St Paul's Newsletter: Thursday, 5 December 2024
2024 St Paul's Newsletter - Term 4, Week 9
From the Principal
Good Afternoon Everyone,
It is weird when we get to this time of year and realise this is the last Thursday for our Year 6 students. As a parent with a child in Prep, I am not sure I can fully appreciate the question, ‘Where has that time gone?’ However, for our Year 6 parents, I am sure you are asking yourselves that. This is even more apt for the following families who will be leaving us, some after many, many years! We say thank you and farewell to the Browitt, Czaja, Fasan, Jones, Kirby, Koole, Lacey, Licciardi, Vlahovic & Zylinski families who have their last child completing primary school this year.
Yesterday we had our Gratitude Mass and thank everyone who attended mass and the morning tea which followed. For all those who couldn’t make the morning tea, please note we really are thankful for your time and support throughout the year.
At the end of mass we shared some awards with the school. We had representatives of the Country Women’s Association, Rotary and Bendigo Bank Monbulk to help acknowledge some students with certificates, plaques and vouchers. This year St Paul’s also had a new award - The St Paul’s Values Award, which recognises a student who consistently lives up to our school values of Responsibility, Courage, Justice, Respect and Wisdom. I would like to recognise the following students:
Country Women’s Association Award - Esther
Rotary Award - Lola
Bendigo Bank Monbulk Award - Liam
St Paul’s Values Award - Olivia
Tomorrow we have a 'With a Touch of Christmas' themed free dress day, requesting a gold coin donation, contributing to the preparation of next year's Country Fair. This should replace the frequent need to request donations from families early in Term 1 next year, and we thank you in advance for your support.
We are in the process of updating our apps and communication avenues for our families. Attached to this week's newsletter email are instructions on accessing the new nForma Parent Portal, which you will need to set up before you will be able to access your child/children’s report. If you have any issues with this, please contact myself or Helen in the office. Reports will be released electronically on Friday 13 December at approximately 3pm. All Seesaw assessments will be uploaded on Thursday 12 December.
Our online school shop, CDF Pay, is also moving to a new app (see the flyer below in 'From the Office' section of this newsletter). Our current CDF Pay school shop has now been closed for the year, and we will be moving to the upgraded app from the start of the new year. We will provide you with further information before the holidays.
Next Monday our Year 5 students will be walking down to Monbulk Care to deliver the gifts from under our Angel Tree. Thanks to all the families that have taken an angel and donated a gift to those who are less fortunate in our community. Gifts are able to be left under the Angel Tree in the foyer until 9am Monday morning.
Next Wednesday we have our Passing On Ceremony at 12 noon in the church and I invite you all to attend. Our Year 6 students will then celebrate their Graduation with a lunch after this ceremony, followed by the Graduation Mass with their families in the church at 6pm.
I am excited to let you know that we have engaged with B2 Architects who will be working with us to develop a master plan for the school as we continue to grow and improve. This will involve consultation with students, staff and families. If you are interested in being a part of this process, please send me an email.
I hope that we all get to enjoy the last full week of school, and I look forward to seeing you all tonight at our Christmas Carols in the church from 6pm, or up at the Monbulk main street on Friday night for Merry Monbulk (with our students performing at 6pm.)
Many thanks,
Nick
Student Wellbeing
Online Safety
Healthy digital technology use: parents as role models- Raising Children Network
When it comes to digital technology, you are your child’s most important role model. There are many ways you can model healthy and balanced digital technology use. For example, try asking for consent to take your child’s photo, waiting until conversations are over before checking text messages, and using screens for positive things like video calls.
Mental Health Resources
The Head to Health National Digital Mental Health Gateway to provide easy access to digital mental health services, information and support.
Beyond Blue as a reliable source of mental health information, support, and hope.
Smiling Minds is a tool for supporting the mental wellbeing of children and families. Kids deserve to grow up learning the skills to be mentally healthy, in the same way they learn the skills to read and write.
Important Dates
TERM 4
- Thursday 5 December - Christmas Carols (6pm start)
- Friday 6 December - Merry Monbulk Christmas Event - St Paul's Choir (from 6pm)
- Wednesday 11 December - 'Passing On' Ceremony
- Wednesday 11 December - Year 6 Graduation
- Friday 13 December - 'Meet the 2025 Teacher' orientation session
- Friday 13 December - 2025 Prep Transition - Day 4 (10am)
- Tuesday 17 December - Term 4 Concludes - Last day for Students
TERM 1 - 2025
- 29 & 30 January - Student Testing Days
- 31 January - First full day of school for students
From the School Office
CDF Pay Update
Please note that the current CDF Pay platform has now closed for the 2024 school year.
We'd like to draw your attention to the information below regarding the upgraded CDF Pay coming in 2025!
Parents & Friends - COUNTRY FAIR NEWS
Country Fair Update
Thank you to all those who donated for the free dress day and who ordered from our hot lunch last Monday on the day of the Colour Run.
Reminder: We have a free dress day, with 'A touch of Christmas theme' next Friday, requesting a gold coin donation. With the money raised from these days we will have enough to purchase what we need for lob-a-chock, fizzy quoits and at least purchase brand new jars for students to collect and then fill for the mystery jars. Like previously mentioned, having the funds raised now to purchase all that is needed, means the start of next year is far less crazy, without having to ask for all these items to be donated by families and brought in by students in Term 1.
We have $250, $500 and $1,000 packages. Please, if this is something you may be interested in contact
Bec Magnay bwiering_15@hotmail.com
2025 Country Fair Team
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.
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
