St Paul's Newsletter: Thursday, 5 October
2023 St Paul's Newsletter - Term 4, Week 1
From the Principal
Dear Families,
Welcome back to Term 4. I trust you all enjoyed the school holiday break and found some quality time together as a family. I hope it wasn’t too difficult to wake up on Monday morning with the change to daylight saving hours!
Term 3 concluded on an exciting note with the children wearing their footy colours and partaking in a Hot Lunch Day on the last Friday of term. Many thanks to all the parents who assisted in the preparation and serving of the lunches. AFL football featured predominantly over the fortnight with the Brownlow medal, the Grand Final Public Holiday, and the Grand Final itself - congratulations to all those Magpies supporters!
This term is action-packed with plenty of activities to complement the high level of learning that the teachers have planned for all students in their classes.
A few highlights we are looking forward to include;
- A one-day swimming program for all students will be held in the week of the Melbourne Cup - further details below.
- 2024 Prep Transition program - Information Night, Transition Sessions, and Family Enrolment Meetings.
- Inter-School Sport continues with teams competing in regional athletics, and at the division level in softball, basketball, and volleyball.
- Christmas Carols Evening on Thursday 7 December.
- Year 6 Graduation is on Wednesday 13 December.
- The end of the school year is on Friday 15 December.
As always, please refer to the "Important Dates" section of this newsletter for all school events.
TERM 4 SCHOOL CLOSURE DAYS:
- Monday 6 November: School Closure Day
- Tuesday 7 November: Melbourne Cup Public Holiday
- Monday 4 December: School Closure Day (OSHClub Available)
2023 NAPLAN
I would like to take the opportunity in this newsletter to celebrate the success of our Year 3 and Year 5 students' achievements during our recent NAPLAN (National Assessment Program - Literacy and Numeracy) assessments.
The results provide us insight into the strengths of our education programs while also identifying areas
where we can further improve. The 2023 NAPLAN outcomes, calculated on a new proficiency scale - Exceeding; Strong; Developing; Needs Additional Support - reflect strong growth across the domains. This affirms the investment we have made in professional learning related to explicit teaching, particularly with a recent focus on literacy. Writing is a strength in our school, with 89.5% of year 3 students, and 71.4% of year 5 students, performing as strong or exceeding.
While this assessment is a snapshot of learning, we are extremely proud of our students. St Paul's will now use this data, in conjunction with the ongoing collection of assessment data and evidence, to add to the ongoing learning profile of each and every one of our students. This helps us enable the best teaching practices to be implemented and we are also able to consistently reflect and refine our craft.
80's DAY: Friday 20 October
Friday 20 October is 80's Day. We ask students to wear 80s themed clothing (or something brightly coloured) to support the less fortunate in our local community. We ask for donations of new socks, gloves, scarves, beanies or gold coins. This is an initiative of our Year 6 Mini Monbulkers.
Day for Daniel - Friday 27 October
Wear "a touch of red"
The Day for Daniel is an annual event involving schools, businesses and local communities. It sees over 1 million people each year participate in promotional events across Australia. These events help raise awareness of child safety, protection and harm prevention and complements the current broader work we are doing at St Paul’s to provide a safe and nurturing culture for all children.
The Day for Daniel is a way that we recognise our continuing commitment to child safety and the strengthening of school practices and policies in accordance with the Victorian minimum Child Safe Standards outlined in Ministerial Order No. 1359.
We encourage students to wear a "touch of red" to recognise Day for Daniel and raise awareness of child safety. The day is not a free dress day ... A red t-shirt, hair ribbon or red socks are most appropriate items, however it is NOT COMPULSORY to wear something red, and students may choose to wear school uniform.
Condolences
On behalf of our community, we extend our deepest condolences to Nadia Thompson on the recent loss of her father. Our thoughts and prayer are with Nadia, Ben and Isabella at this very difficult time.
Summer Uniform: No Hat, No Play
St Paul’s is a registered SunSmart School and it is time to 'dig out' that hat!
For the first week of Term 4 wearing a hat is optional.
All children are required to wear their school hat on the schoolyard at playtime as of the beginning of Week 2, this Monday 9 October.
Summer Uniform: The weather will fluctuate at the beginning of Term 4, with a mixture of warm and
cool school days. Therefore, the children will have the option of wearing either summer or winter uniform (but not a combination of the two).
Parents can decide on the uniform based on the weather forecast.
Swimming
At St Paul's we believe the best way to teach water safety is through a practical program.
Each child will participate in a one-day swimming program at Monbulk Aquatic Centre later this term:
- Prep CL and Year 3BD - Wednesday 8 November
- Year 1/2D and Year 1/2KG - Thursday 9 November
- Year 4/5MV and Year 5/6S - Friday 10 November
Students will travel by bus to Monbulk Aquatic Centre with their teachers and available support staff.
Fully qualified swimming instructors will be teaching students in small groups for the day, across 4 sessions:
- 11:30am - 12:15pm Dry Water Safety session
- 12:15pm - 1:00pm Wet Water Safety session
- 1:00pm - 1:30pm Lunch Break
- 1:30pm - 2:15pm Water Games/Inflatable
An Operoo eForm will soon be sent out to parents. We look forward to a terrific experience.
Yours sincerely,
Michael Watt
From the School Office
2023 School Fees - Due date 16 September
A friendly reminder for those families not on a payment plan, that the due date for 2023 school fees to be finalised was 16 September.
Thank you to those families who have already settled their accounts in full.
Statements for families without outstanding balances was emailed out before the school holidays.
If you have any queries relating to your account or are experiencing financial hardship, please do not hesitate to contact 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 4
- Wednesday 18 October - School Advisory Council
- Friday 20 October - Hot Lunch 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)
- Wednesday 6 December - Gratitude Day Mass
- Thursday 7 December - Christmas Carols Night
- Friday 8 December - Hot Lunch and Sushi Day
- Monday 4 December - SCHOOL CLOSURE 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
Shire of Yarra Ranges - Newsletters
Please click the link below to access latest family news and events from Shire of Yarra Ranges.