St Paul's Newsletter: Thursday, 15 August 2024
2024 St Paul's Newsletter - Term 3, Week 5
From the Principal
Good afternoon to our wonderful families of St Paul’s,
It amazes me that tomorrow marks the halfway point of Term 3. How time flies, but with all the activities throughout the past week, no wonder it feels exceptionally quick.
Last Thursday, we had our Mini Olympics, with students representing various countries in their sporting colours. It started with an Opening Ceremony in the hall, followed by activities such as tug-o-war, obstacle course, slalom and creating their own basketball mini-games. It was fantastic to see the teamwork and each of the students living up to the school's values. The day ended with a whole school tunnel-ball game followed by the teachers demonstrating to the Year 6 students how to be successful at tunnel-ball. Thanks to our Year 6 students for helping lead this day and the staff and families for supporting it.
Last Sunday, we had the First Eucharist for Charlotte F, Charlotte M, Dante, Ella, Flynn, Logan, Mirriki, Niamh, Pearl and Tyler. It was a beautiful celebration, led by Fr Cruz, and each of the students read amazingly well. Thanks to the families and staff for preparing the students to receive this sacrament for the first time.
Yesterday, we celebrated our Grandparents and Special Persons Day. It was a lovely way to demonstrate the incredible community of St Paul’s in action. The buzz in each of the classrooms as the students and special guests drew each other, bopped to brain-breaks and shared stories, was so lovely for me to witness for my first time. This was followed by mass celebrating the Feast of the Assumption. It was great to see the church packed and each of the students sharing the mass with their guests.
Yesterday we also had some of our Year 5/6 students competing in the Regional Netball Finals. They won one game, lost a tight one and were beaten by a very strong team. By all accounts, they worked really well as a team and very much did St Paul’s proud. Well done!
We have our school production "Ruby and the Marvellously, Magical Music Cube”, coming up at the end of the term (Thursday 19 September). We have been working hard with Burrinja to organise the release of tickets for the night. We are hoping early next week that we will be able to release the tickets, and will communicate to you how that will look. We apologise for the delay in this.
Tomorrow the school will celebrate Book Week. This year's theme is Reading is Magic. The day will begin in the hall (after the roll has been marked in the classrooms) with a Book Week Parade starting at 9am. All families are invited to come along for the parade. I can’t wait to see the myriad of costumes tomorrow and what the staff will wear?
An important reminder that the school will be closed on Friday 23 August, as the staff undertake professional development related to Religious Education and Scripture.
Next week we also have our next Prep Taster Day on Thursday 22 August (Library Story Time). There is a Working Bee coming up on Thursday 29 August, followed by the Father's Day Breakfast the next morning (30 August). More information will follow in next week's newsletter, but get these in the diary!
Finally, we are in the process of beginning to plan class structures for 2025. We ask any families (apart from Year 6 students) who have children that will not be continuing at St Paul's in 2025, to please contact the school.
I hope that you have a fantastic week ahead and that all illnesses are now behind us as a school. As always, if you need anything, please reach out.
Thanks
Nick
Book Week - Dress Up Parade!
We are celebrating this year's CBCA Book Week with a magical dress-up day on Friday 16th August. There will be a parade at 9.00am in the hall. Please feel free to join the frivolity!
School Musical: 19 September - Save the Date!
Student Voice
Enrol now for 2025
We respectfully request families with a child/ren intending to commence Prep at St Paul's in 2025 submit their completed Enrolment Packs into the school office as soon as possible. Enrolment Packs can be downloaded from the school website. Alternatively, paper copies or emailed forms can be requested from the school office. Thank you!
If you know of a family that is considering St Paul's for their child/ren, please encourage them to get in touch with us and book a tour, or direct them to our website.
Term 3 Dates - Prep Taster Days
Student Wellbeing
Bullying No Way: National Week of Action
This year St Paul’s Primary is participating in the Bullying No Way: National week of action, 12 to 16 August 2024.
Bullying No Way Week is a commitment being made by thousands of schools and supporters across the country. It provides an opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to bullying prevention. It gives us an opportunity to connect with students, staff and school communities to implement workable solutions to prevent bullying.
The new hero colour for the campaign is purple – symbolising peace, strength and empowerment to take a stand against bullying behaviour.
The theme for this year's campaign is Everyone belongs. This theme highlights the importance of creating a sense of belonging and inclusion for students. We recognise bullying often thrives in environments where individuals feel marginalised or excluded, and it is our collective responsibility to ensure that every student feels valued and respected.
“Positive school climates that value diversity and inclusion can foster a sense of belonging and provide a protective factor against negative peer relationships and reduce bullying.” (Australian Education Research Organisation 2023).
For more information about Bullying No Way Week and bullying prevention, visit the Bullying No Way website.
During the week we will be engaging students in meaningful discussions and activities aimed at promoting empathy, understanding, and respect for diversity. We encourage parents and carers to take this opportunity to have open and honest conversations with their children about the impact of bullying and what they can do if they need support. You can visit the Bullying No Way website for tips around how to have this discussion.
Bullying – important conversations to have with your child
Parents and carers play an important role in helping your child understand bullying, and know how to respond to it.
Questions you could ask:
- What do you think bullying is?
- Have you seen it? How did you feel?
- Have you ever felt scared at school because of bullying?
- As well as me, who are the other adults you would talk to when it comes to things like bullying?
- Have you or your friends left other kids out on purpose? Do you think that was bullying? Why or why not?
- Have you ever tried to help someone who is being bullied? What happened? What would you do if it happens again?
Remind your child that bullying is never okay and discuss how they can respond safely if they experience or witness it.
Encourage them to seek help from a trusted adult and keep seeking support if needed.
By promoting open communication, we empower children to stand up against bullying and create a safer environment where everyone can feel that they belong.
Important Dates
TERM 3
- Thursday 15 August - Feast of the Assumption
- Thursday 15 August - Hot Lunch & Sushi Day
- Friday 16 August - Book Week Dress Up Parade
- Saturday 17 August - Emerald BBQ
- Thursday 22 August - Prep Taster Day - Library Adventures
- Friday 23 August - School Closure Day - No school for students
- Thursday 29 August - Hot Lunch & Sushi Day
- Thursday 29 August - Working Bee @ 3.15pm
- Friday 30 August - Father's Day Brekkie and Father's Day Stall
- Wednesday 4 September - School Advisory Council Meeting @ 7pm
- Wednesday 11 September - Prep Taster Day - Art Adventures
- Friday 13 September - Footy Day - Hot Dog Lunch
- Thursday 19 September - SCHOOL MUSICAL
- Thursday 19 September - Term 3 Concludes for Students
- Friday 20 September - School Closure Day - No School for Students
TERM 4
- Monday 7 October - Term 4 commences for Students
- Wednesday 16 October - School Advisory Council Meeting @ 7pm
- Thursday 17 October - School Disco
- Wednesday 23 October - 2025 Prep Information Night
- Thursday 24 October - Hot Lunch & Sushi Day
- Thursday 24 October - Working Bee @ 3.15pm
- Saturday 26 October - Emerald BBQ
- Monday 4 November - School Closure Day - No school for students
- Tuesday 5 November - Melbourne Cup Public Holiday
- Wed 6 - Fri 8 November - Swimming Program - Monbulk Aquatic Centre
- Monday 11 November - Remembrance Day
- Thursday 14 November - Hot Lunch & Sushi Day
- Wednesday 27 November - School Advisory Council Meeting @ 7pm
- Thursday 5 December - Hot Lunch & Sushi Day
- Thursday 5 December - Christmas Carols
- Wednesday 11 December - 'Passing On' Ceremony
- Wednesday 11 December - Year 6 Graduation
- Friday 13 December - 'Meet the 2025 Teacher' orientation session
- Tuesday 17 December - Term 4 Concludes - Last day for Students
From the School Office
Scholastic Book Club
**HOT LUNCH & SUSHI Days**
Please see below for 2024 dates and menus
Operoo - Student Medical and Contact Details
As we begin another school year, it is important to ensure that you have reviewed and updated your child's Operoo profile, carefully checking that all information held about your child and emergency contacts 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?
Parents & Friends News
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
Uniform Shop
St Paul's School New Uniform Supplier: Spartan School World
For online orders: www.spartanschoolworld.com.au
Secondhand Uniform Shop
Our secondhand uniform shop is onsite at school and is managed by one of our parents, 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. Cashless payment for items is via CDF Pay, selecting the Second Hand Uniform option and the quantity of items purchased.
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.
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.
Transition Information
Victorian Catholic Schools Guide
To assist your decision making in relation to your child's education for 2025 and beyond, please find below a link to the March 2024 edition of the Catholic Education Guide.
CLICK HERE: https://victoriaschoolguides.starcommunity.com.au/catholic-education/
Community Notices
Shire of Yarra Ranges - Newsletters
Please click the link below to access latest family news and events from Shire of Yarra Ranges.
Financial Resource Support for Families
Open Door Community Care - Local Support Services
Monbulk Care Network has recently changed its name to Open Door Community Care. It is the same community service with a new name. Please see below for details if you would like to access these community support resources.
Food Pantry hours (next to Open Door Community Church)
Cnr David Hill Rd & Moxhams Rd
Every day: 9.30am – 5.30pm
The Op Shop & Laneway Nursery hours
Mon-Fri 10am -4.30pm
Saturday 10am -1pm
