St Paul's Newsletter: Thursday 16 September, 2021
2021 St Paul's Newsletter - Term 3, Week 10
From the Principal
Dear Families,
Congratulations and thank you for all of the hard work that has gone into this term. Tomorrow we complete our ninth week of Term 3 Remote Learning! I know it has been tough on our whole St Paul's community; students, parents and staff. We should be proud of the ways we have worked together for everyone's benefit, especially the students. Thank you for the support you have provided your children and the St Paul's staff throughout the term.
Here is a message of hope from Pope Francis that might help us during these times.
“To Christians, the future does have a name, and its name is hope. Feeling hopeful does not mean to be optimistically naive and ignore the tragedy humanity is facing. Hope is the virtue of a heart that doesn’t lock itself in darkness, that doesn’t dwell on the past, does not simply get by in the present, but is able to see a tomorrow. Hope is the door that opens onto the future. Hope is a humble, hidden seed of life that, with time, will develop into a tree. It is like some invisible yeast that allows the whole dough to grow, that brings flavour to all aspects of life. And it can do so much, because a tiny flicker of life that feeds on hope is enough to shatter the shield of darkness. A single individual is enough for hope to exist, and that individual can be you. And there will be another ‘you’ and another ‘you’ and it turns into ‘us’. And so, does hope begin when we have an ‘us’? No. Hope begins with one ‘you’. When there is an ‘us’, there begins a revolution”. Pope Francis, 2017.
We are all hoping that those in authority are able to allow our students to return to on site learning next term. We will be communicating with families if any announcements are made over the holidays (more on this below).
Staff Planning Day - Friday 17 September
Tomorrow, 17 September, our teachers will be working together to prepare for Term 4. This is not a School Closure Day as we believe that it is more helpful for families if students have school work to do, and/or have activities that can engage them.
***IMPORTANT END OF TERM NOTICE***
***Please ensure all Seesaw tasks for this week are completed by the end of the day today.***
Please note the following arrangements for Staff Planning Day - Friday 17 September:
- Seesaw will not be monitored on Friday 17 September
- Mr Watt and Mrs Geoghegan have organised community activities and we encourage our students to get involved! (See below)
- The online School Disco will run from 12:00pm - 1:00pm (see below)
- 9:00am Google Meets will still occur in order to verify attendance and check in with students
- Classroom teachers will not be available following their 9:00am Google Meet for the remainder of the day
Friday 17 September
Footy Colours AND Disco Day!
Footy Colours Day
Tomorrow, Friday 17 September, is our traditional FOOTY COLOURS DAY. We are encouraging all students to dress up in their favourite team colours for the day as they complete their Remote and Flexible Learning. This can be from any sport/hobby. You may even like to organise a footy themed lunch at home!
Good luck to all Melbourne Demons and Footscray Western Bulldogs' supporters for the AFL Grand Final.
Good luck to all Melbourne Storm supporters for their NRL Preliminary Final.
Whole School Footy Fun Day Google Meet with Mrs. Geoghegan
- When: Friday 17 September 9:45am
- Code: stp15
Where: Can be done inside or outside
What You Need: per child
- A footy or any type of ball (teddy or rolled up socks if no ball)
- Targets: Washing basket or something similar(big tub/box, hoop)
- 2 empty drink bottles or something similar
- A marker- cone or shoe or stick. Anything really
- Drink of water
Join me for some fun, fitness warm-up and basic ball handling drills. We will focus on handball and marking and we will use the baskets/tubs/drink bottles as targets. Remember to wear your footy colours and SMILES!! From Mrs Geoghegan.
STEP 1: Open the Google Form (link below) and complete the quiz by 10:00am Friday
STEP 2: Join our Google Meet at 10:30am Friday
"Watt's the Answer 2.0 Sports Trivia" is a quiz where students and/or families can sit down and attempt each question. Entrants must complete the form by 10:00am Friday 17 September. At 10:30am Friday we will run a Google Meet - stpquiz - where we will run through the answers.
We are extremely grateful to the Barnard Family, and their business "French Willow" for the donation of the prizes. ANY student that ...
*Completes the quiz AND also logs into the Google Meet at 10:30am will be placed into a draw to win a prize!
- 1st Prize = Finska
- 2nd Prize = Popsicles Puzzle
- 3rd Prize = Travel Draughts
Please CLICK HERE TO OPEN AND COMPLETE "WATT'S THE ANSWER 2.0 SPORTS TRIVIA"
Friday 17 September: BOP TILL YOU DROP!!! School Disco! 12pm - 1pm
This Disco will be an end of term celebration, instead of our 'normal' evening disco that can't be held for obvious reasons. This disco will be 'virtual' - held via Zoom.
The zoom link was sent via email yesterday evening and will be sent again tomorrow morning.
Staff First Aid and Anaphylaxis Training - Tuesday 5 October
A vital component of child safety is that our staff are trained in First Aid and Anaphylaxis Management. Staff employment requirements also mandate that we are trained in First Aid and Anaphylaxis Management.
The St Paul's staff have compulsory First Aid training on the afternoon of Tuesday 5 October. Tuesday 5 October is the second day of Term 4.
*** Our half-day training begins in the afternoon and therefore school will finish at 1:00 pm on Tuesday 5 October ***
'Accredited First Aid' is the company that facilitates and manages our training, and we have been working with them to find appropriate dates and times. Staff have tried to avoid school closures wherever possible and we have tried to find dates and times that minimise inconvenience to our families.
Please note that due to all staff being required for the training, on-site supervision for students is not available after 1:00pm on Tuesday 5 October
We are grateful for your support and understanding of this compulsory training for all staff.
Stepping Out: Shire of Yarra Ranges Kids Online Art Gallery
Cath Russell, from the Shire of Yarra Ranges, contacted St Paul's to invite our students to take part in the "Stepping Out: Shire of Yarra Ranges Kids Online Art Gallery". This is part of the Shire of Yarra Ranges 'Art Attack' program, building on the successful Stepping Out project from 2020.
Here is the email from Cath:
This year our aim is to facilitate kids in the Shire of Yarra Ranges in feeling connected to their broader community, and to share active hope. We're keeping participation as simple as we can:
Ask kids to draw or paint a picture, right now. What are they experiencing outside in their beautiful neighbourhood?
- Child or parent take a photo or their art work
- Send the photo (to this email- to the Stepping Out Google Drive file- or to our fb page)
- Artworks will be collated and shared on the Shire of Yarra Ranges website, via the Art Attack Online Gallery.
We realise asking locked down kids to create can be a struggle, but we would be delighted to receive artwork from St Paul's students.
Kindest regards, Cath Russell
Please see flyer below with further details. Myself and Mrs Curwood encourage our students to get involved in this great initiative.
Interrelate Family Evening: Wednesday 27 October
Interrelate are an organisation that facilitates family evening programs for primary schools, focusing on human development. The programs provide the opportunity to facilitate communication between parents and their children.
This year we have booked Interrelate for Wednesday 27 October and the sessions will take place online for both students and families to attend together. We will have a session beginning at 6pm for Year 3-6: Where Did I come From? We will then have a session for Year 5/6: Preparing for Puberty. Years 3/4 students are welcome to join both sessions at the discretion of parents.
Early next term we will send a Google Form to all parents with further details about the content of the program, and also to ascertain interest levels in the community.
Term 3 Concludes Tomorrow - What about Term 4?
We hope you all enjoy a two week rest from school over the holidays. At this time we do not know what announcements will be made with regard to a return to on-site learning, but we are hoping that it won't be long before our students are back on-site.
Tomorrow our teachers are planning for Term 4. We are planning for Remote and Flexible Learning in Week 1, we are making an educated guess that this will be the case. It is easier to plan for Remote Learning and change to on-site learning, than it is to plan to be on-site, and then need to flip everything to Remote Learning. If we are on-site for Week 1, our staff will be ready to welcome you back with open arms!
There is no Learning Pack collection tomorrow, for Term 4 Week 1. There will be a collection, but we are waiting for Government announcements over the holidays, and this will then guide us on when Learning Packs will be collected. We do have plans internally on how we will manage any scenario that may be thrown at us, but until an announcement is made and we can be sure of our movements, we will encourage our families to relax and enjoy a break. As soon as we know what is happening with regard to returning to school in Term 4, we will communicate with you.
I wish you lovely school holidays, and we hope to see you all joining into our fun activities tomorrow, on Footy Colours Day!
Kind regards,
Michael Watt
R U OK? Day- Thursday 9th September
R U OK? is a harm prevention charity that encourages people to stay connected and have conversations that can help others through difficult times in their lives.
This week students have explored how to recognise when someone is not OK, how to ask R U OK?, who is their network of supports they can talk to and what the ALEC (Action, Listen, Encourage action, Checkin) steps are.
If you need support or someone to talk to, please contact a staff member you feel most comfortable with.
Other contacts include Kids Helpline https://kidshelpline.com.au/ and Beyond Bllue https://www.beyondblue.org.au/
From the School Office
A reminder for Prep parents re School Entrant Health Questionnaire (Primary School Nursing Program)
Thank you to those Prep parents who have already been able to return their child's School Entrant Health Questionnaire.
If you have not yet returned the Questionnaire for your child, we ask that you please complete it over the holidays and place it in your child's school bag ready to return on their first day back onsite at school. Alternatively, if you are coming to collect learning packs feel free to give it to your child's class teacher or drop it into the school office at the same time.
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 Kylie Storer with items being purchased by gold coin donation. If you are looking for items of secondhand uniform please feel free to text Kylie on 0430 546 611 with your wish list. When not prevented by restrictions, Kylie will usually be at school on Thursday mornings to fill orders. Items can be sent home via class tubs or collected from the school office.
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.
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
Transition Information
To assist your decision making in relation to your child's education for 2022 and beyond, please find below a link to the 136 page March 2021 edition of the Catholic Education Guide.
CLICK HERE: https://victoriaschoolguides.starcommunity.com.au/catholic-education/
Mater Christi College – Belgrave
Mater Christi College is a vibrant, inclusive and warm community where girls feel safe and build supportive lifelong friendships. After another year of leading academic and vocational outcomes, we are experiencing a surge in demand for places.
Parents of Grade 5 students are strongly encouraged to secure a place for Year 7 2023. Visit the College website to apply or arrange a tour.
Families seeking enrolment for 2022 should contact the College Registrar 9754 6611 asap.
2021 Edition of the Enrolments Guide for Parents
To assist your decision making in relation to your child's education for 2022 and beyond, please find below a link to the 2021 edition of the Enrolments Guide.
CLICK HERE: victoriaschoolguides.starcommunity.com.au/enrolments-guide
