St Paul's Newsletter: Thursday, 20 July 2023
2023 St Paul's Newsletter - Term 3, Week 2
From the Principal
Dear Families,
Since the beginning of this year, the staff have been preparing for the Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) External Review of St Paul’s School, which commenced today, 20 July, 2023. School Review has two main dimensions – improvement and compliance.
Improvement
Through self-assessment and reflection and evidence collection, schools consider their school improvement through the four-year School Improvement Plan (SIP).
Compliance
Through verification of the minimum standards and other requirements for registration, Child Safe Standards and other State and Commonwealth requirements for Victorian Catholic schools, both schools and MACS are ensuring that external legislative and regulatory requirements are being met.
In our review we submit documentation and evidence to address:
- Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority Standards (compliance and legal review)
- Embedding the Child Safe Standards Evidence of Practice (Ministerial Order No. 1359 compliance)
- School Improvement Framework (SIF Rubric) Evidence of Practice
Every Catholic school undergoes review once every four years. Therefore, the last time St Paul’s was subject to review was in 2019. From each review, the school renews its "School Improvement Plan" or SIP. The SIP is an overarching document that outlines 3 significant priorities for the school to address over the 4 year period.
The internal operation of the school and the strategic intent are supported by the MACS School Improvement Framework (SIF). The SIF begins with a SIP! we use an extensive range of school data sets to monitor our progress and break down the strategic priorities into yearly plans, known as Annual Action Plans (AAP). The AAP will outline specific strategic intentions for the year, feeding into the SIP.
In preparation for this year’s review, the school’s Leadership Team and staff have been collating data that demonstrates 'evidence of practice' from the past four years. We provide evidence of practice to our reviewer, addressing 5 School Improvement Framework Spheres:
- Religious Dimension
- Learning and Teaching
- Leadership and Management
- Student Wellbeing
- School Community
The review is based on the School Improvement Framework (SIF) and as a staff we have spent considerable time working with a SIF Rubric, which is a tool for self-reflection around our SIP and AAP. Today we welcomed our reviewer, Judi Gurvich, for her first day with us. Our review will continue on August 14 and August 15, culminating in a set of recommendations presented to the Leadership Team in September.
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.
Welcome to St Paul's
On Wednesday morning (yesterday) we had our first "Ready, Set, Prep" session and it was a hit! We gathered in the library and our future students read picture books with their families. Following this, we ready a book about a "Bear Hunt" and we made binoculars so that we could explore St Paul's. We followed the bear tracks and discovered our own gummy bears that our students enjoyed together. We had an awesome pawsome time!
Yours sincerely,
Michael Watt
AFL 9s
On Thursday 22nd June (last term), some students in Years 4-6 participated in an AFL 9s Gala day. We had a girls team and a boys team. This was an opportunity for our students to play AFL in a modified format against some other schools. We were very lucky to have a dry, sunny day, even if it was a bit cold. Our students tried their very best and the competition was tough. For many of our students it was their first experience playing competitive AFL.
What a fantastic day that was - Go St Paul's!
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)
- Saturday 19 - Friday 25 August - Book Week
- 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
Financial Resource Support for Families
