St Paul's Newsletter: Thursday, 24 February 2022
2022 St Paul's Newsletter - Term 1, Week 4
From the Principal
Dear Families,
Lent is the Catholic season of preparation before Easter. The Lenten season is a time when many believers observe a period of fasting, repentance, moderation, self-denial and spiritual discipline. The purpose is to set aside time for reflection on Jesus Christ, his suffering and his sacrifice, his life, death, burial, and resurrection.
Catholics who observe Lent typically make a commitment to fast, or to give up something, such as watching TV, or a food or drink, such as sweets, chocolate or coffee. Some people also take on a Lenten discipline, such as reading the Bible and spending more time in prayer to draw nearer to God. Strict observers do not eat meat on Fridays, having fish instead. The goal is to strengthen the faith and spiritual disciplines of the observer and develop a closer relationship with God.
Shrove Tuesday (commonly called “Pancake Tuesday”) occurs the first Tuesday before Ash Wednesday and is the vigil for the starting of Lent. Traditionally viewed as a day of repentance, Shrove Tuesday has become the last day for celebration and feasting before the period of fasting required during the Lenten season.
Ash Wednesday marks the first day, or the start of the season of Lent, which begins 40 days prior to Easter (Technically 46, as Sundays are not included in the count). The exact date changes every year because Easter and its surrounding holidays are movable feasts.
The significance of the 40-day period of Lent is based on two episodes of spiritual testing in the Bible: the 40 years of wilderness wandering by the Israelites and the Temptation of Jesus after he spent 40 days fasting in the wilderness.
All students will attend Mass this Wednesday 2 March for Ash Wednesday. This mass is for students and staff only, there is no provision for parents or parishioners to attend masses at this time due to covid restrictions. As part of the Mass we receive a cross on the forehead using ashes. The tradition of tracing a cross on the forehead is meant to identify the faithful with Jesus Christ.
2023 Enrolments
Enrolments for next year have officially opened. If you have a child who will be commencing school next year, please pick up an enrolment form from the office or download one from our website and return it to the school ASAP. As you can appreciate, we need this information in order to ascertain student numbers for 2023. Enrolment figures are used to determine class numbers and
structures. Our enrolment figures impact directly on the funding St Paul’s receives.
Audit Success
Everyone at St Paul’s knows Helen Hermann - our most valued Office Manager. Helen has an extremely diverse role. From overseeing bumps, cuts and bruises, providing a friendly face for our families, organising the office, counselling the Principal and managing our school finances, she is simply a GUN!
Every year, every Catholic school has a finance audit. Every cent of your school fees, and government funds, must be accounted for. Money can ONLY be spent for the benefit of your child’s school and education. Helen’s outstanding record keeping and superb money management skills shone through at our recent audit. I congratulate Helen on an extremely impressive and perfect school audit result. Our school funds are clearly being well utilised and well managed, and this is something we are very grateful for.
Parent-Teacher Transition Interviews
I thank our families for making the time to meet with your child's teachers at yesterday's Parent-Teacher Transition Interviews. I also wish to acknowledge the staff for putting in a long day to ensure that all families could participate.
School Advisory Council
The School Advisory Council met on Wednesday evening via Zoom. The topics that were covered included: The Importance of Good Governance, Child Safety, the SAC Terms of Reference and Making Informed Decisions. If you have any questions, ideas or matters that you would like discussed by our School Advisory Council, feel free to speak to any of the Advisory Council members. The Advisory Council comprises:
- Cara Kirby (Chairperson) - Olivia in Yr 4, Mahaliah in Yr 6
- Megan Bourke (Secretary) - Grace in Yr 5, Ivy in Yr 2
- Sally Zylinski - Lola in Yr 4
- Troy Czaja - Zach in Yr 5, Sebastian in Yr 4
- Kristen Dias - Scarlett in Yr 2
- Jenny Burns - Jack in Prep
- Fr Anthony Cruz (Parish Administrator)
- Stephenie Peels (Deputy Principal)
- Michael Watt (Principal)
School Bus Reminder: Avoid Delays
We have an increasing number of students using the PTV bus service, which is great. It is extremely important that parents notify us when your child is travelling on the bus as we keep a record and ensure they are escorted safely onto the bus each afternoon.
It is just as important to notify us when circumstances change. Recently our bus has been getting held up at 3pm because students are not sure if they are catching the bus, or not. At times, students have been picked up from classrooms, although we are expecting them on the bus, and the office has not been notified. We have then held up the bus searching for students while the bus waits.
Can we respectfully remind families that if circumstances change regarding your child's bus travel, it is very important to notify the office, thanks.
Secondary School - Year 4 and Year 5 Families
Students beginning Secondary School in 2024 and 2025 are encouraged to view our Community Notices page for important dates and information regarding Secondary School enrolments.
SEESAW - Student Learning Folios
When we ask parents what they would like to know about St Paul’s the reply is often around how we can help our child at home and we want to know more about what is happening in the classrooms. Back in 2015/2016 the St Paul's staff made the decision to create Digital Portfolios where digital journals of student learning can be created, stored and accessed. Therefore students and staff now use the SEESAW app and/or website to communicate student learning and display work. We encourage you to take the opportunity to regularly celebrate your child’s achievements by viewing their portfolio on SEESAW. Parents are most welcome and encouraged to comment on your child’s Digital Portfolio.
Request for help from the Art Room
We are after 3 parent volunteers to assist with assembling our bottle top mural. We need some adults to help to do the tricky bits. If you are free for an hour here or there, please contact the school office.
We are also in need of donations of newspapers for the Art Room as our stocks are running low. If you are able to help out, please leave them at the school office.
Thank you from Mrs Curwood.
Yours sincerely,
Michael Watt
From the School Office
Operoo - Student Medical and Contact Details
It is important to regularly check and 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.
Now due: Student Levies - 18 February
Annual statements for this year's school fees have been emailed to families. The levies portion of school fee accounts was due Friday, 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. Payments can be made via CDF Pay. 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
