hopeful for Wednesday November 10th. 

Bike Ed: Still hopeful in mid November (TBC).

Fun Day: November 1st from 11.30 (TBC).

Grade 1 & 2 excursions: Friday 10th December (TBC).

Staff RE PD: Friday 12th November (No school for students). 

Grade 6 discovery day: Wednesday 27th October (TBC).

School Wide Positive Behaviours Systems (SWPBS)

This week we will be looking to use equipment appropriately. This means bringing play equipment back inside after the bell goes. It also means using all equipment how it is supppsed to be used both inside and out and at home and at school. 

Many thanks to everyone for all your help. 

Positive Partnerships

Positive Partnerships have a number of FREE upcoming webinars for school staff and families. These topics may be of interest as schools and families plan for students to return to school.

Catholic School Culture

Social Justice: Mini Vinnies

This term the Mini Vinnies children will be conducting a toy drive. They will be collecting clean toys in good condition which will be donated to St. Vincent de Paul at the end of this term in readiness for Christmas.

• If you have any toys that are no longer used or the children have grown out of, please wash them and send them into school to donate to the Mini Vinnies volunteers.

They will be collecting from the classrooms every week or alternately, toys can be left at the office. This will greatly assist in bringing joy to children at Christmas time. Thank-you in advance. 

Mission Month: Friday Socktober.

October is Mission Month where we raise money to make a difference to the lives of
vulnerable children in poverty around the world. This Friday (15 th ), children will wear any
socks of their choice to school with their school uniform and donate a gold coin donation
towards this cause. Children will have the opportunity at lunchtime, to play with a soccer
ball made out of old socks, just like the children in poorer countries. Grade 3/4 children will
be remote learning on this day although they will be able to contribute by bringing a gold
coin donation the day before on Thursday (14 th) and still wearing their favourite socks on
Friday 15 th of October at home. The Mission boxes are in classrooms ready for collection, so
please consider sending any loose change into school for the Mission boxes. Many thanks.

At the moment, Friday Class Masses have been postponed until there is a further lift in
restrictions.

Students of the Week

Birthdays

From St Patrick's 

To the following students that celebrate their birthdays this week 

11/10/21  Monday -

12/10/2021  Tuesday - Jamie Gardiner, Jake Harlen

13/10/21 Wednesday - 

14/10/21 Thursday -

15/10/21 Friday - 

16/10/21 Saturday - Cooper Mahony

17/10/21 Sunday -  

COMMUNITY EVENTS