St Paul's Newsletter: Thursday, 13 July 2023
2023 St Paul's Newsletter - Term 3, Week 1
From the Principal
Dear Families,
Welcome back to Term 3 and I hope the school holidays went well for everyone. We are embarking on a fresh journey, as we enter into Semester 2 of the school year.
OUR VISION STATEMENT
Together:
Active in the Spirit
Journeying in God’s Love
Striving for Success
Reaching Out to All
I have spent time lately reflecting on this Vision, and I would like to share with you my thoughts on our vision for St Paul’s.
TOGETHER: This is the most essential part of our vision. We are ALL in "this" together. What is ‘THIS’? The answer is your children's education, which you, as parents, entrust to us - the staff at St Paul’s. We all have the same goal - that is to support the students in becoming independent, resilient, lifelong learners and faith-filled global citizens.
ACTIVE IN THE SPIRIT: The values we stand for at St Paul’s are: JUSTICE, RESPECT, COURAGE, RESPONSIBILITY, WISDOM & KNOWLEDGE. Every day we see our students, staff and families enact these values. Our children are explicitly taught what these values look like in action. In highlighting these values, we demonstrate the spirit being active in our lives.
STRIVING FOR SUCCESS: We have strong academic results. There are countless examples of our students achieving great things. Many of our students go on to achieve high standards at secondary school, including leadership roles and academic awards. Time and time again we are told by visitors, special guests and when we are out of school that our students are the most thoughtful, well-behaved and respectful students they have come across. At St Paul’s we work together to support student learning and lift outcomes for all children. At St Paul’s we believe in consistency of approach. Our classrooms are not exactly the same, but they are consistent in their practice, and therefore we have created a settled learning environment for students. Staff work together on common goals for improvement and we learn with and from one another.
REACHING OUT TO ALL: Our staff, students and parents are involved and engaged in the school and wider community. Reaching out to all begins with our Parish. We are linked to the Parish community and we enjoy a great relationship with our sister school - St Thomas More’s. Reaching out to all is evident through working with community groups such as with Monbulk Care, St Vincent de Paul, Bendigo Bank and the strong relationship we enjoy with feeder kinders. Our rejuvenated P&F are vibrant, strong and active in fundraising, and this year’s Country Fair was absolutely amazing!
We thank you, the families, for supporting our vision and we are, as always, enjoying working with you as the first and foremost educators of your children. We work, as one, TOGETHER, for the same goal - the benefit of all students.
Grandparents and Special Person's Day
We will be celebrating Grandparents and Special Persons Day on Wednesday, 26 July.
We warmly invite either the grandparents of the children, or other special persons in their lives, to come to the school for the morning.
This is a free dress day for our students. Students can dress in "Cosy Clothing" (oodies, trackies, comfortable casual, etc) with the idea of curling up with their special visitor and enjoying a picture book/s together (please no pyjamas or dressing gowns).
The day will begin "as normal" in classrooms. At or just before 9:00am students will move to various locations to gather in "Family Groups" with their special visitors.
From 9am there will be special time in classrooms, with family groups reading picture books and completing a book response activity.
At approximately 9:50am students will return to classrooms for their fruit snack. Visitors will move to the Church. At 10:15am a Whole School Mass will begin, celebrating the place of these important people in the children’s lives. Year 4/5 will lead the Mass.
Following the Mass, our special guests will be warmly invited to stay on for morning tea supplied by our staff.
Parent Information Night: Keeping Kids Safe Online
Monbulk Primary School will be hosting a ThinkUKnow presentation on Tuesday 25 July at 6pm in the Arts building and all parents, carers and teachers are welcome to attend.
ThinkUKnow Australia is an evidence-based education program delivered nationally to prevent online child exploitation.
ThinkUKnow Australia is a partnership between the Australian Federal Police, Microsoft Australia, Datacom and the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. The program is delivered in collaboration with policing partners New South Wales Police Force, Northern Territory Police, Queensland Police, South Australia Police, Tasmania Police, Western Australia Police, as well as Neighbourhood Watch Australasia.
The presentation will be delivered by a local law enforcement member and an industry volunteer. The presentation is pro-technology and addresses topics including self-generated child abuse material, online grooming, extortion, and importantly encourages help seeking behaviour.
This is a fantastic opportunity for you to learn more about young people and the online environment, and how you can help them to be safe and responsible users of technology.
For more information, you can contact the school office, visit www.thinkuknow.org.au or contact Monbulk PS on 9756 6481.
Welcome to St Paul's
Next year we will enrol 27 Preps at St Paul's. Our Ready, Set, Prep Program will be running this term and involves optional 1 hour sessions for next year's Prep students. Each session has a different theme/focus, and gives our preschoolers a "taste of school".
All sessions are held onsite at St Paul's and parents stay with their child for the duration of the session. The dates for these sessions are as follows:
- 10:00am - Wednesday 19 July: Library Storytime
- 10:00am - Thursday 10 August: Amazing Athletes
- 10:00am - Wednesday 30 August: Brain Boosters (Science)
- 10:00am - Thursday 14 September: Experience Italy
We are thrilled to welcome these Prep students, and their families, next year.
This week we also welcomed Lilly McLaughlin into Year 3. We say a very warm welcome to Lilly, as well as her parents Sarah and Peter, please make them welcome when you see them around.
Yours sincerely,
Michael Watt
From the School Office
Operoo - Student Medical and Contact Details
Please ensure that you have reviewed and updated your child's Operoo profile, carefully checking that all information held about your child and emergency contact details are accurate and up to date.
- Have any of your family or contact details changed?
- Have there been any changes to your child's medical profile?
- Have you uploaded your child's updated Allergy, Asthma or Anaphylaxis plan?
Important Dates
TERM 3
- Friday 21 July - Hot Lunch and Sushi Day (orders close 10pm Monday 17 July)
- Tuesday 25 July - Division Soccer
- Wednesday 26 July - Grandparents and Special Person's Day
- Wednesday 26 July - School Advisory Council
- Friday 28 July - Division Netball
- Tuesday 8 August - Feast of Mary MacKillop
- Wednesday 9 August - Mary MacKillop Mass
- Wednesday 9 August - Hooptime Basketball (Grades 4-6)
- Saturday 12 August - Emerald BBQ
- Tuesday 15 August - Feast of the Assumption of Mary
- Wednesday 16 August - Assumption of Mary Mass
- Friday 18 August - Hot Lunch and Sushi Day (orders close 10pm Monday 14 August)
- Friday 25 August - District Athletics
- Thursday 31 August - Working Bee
- Thursday 31 August - School Advisory Council
- Friday 1 September - SCHOOL CLOSURE DAY
- Wednesday 6 September - Friday 8 September - Year 5/6 Camp to Sovereign Hill
- Friday 8 September - Hot Lunch and Sushi Day (orders close 10pm Monday 4 Sept)
- Friday 15 September - Hot Lunch (Hot Dogs) & FOOTY COLOURS DAY! (orders close 1opm Monday 11 September)
- Friday 15 September - Term 3 concludes
TERM 4
- Monday 2 October - Term 4 commences
- Wednesday 11 October - Prep Mass
- Wednesday 18 October - School Advisory Council
- Friday 20 October - Hot Lunch (Pizza & Gelato) and Italian Day
- Saturday 21 October - Emerald BBQ
- Thursday 26 October - Working Bee
- Monday 6 November - SCHOOL CLOSURE DAY
- Tuesday 7 November - Melbourne Cup PUBLIC HOLIDAY
- Wednesday 8 November - 50% Years P-3 Students Swimming Program
- Thursday 9 November - 50% Years P-3 Students Swimming Program
- Friday 10 November - Years 4-6 Students Swimming Program
- Friday 17 November - Hot Lunch and Sushi Day
- Thursday 30 November - School Advisory Council (AGM)
- Monday 4 December - SCHOOL CLOSURE DAY
- Wednesday 6 December - Gratitude Day Mass
- Thursday 7 December - Christmas Carols Night
- Friday 8 December - Hot Lunch and Sushi Day
- Wednesday 13 December - Passing On Ceremony
- Wednesday 13 December - Year 6 Graduation (6pm Mass)
- Friday 15 December - Final school day for students
Uniform Shop
Ross Haywood Sports - Update:
St Paul's Online Uniform Shop
https://www.rhsports.com.au/product/school_wear/st_pauls_monbulk_ps
For in-store purchases RH Sports are located at 12/100 New St, Ringwood (subject to any COVID restrictions in force at the time).
The store is now a CASHLESS STORE, EFTPOS transactions will be the only acceptable method of purchase. Recent changes to improve the health and safety of staff and customers include perspex screens at the registers and the supply of hand sanitiser. We ask that customers please apply this on entry to the store.
Online ordering continues as normal with all delivery options available including contactless pick up. Please phone the store on 9870 1377 if you have any further queries.
Secondhand Uniform Shop
Our secondhand uniform shop is managed by Kelly Garrett with items being purchased by gold coin donation. If you are looking for items of secondhand uniform please feel free to text Kelly on 0435 810 954 with your wish list. Items will usually be sent home via class tubs or collected from the school office by arrangement.
The secondhand uniform shop welcomes donations of St Paul's current school uniform items which are still in good condition. We do not accept the old St Paul's round neck jumpers, yellow shirts or non-St Paul's items. If you have any current uniform items you no longer need please feel free to leave your donations at the school office.
Child Safe Standards: Ministerial Order 1359
St Paul's Primary School is a child safe organisation which welcomes all children, young people, and their families. We are committed to providing environments where our students are safe and feel safe, where their participation is valued, their views respected, and their voices are heard about decisions that affect their lives.
Our child safe policies, strategies and practices are inclusive of the needs of all children and students. We have no tolerance for child abuse and take proactive steps to identify and manage any risks of harm to students in our school environments. We also take proactive steps to identify and manage any risk of harm to students in our school. When child safety concerns are raised or identified, we treat these seriously and respond promptly and thoroughly.
The original Child Safe Standards were implemented in Victoria during 2016. They were developed in response to The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Abuse (2013 - 2017). In 2019 Victoria agreed to adopt the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations. Schools are one example of a Child Safe Organisation.
There are eleven Child Safe Standards:
Child Safe Standard 1 – Organisations establish a culturally safe environment in which the diverse and unique identities and experiences of Aboriginal children and young people are respected and valued.
Child Safe Standard 2 – Child safety and wellbeing is embedded in organisational leadership, governance and culture.
Child Safe Standard 3 – Children and young people are empowered about their rights, participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously.
Child Safe Standard 4 – Families and communities are informed and involved in promoting child safety and wellbeing.
Child Safe Standard 5 – Equity is upheld and diverse needs respected in policy and practice.
Child Safe Standard 6 – People working with children and young people are suitable and
supported to reflect child safety and wellbeing values in practice.
Child Safe Standard 7 – Processes for complaints and concerns are child focused.
Child Safe Standard 8 – Staff and volunteers are equipped with the knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children and young people safe through ongoing education and training.
Child Safe Standard 9 – Physical and online environments promote safety and wellbeing while minimising the opportunity for children and young people to be harmed.
Child Safe Standard 10 – Implementation of the Child Safe Standards is regularly reviewed and improved.
Child Safe Standard 11 – Policies and procedures document how the organisation is safe for children and young people.
MACS provides Catholic schools with templates for the required documentation which we are required to adapt to reflect our school community whilst ensuring all legal requirements are met. Below are 3 key documents that we continue to review in light of the new standards:
Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy
Child Safe Standards: Identifying and Responding - Reporting Obligations
St Paul's Policies
OSHClub
Out of School Hours Care: OSH Club
Enrolments, Bookings and Enquiries
Parents will need to enrol with OSHClub. Please visit https://www.oshclub.com.au/ and click on "REGISTER". You will need to enrol with the Monbulk Primary School service.
OSH Club News
Community Notices
