St Paul's Newsletter: Thursday, 12 December 2024
2024 St Paul's Newsletter - Term 4, Week 10
From the Principal
Good afternoon all,
Last night I had the privilege of being part of the Graduation Ceremony for 2024 Year 6 students. The speech that I gave focused on looking forward to the future for the students, but sitting down and listening to the students share their memories excellently makes it easy to start reminiscing.
I have almost completed my first full year at St Paul’s. What a year it has been. I could start listing people individually, but invariably, I will miss someone. So, I will share thanks for specific jobs, and again, I will invariably miss something, but here goes. Thanks to all the families for supporting your children with their learning. Home learning is so important, so never underestimate the impact you make. Thank you to the students for rocking up each day, ready to learn and to be better. Thank you to the teachers, LSOs and all the staff facilitating learning and wellbeing at St Paul’s in 2024. Our data shows great success across all the classes, especially in Mathematics, which has been a large focus of the school with our Vision for Instruction approach. Thanks to families who have helped with Working Bees, Emerald BBQ, Discos, selling ice creams that aren’t poisonous on Main Street, moving props, covering books, sorting out Book Clubs, organising a Fair, cooking, eating, selling gifts, the school’s SAC Team and Parents & Friends team, support for families who are struggling and to everyone who makes St Paul’s the great community it is. I did roll out the great cliche last night, that it takes a village to raise a child, and it is so true.
With a tinge of sadness I get to inform you that we have some people leaving our community. Thanks to Katherine Mirabella and Rick Ramsay for all their hard work and contributions to St Paul’s this year. We wish them all the best in the next stages of their careers. I would also like to acknowledge the Lewis Family, with Austin, Orlando, and Jude venturing to a new school next year. Again, the school wishes them all the best.
There will be some changes to the school’s leadership team next year. Carolynne is stepping down from her R.E. and Administration Leader roles, and I would like to thank her for her immense support of me throughout this year. Maria Cook will be taking on the R.E Leadership along with her Literacy Leader role. Jo McIntosh will take over the Administration Leader role and will also pick up the Learning Diversity role vacated by Sarah Kleverkamp. Sarah is picking up some extra time with the Mental Health in Primary School Role being added to her Wellbeing Leadership role. Kelly Geoghegan will continue on in her Teaching & Learning Leader and Numeracy Leader roles.
The students will meet their 2025 teachers tomorrow, so I won’t be announcing who is who here. But I would like to welcome Mrs Roxanne Levett to the staff of St Paul’s. She comes with a wealth of experience and we are fortunate to have her at St Paul’s. She will be here tomorrow to meet her class.
Tomorrow also has the reports going home. Presently only 25% have signed up with the new nForma Parent Portal App, which will be the delivery method of the reports. It would be great if you could set up your access to the App before 3pm tomorrow. You will know you succeeded when you've changed your password and can see the Semester 1 report. Please let me know if you have any difficulties.
While discussing Apps, please look at the information below regarding the new CDF Pay App for 2025, and if you'd to get a headstart on next year, why not download it now as well.
Thank you to all the families that shared gifts from under the Wishing Tree for Monbulk Care. They are extremely grateful for your assistance to enable them to provide support to those less fortunate in our community at this time of year. Judy from Monbulk Care will be at our Prayer Gathering on Monday at 2.15pm. If you know of any families who are struggling, please reach out to the school so we can see if we can be of help. Please note: Due to the expected hot weather on Monday our Prayer Gathering will take place in the 5/6 classroom-Music Room space.
In the Lost Property Bin, just outside the Library, there is a large pile of jumpers and some other accessories. Can you please have a look through and claim any jumpers that are your child's. Any unnamed or unclaimed jumpers will circulate back through the Second Hand Uniform Shop.
One of the parents walked past me on Monday morning and said welcome to the last full week. It was such a teacher thing to say. Yes, this is the last full week and we begin our holidays next Tuesday at 3pm. There will be a mini newsletter that will go out on Tuesday with details for the holidays and return to school. It will also give me another chance to thank people I forgot earlier no doubt!
Have an awesome weekend, and I look forward to seeing many of you over the next few days.
Thanks
Nick
Student Voice
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
- 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 - New App available now
Please note that the current CDF Pay platform has now closed for the 2024 school year.
Please ensure you download the new app before the start of the 2025 school year. See instructions in the flyer below.
Parents & Friends - COUNTRY FAIR NEWS
Country Fair Update
Thank you to all those who donated for the recent free dress days and who placed orders on our Colour Run hot lunch day. With the money raised from these days we will have enough to purchase what we need for Lob-a-Choc, 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 us having to ask for all these items to be donated by families and brought in by students in Term 1.
Have a wonderful holiday break and Merry Christmas,
Ffrom the 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
