St Paul's Newsletter: Thursday, 5 September
2024 St Paul's Newsletter - Term 3, Week 8
From the Principal
Good afternoon Everyone,
Again I get to lead off with the weather. We certainly know about the change of seasons. I know there are still families without power and services. If you need anything assistance-wise, like food, bottled water etc, please let us know. If anyone else thinks that another family could help with a meal, please reach out.
Last Thursday, the Spargo, Wiering, McErlain/Jenkins families helped Mrs McIntosh, Mrs Curwood and myself at the working bee. We managed to move a whole heap of soft fall mulch making our playgrounds safer. We also cleaned up leaf matter (which in hindsight was a little like moving deckchairs on the Titanic), and removing rubbish which the P&F Team had cleaned out from the top portable. There were some other smaller, fiddlier jobs inside completed, and I thank both families and staff for helping.
Last Friday was the annual Father’s Day Breakfast. It was great to see so many dads and special people rolling through the classrooms and sharing the awesome bacon and egg rolls and fruit salad. I'd like to give a massive shout out to all the volunteers who helped organise, provide and deliver the breakfast on the morning, as well as those who helped organise and staff the stall enabling students to buy gifts. I hope all our dads and special people had a tremendous day on Sunday.
Next Term Mrs Emma-lee Curwood is taking some leave on Tuesdays. This means we need a P.E. teacher to replace Emma-lee. I am pleased to say that Louisa Pontin-Raj will be part of our staff next term. Louisa has had many years of experience as a P.E. teacher at St Simon’s in Rowville. Emma-lee will continue in her Art role on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Our school production, Ruby and the Marvellously Magical Music Cube, is in full swing for the performance on Thursday 19 September. It is great knowing the whole community is coming together to make this production successful.
Currently we have approximately 80 tickets left for sale. Prior to the release of unsold seats, if you haven’t already purchased your allocated tickets, I recommend you click here to buy them now. Next Monday 9 September at 9am, we will release all remaining tickets for those families who would like to purchase more than their allocated four tickets.
Please note that the day following our production, Friday 20 September, is a school closure day making Thursday 19 September, the last day of term.
A big congratulations to the students who participated in the District Cross Country yesterday. The feedback about behaviour, performance and support of each other absolutely lived up to the St Paul’s values. Well done!
We have our last Prep Taster Day session for the year next Wednesday, where the students will be on an Art Adventure with Mrs Curwood.
Next Friday is our Footy Colours Day and there will be a Hot Dog Lunch available, please order via CDF Pay before 10pm Sunday night. Students can wear their footy colours for the day. I look forward to seeing a whole heap of black and red, even just to make me feel better after I was reminded continuously yesterday that it has been 20 years since the Bomber’s last finals win. Purple is acceptable too - Go Storm!
Finally, each family will soon receive an email regarding the annual MACSIS survey. This process is essential for the school to receive feedback and continually improve our practices. Each survey is anonymous; the more data we collect, the more robust the results. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask. This newsletter has a general letter below with more information regarding the survey.
I hope that you all have a great week, and I look forward to seeing many of you next week.
Thanks,
Nick
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 - Prep Taster Days
Student Wellbeing
National Child Protection Week
NAPCAN began coordinating National Child Protection Week (NCPW) across Australia in an effort to engage and educate all Australians to understand they have a part to play in keeping our children and young people safe.
During this week our students are focusing on the Child Safe Standards and staying safe online. We are creating a 'child friendly' version of the Standards, so it is accessible for all students. Stay tuned for this exciting document in Term 4. The work around the Child Safe Standards and staying safe online is not just a focus for this week. We need to keep this on the agenda and talk about it with our kids. School can't deliver a Protective Curriculum alone, it's up to the families to support. If you need any guidance with how to talk about these topics with your children, please contact Paula Hogan or Sarah Kleverkamp, or visit eSafety Commisioner website (link below)
Friday students will come together to have lunch on the oval.
Cybersafety
Protecting children from sexual abuse online
Sexual abuse online can happen to any child, at any age, but there are things we can do to prevent it. Parents and carers are the first line of defence in protecting children and young people from child sexual abuse online.
Understand the risk
eSafety, police and researchers see reports of online sexual abuse increasing each year – and we know not all abuse is reported. It’s important for parents and carers to understand how it happens and how to help prevent it.
We can take steps to help children avoid harm and feel safe and confident when they’re online. We can do this by paying attention to their online experiences, helping them build skills, using safety features in games and apps, and making it easy for them to ask for help if things go wrong.
It’s also important to have open conversations about online risks with children, without scaring them. Talking about online child sexual abuse in a way that’s appropriate to their age and development makes it easier for children to speak up when they need help.
How it happens
Child sexual abuse can happen online using any device or platform that lets people connect through the internet. The abuse doesn’t need to be physical to have a harmful impact. It usually happens when a child is persuaded or pressured to do things like talk about private parts of their body, share nude images, or get sexual in and online chat or video call. Sending a child sexually explicit material is also abuse.
Online child sexual abuse can happen very quickly, even at home, without parents and carers knowing. The child often doesn’t understand they’re in danger, and may not know what has happened to them is abuse and wrong.
The person who abuses the child online can be a relative, a friend or a stranger. Often they trick, scare, blackmail or flatter the child into doing what they ask. They may first build an online friendship with the child around things they both like, such as games they’re playing online, to gain their trust. They may even pretend to be another child. This process is often referred to as ‘grooming’. The abuser may then start to become sexual with the child online, or arrange to meet them in person. eSafety has more information to help you understand online child grooming and unwanted contact.
It’s also important to know that sometimes children are threatened or blackmailed over sexual images or videos. This is called sexual extortion (or ‘sextortion’). Sexual abusers usually do this to make the child send more images or videos or get sexual online. But scammers also do it for financial gain. They trick the child into sending sexual content or getting sexual online, then threaten to share the content on social media or to show the child’s family and friends unless they pay money to the blackmailer. Teenage boys are often targeted online by people pretending to be young women who are sexually or romantically interested in them, and falling for the scam can put them at high risk of self-harm.
Nude, sexual or sexualised images or videos of children are sometimes called ‘child sexual abuse material’ (CSAM) or ‘child sexual exploitation material’ (CSEM). When children are shown in this material it can impact their mental health into adulthood. This includes images and videos that have been faked through processes such as photo editing and generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools that create deepfakes.
The impacts
Children who have been sexually abused online are four times more likely to experience mental health problems, according to the Royal Commission into child sexual abuseExternal link. The impacts can be experienced immediately after the abuse and throughout their lives. They can include:
- not being able to participate fully in life online and offline
- feelings of shame and worthlessness, and blaming themselves
- depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder
- nightmares and trouble sleeping
- relationship difficulties, including with trust and intimacy.
Child sexual abuse that happens online can be extremely distressing for children and young people, but the support of trusted adults can help them to recover.
If a child in your care is sexually abused online, it’s very important to get help quickly.
Get help now
If you think your child might be experiencing child sexual abuse, there are things you can do to help them.
- Stay calm. Listen and believe them.
- If the child is in Australia and is in immediate danger, call Triple Zero (000) or your local police on 131 444.
- Any type of suspected child sexual abuse or exploitation, including grooming, should be reported to the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE)External link. The child can make a report themselves, or an adult can help them. Or you can make an anonymous report to Crime Stoppers at crimestoppers.com.auExternal link or 1800 333 000.
- Anyone can report online child sexual exploitation and abuse material to eSafety at any time, so we can have it removed. Your report can be anonymous.
- Anyone whose nude or sexual image or video has been shared online without their consent can report it to eSafety, so we can have it removed.
- The TakeItDownExternal link tool can provide a secure, anonymous way to prevent sexual images or videos being uploaded and shared on a range of online platforms and services.
- There are many counselling and support services that help children who have experienced sexual abuse, including grooming, and their families. These are listed on the ACCCEExternal link website.
Respectful Relationships- Term 4
During Term 4 our topic focus will be Topic 8: Positive Gender Relations
This topic covers the definition of violence, gender based violence, Rights and Responsibilities, Respect, Seeking Safety and Seeking Help. These items are covered in an age appropriate way, using evidence based resources from the Resilience, Rights and Respectful Relationships Program.
Any families interested in what activities are included or would like further information, please contact Sarah skleverkamp@spmonbulk.catholic.edu.au
Important Dates
TERM 3
- 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
CDF Pay: Footy Colours Day - Hot Dog Lunch
Event Date: Friday 13 September 2024
Orders Open: Now
Orders Close: Sunday 8 September @ 10pm
For a direct link to CDF Pay click here.
**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 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
