St Paul's Newsletter: Thursday 14 October 2021
2021 St Paul's Newsletter - Term 4, Week 2
From the Principal
Dear Families,
We are all getting excited to welcome our Prep-3 students back on-site from next week. We look forward to welcoming back our Preps on Monday 18 October for three days, our Year 1 students on Thursday 21 October for two days, and our Year 2/3 class on Tuesday 19 October for 2 days.
On Monday, when we welcome our Prep students back to school, we will have a new face amongst our students. Beth Bruneau is a new student in Prep/1A and we are thrilled to welcome the Bruneau family to St Paul's. Welcome Beth!
As published last week, here is the timeline for students returning to St Paul's:
From Monday 18 October (Week 3 of Term 4)
- Prep Students on-site: Monday 18, Tuesday 19, Wednesday 20 October
- Year 1 Students on-site: Thursday 21 and Friday 22 October
- Year 2 and Year 3 Students on-site: Tuesday 19, Wednesday 20 October
From Monday 25 October (Week 4 of Term 4)
- Prep Students on-site: Monday 25, Tuesday 26, Wednesday 27 October
- Year 1 Students on-site: Thursday 28 and Friday 29 October
- Year 2 and Year 3 Students on-site: Tuesday 26, Wednesday 27 October
- Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6 Students on-site: Thursday 28 and Friday 29 October
Monday 1 November - School Closure Day (Week 5 of Term 4)
Tuesday 2 November - Melbourne Cup Day Holiday
Wednesday 3 November
- Prep Students on-site: Wednesday 3 November
- Year 2 and Year 3 Students on-site: Wednesday 3 November
Thursday 4 November
- Year 1 Students on-site: Thursday 4 November
- Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6 Students on-site: Thursday 4 November
Friday 5 November onwards
- All students on site as usual until the end of the year
School Closure Day - Monday 29 November
School Closure Days Term 4
Please note the following dates in your diary:
- SCHOOL CLOSURE DAY - Monday 1 November (no school for students)
- MELBOURNE CUP PUBLIC HOLIDAY - Tuesday 2 November (no school for students)
- NOVEMBER: Monday 29 November- Closure Day for Staff Professional Learning on Learning Diversity
- 2021 SCHOOL YEAR CONCLUDES FOR STUDENTS - 3:00pm Wednesday 15
December
MACSSIS Family Surveys
These surveys are now ready for completion. They provide extremely valuable feedback on many aspects of our St Paul's educational environment. Staff, students and parents' feedback help paint a complete picture of the current climate and consequently help set goals for our future School Improvement Plans. Please take the 20 minutes to complete these anonymous surveys throughout this week.
Forward Planning for Term 4
At this week's meeting the St Paul's Staff had a rather lengthy discussion regarding the latest School Operations Guide. There are a very wide range of directives and these rules influence our planning for Term 4. As a staff we continually reflect and try to plan through a very unpredictable environment. When we make decisions we are keeping in mind a balanced focus of student wellbeing, academic learning time, and a sense of community.
Here is an update regarding a range of school events and activities that have been influenced by the latest School Operations Guide and Covid restrictions:
- School Closure Day Monday 1 November - maintained to allow for time required to provide a Semester 2 school report
- School Closure Day Friday 29 November - required due to not having school closure days for professional learning requirements in Term 2 and Term 3
- Confirmation - hold this Sacrament when possible (pending restrictions)
- First Reconciliation - hold this sacrament when possible (pending restrictions)
- First Eucharist - hold this sacrament when possible (pending restrictions)
- Year 5/6 Camp - we are waiting to receive correspondence from Sovereign Hill as restrictions ease. Camps and excursions are banned at this time so we can't book an alternative venue
- School Musical Production - cancelled for 2021. We will hold a performance on 1 September 2022
- Year 6 Retreat Day - Friday 26 November at school: Year 6 students only
- Whole School End of Year Gratitude Mass - Wednesday 1 December 9:00am. We are hopeful of holding this Mass in church with families if possible
- Passing On Ceremony - 12:00pm Thursday 9 December with parents if permitted
- Year 6 Graduation Lunch - 1:00pm Thursday 9 December (students and staff only)
- Year 6 Graduation Mass - Thursday 9 December 6:00pm. Hopefully parents will be permitted to attend (as was the case last year)
Visiting St Paul's - Entering our School
Covid Safety
As our students return in greater numbers next week, I want to reassure all families that we will continue our many COVID safe practices including the following:
- the school is cleaned professionally throughout the day, as well as at night
- ventilation is a priority with windows and doors open
- hand sanitiser is readily available
- regular hand washing is encouraged
- Yr 3 - 6 students are mandated to wear a face mask unless a lawful exemption applies
- Yr Prep-2 students are welcome to wear a face mask if they choose to do so
- social distancing is encouraged
- all staff and visitors to the school grounds (including contractors, cleaners, external service providers, volunteers, parent helpers, etc) will need to be fully vaccinated
Visitors To Schools: Checking In
The use of Service Victoria QR codes for electronic record keeping is now mandatory in all
schools to enable the effective contact tracing of any COVID-19 cases.
Page 21: Covid-19 School Operations Guide October 11
Visitors To Schools: Vaccination
It is now mandatory for any school visitors that wish to enter school buildings to be fully vaccinated (including parents, contractors, diocesan education office staff and building and maintenance staff).
Our vaccination records form part of the suite of documentation required to be a parent helper, volunteer or enter a school building. Vaccination records will work just like a Working With Children Check Card. Parents can drop off and pick up their children at school, but to come into the buildings or assist in any way at a school we must be fully vaccinated as of this Monday.
Essential visitors to school grounds must comply with density limits, face mask requirements,
QR code check-ins and practise respiratory etiquette and good hand hygiene.
PARENTS ON-SITE ENTERING BUILDINGS: As of Monday 18 October, parents are only permitted to enter the buildings for essential purposes. Parents are not permitted to enter buildings at morning drop off or afternoon pick up due to the need to maintain density limits inside the school. We thank you for your understanding on this.
School Playgrounds
Page 22 of our Operations Guide states that playgrounds are open for school student (only) use during school hours - up until 3:30pm.
School playgrounds are used by people in the community, but this is only after school hours, in line with community settings.
At St Paul's, pre-covid, families played on the equipment while waiting to pick up St Paul's students. Under our directives, this is no longer possible. While we are under the directives of the current Operations Guide, our playground is only available for school students because our school hours do not technically conclude until 3:30pm.
I understand this may be difficult for some of us, especially with our spectacular new playground equipment, however, please do not play on the playground after school until further notice.
Remote and Flexible Learning Week 3
A couple of notes about next week - Term 4, Week 3:
- Learning Pack Collection for Week 3 will occur between 2:00pm and 3:00pm tomorrow (Friday 15 October).
- PLEASE CHECK IN: QR Codes are displayed and we remind our parents that, whenever we enter a building, we should be checking in using that QR code.
On-site Supervision:
Vulnerable children and children of parents or guardians who are on the authorised provider and authorised worker list can continue attending onsite. Those families that are already listed for on-site attendance do not need to take any action unless the days for supervision change.
Remote and flexible learning will be delivered to students on the days they are not on-site. As more industries open up you may require on-site supervision for your child. Please email mwatt@spmonbulk.catholic.edu.au if you now require on-site supervision for your child. If both parents are authorised workers you will need to provide your permits and we can add your child to the on-site attendance list.
Kind regards,
Michael Watt
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.
Now that Prep students are returning to school, if you have not yet returned the Questionnaire for your child, we ask that you please do so when possible. Please hand it to your child's class teacher or drop it into the school office. If you require another copy please contact the school office. Thank you.
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
