St Paul's Newsletter: Thursday, 3 February 2022
2022 St Paul's Newsletter - Term 1, Week 1
From the Principal
Dear Families,
Welcome back to the new school year. It was great to welcome all families back this week, and
the students are looking refreshed after their break over summer. The staff officially
commenced last Friday, although many have been working at school over the past weeks
in preparation for the term ahead. I wish to thank our staff for their dedication in preparing
for the beginning of the year.
During the holiday period, a number of maintenance tasks were completed around the
school: Trees were maintained, branches overhanging the main buildings
were pruned; shrubs and plants were cut back; lawns mowed; reverse cycle air
conditioning units were serviced; carpets were steam cleaned; vinyl surfaces were
cleaned and polished; windows were washed (both internal and external) and we had the
school pressure cleaned. You will also notice new gates at the basketball court entry. Soon, you will notice our basketball/netball/downball court lines will be re-painted. We are also re-painting car parks and clear car park directional lines, and more information on this will be sent to families as the term moves on.
2022 Preps and New Families
Yesterday our Prep students experienced their first day of school! This is a momentous
occasion for families and particularly special for the child themselves. For many of us our
first day of school is etched in our memories, and often life long friendships are forged on
this day. We thank our Prep families for entrusting your children into our care.
WELCOME TO ST PAUL’S:
Charlee, Angus, Henry, Frankie, Ayaan, Carter, James, Levi, Ivy, Jack, Milla, Orlando, Kirra, Alara, Liliana, Harry and Kian
All families at St Paul’s know that we provide a high quality education with a special
personal touch. This nurturing environment is evident to all those that visit us, and this
year, on behalf of the St Paul’s community, we also welcome the following children in other year levels and their families:
Nevaeh, Toby, Isabelle and Sienna
I know that our established families will take the opportunity to introduce themselves to our new families and help them become familiar with our vibrant school and Parish community.
2022 New Staff—Welcome!
As announced last year, one new staff member joins our team in 2022. We welcome Mrs Jacqui Kerr to the role of Year 1/2 Classroom Teacher. Jacqui will be in Year 1/2 from Monday-Wednesday. Jacqui is off to a terrific start and has thoroughly enjoyed teaching her class this week.
We extend a very warm welcome to all new families and staff.
Specialist Classes
During 2022 the specialist classes of Music/Performing Arts and Italian will be held on
Tuesdays, with 45 minute classes. Art classes will run for one hour this year, across Wednesday and Thursday. PE classes will run for one hour this year, across Thursday and Friday. All children are to wear their full sports uniform on their PE, and also "Class Sport" days. Individual classes will be notified by their teachers as to which other day children will be required to wear sports uniform.
School Hours
Children are supervised from 8:25am and need to gather on the playground, around the equipment. Classrooms open at 8:30am.
Music is played as a signal to move into classrooms at 8:43am and the bell rings at 8:45am to start the school day.
The school day begins with time for Meditation and Prayer. Research has shown that Meditation enhances academic, social and emotional performance.
With the exception of the students who travel by bus, all students need to be in class ready to start the school day by 8.45am. Written communication is required by the Government for any absences and early dismissals. Late arrivals and early dismissals must be recorded with a parent/ guardian signature.
Dismissal time is 3.00pm. We respectfully request that all students are collected as near as possible to 3.00pm as the teaching staff are required in meetings and have other professional responsibilities at the end of the day. Thanks for your understanding.
Sun Smart
All children must wear school hats at playtimes every day during Terms 1 and 4. Children that do not have their hat at playtime will be confined to the undercover space, in the shade. Sun hats are always to be worn to Phys Ed and Sport classes.
School Procedures for the Bushfire Season
With Extreme Fire Warning Days parents/guardians are reminded that there is NO SCHOOL for staff or students on CODE RED days.
Fire danger ratings and warnings are used in Victoria to provide clear direction on the safest options for preserving life. Schools and children’s services listed on the DET Bushfire At-Risk Register (BARR) will be closed when a Code Red fire danger rating day is determined in their Bureau of Meteorology district.
St Paul’s has been identified as being one of those at high bushfire risk and is listed on the BARR. Where possible, we will provide parents with up to four days notice of a potential Code Red day closure by letter, email and App Notification. A Code Red day will be determined by the Emergency Management Commissioner no later than 1.00 pm the day before the potential closure. Once we are advised of the confirmation of the Code Red day we will provide you with advice before the end of the school day.
Once confirmed, the decision to close will not change, regardless of improvements in the weather forecast. This is to avoid confusion and help your family plan alternative care arrangements for your child. It is also important to note that:
- No staff will be on site on days where the school is closed due to a forecast Code Red day.
- Out-of-school-hours care will also be cancelled on these days
- School camps will be cancelled if a Code Red fire danger rating day is determined for the Bureau of Meteorology district in which the camp is located.
- All school bus routes will be cancelled.
On these Code Red days families are encouraged to enact their Bushfire Survival Plan – on such days children should never be left at home or in the care of older children. For those of us living in a bushfire prone area, the CFA advise that when Code Red days are forecast, the safest option is to leave the night before or early on the morning of the Code Red day.
As part of preparing our school for potential hazards such as fire, we regularly update our Emergency Management Plan, reprioritise any maintenance works that may assist in preparing for the threat of fire and clear our facility’s grounds and gutters.
What can parents do?
Make sure your family’s bushfire survival plan is up-to-date and includes alternative care arrangements in the event that our school is closed.
- Ensure we have your current contact details, including your mobile phone numbers. Keep in touch with us by reading our newsletters, and by talking to your child’s teacher, any other member of staff or myself about our emergency management plan.
- Most importantly at this time of year, if you’re planning a holiday or short stay in the bush or in a coastal area, you should check warnings in advance of travel and remain vigilant during your stay.
- If your child is old enough, talk to them about bushfires and your family’s bushfire survival plan.
You can access more information about children’s services closures on the Department of Education and Training
website – see http://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/programs/health/pages/closures.aspx
For up-to-date information on this year’s fire season, visit the CFA website at www.cfa.vic.gov.au or call the 24-hour Victorian Bushfires Information Line on 1800 240 667.
Prayer Gathering Assembly
The first Prayer Gathering Assembly will be held on Monday 7 February, at 2:10pm, via Zoom video conference.
We will announce the Semester 1 Student Representative Council (SRC).
We will email the Zoom link out to parents on Monday - all welcome!
Parent Teacher Transition Interviews
Transition to a new school year for staff and students involves setting up strong communication processes and building on the relationship between teachers and families to support student learning. As part of our transition process, on Wednesday 23 February, parents/guardians are invited for an initial interview with the classroom teacher to help support your child’s learning this year.
The booking process will be the same as it was for the Transition days that we have held earlier this week. We use schoolinterviews.com.au to organise our bookings and you will receive the details over the next couple of weeks.
Please Note
School will conclude at 1:00pm on Wednesday 23 February
Car Parking
The importance of observing the strict parking and traffic regulations that are in place for the asphalt car park cannot be over-emphasised. These regulations exist to ensure the safety of all children and adults within the car park area.
The following rules must be followed:
- Observe correct procedures for using the car park as stipulated in the attached plan/map below
- Driving speed is to be that of walking pace
- Always exercise extreme caution when reverse parking
- Children, regardless of age, must always be accompanied by an adult when walking through the car park to the school or vice versa (In other words, hold the hands of young children. Older children should never be more than 1m away from an adult.)
- Children and adults should always use the designated pathways
- Never leave a car unattended in the drop off zone
- At the conclusion of the school day, when children have been collected from their classroom, they should never be allowed to go to their vehicle unaccompanied by an adult, regardless of their age
- If you have young children or toddlers, never let them walk around or behind parked vehicles. They should remain next to you at all times.
For the safety of everyone, particularly the children, there can be no exceptions to these rules. Complacency is a recipe for an accident.
While the asphalt car park is the preferred car park of use, some parents require the staff/parish car park when visiting during school hours. Should this be the case, the same rules apply with the addition of the following:
- Vehicle traffic flow is one direction only. Cars should enter the car park from Moores Rd and exit via Prices Rd
- Driving speed = walking pace
- Vehicles must always reverse park carefully
- Please observe the Disabled Car Park spaces on Wednesday mornings
- Children, regardless of age, must be accompanied by an adult. Children are never to walk through the car park by themselves
- If the car park is full, do not park in the driveway. Cars will have to be parked safely in Prices or Mt Pleasant Roads, giving due consideration to the residents in the area.
When using one of the Parish/School car parks it is important to remember that the safety of our children and adults is of utmost importance. A lapse in concentration or flippant disregard for the rules can be a costly mistake that can haunt us for the rest of our lives. A map outlining the car park zones is included here:
Covid-19 Management
Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) have directed Principals to report positive Covid cases to the community. We thank you for your understanding of the number of emails that have already gone out, and we are extremely grateful that our families have been respectful of the directives we have been given.
At least once each day you will receive an email that notifies you of any positive test cases that have been reported to the school.
With each email, in the subject line, you will be provided with the total number of active cases in the school.
If you wish to read the email it will outline the new positive cases that have been reported and the class or classes that have been impacted.
These emails are templates and will look very similar from day to day.
Face Masks
Students in year three and above must wear face masks while indoors unless they have an exemption. Please note that students must provide their own masks.
Can I go into my child's classroom?
We respectfully ask that parents only enter if it is absolutely necessary, or invited by the teacher. We have to remain under certain numbers, and so we can only have a small number of parents in the room at any one time.
We are considering creating a 'one-stop shop' Covid-19 page for future newsletters where we can list FAQ's and have helpful information for parents. Watch this space!
Important Dates
- Wednesday 23 February Parent/Teacher Transition Interviews (school concludes at 1:00pm)
- Wednesday 2 March (10:15am) Ash Wednesday/Staff Commissioning/Opening of School year Mass
- Monday 14 March LABOUR DAY PUBLIC HOLIDAY
- 14 - 20 March Catholic Education Week: The Way of the Gospel
- Thursday 7 April Term 1 Concludes
- Friday 8 April SCHOOL CLOSURE DAY
- Tuesday 14 June (3:30pm) Year 3 First Reconciliation
- Sunday 14 August (11:00am) Year 3 First Eucharist
- Tuesday 13 December (6:00pm) Year 6 Graduation Mass
Yours sincerely,
Michael Watt
From the School Office
Welcome Back to School!
Operoo - Student Medical and Contact Details
As we begin another school year it is important to update our records for students and Parents/Guardians.
- Have any of your family or contact details changed?
- Have there been any changes to your child's medical profile?
Please ensure that you have reviewed and updated your child's Operoo profile, carefully checking that all information held about your child and emergency contact details are accurate and up to date.
Fee Statements
Fee Statements for this year's school fees will be sent to families very shortly. Please note the levies portion of school fee accounts will be due for payment by 18 February. Please complete this Direct Debit Request Form or contact the school, if you require assistance to set up your periodic payment plan, or to discuss your school fee account.
Conveyance Allowance
If you received Conveyance Allowance for your child in 2021, you do not need to complete an application form for them again in 2022, unless there has been a change in your family circumstances.
You only need to complete a new application form if any of the following changes have occurred:
- You have a new student that has started at St Paul’s in 2022 - you will need to complete a new application form for that child only
- You did not apply in 2021
- Changed family circumstances, such as a change of address since 2021
Check with the school office if you are unsure.
Important Notices for Health Care Card Holders:
Camps, Sports & Excursion Fund (CSEF)
New from MACS in 2022 - Concessional Fee Policy
CONCESSIONAL FEE POLICY
From the commencement of 2022 Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) have introduced a Concessional Fee Policy. Please refer to the Policy to determine whether you may be eligible for discounted school fees.
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 Carla Rademaker with items being purchased by gold coin donation. If you are looking for items of secondhand uniform please feel free to text Carla on 0409 866 901 with your wish list. Items will usually be sent home via class tubs or collected from the school office by arrangement.
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
