St Paul's Newsletter: Thursday, 17 March 2022
2022 St Paul's Newsletter - Term 1, Week 7
From the Principal
Dear Families,
This year, all Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Melbourne will celebrate Catholic Education Week 2022 from 13 to 20 March. The theme for Catholic Education Week 2022 is ‘The Way of the Gospel’. This theme is based on Archbishop Peter A Comensoli’s 2021 Pastoral Letter.
There are 335 Catholic primary and secondary schools across Melbourne, enrolling more than 150,000 students and employing approximately 17,000 staff. Catholic schools provide a high-quality education in a faith-centred environment. This annual event is held to promote the special ethos of Catholic schools and to highlight the great things that take place in Catholic schools every day.
News from the Year 4/5/6 students…
World Maths Day is on Wednesday 23rd March, and to celebrate the whole school will join together to make a ‘Gold Coin Trail’. Which class will have the longest trail of gold coins? We will line up the coins on the asphalt and measure them before lunchtime on Wednesday.
So bring in your $1 and $2 coins to help your class make the longest trail and win some extra play time! There is a special yellow piggy bank in each class for your coins to be collected in.
The money collected from the Gold Coin Trail will be donated to help build a library in Tramri, Pakistan. Thank you for your help.
Friday 18 March is the National Day of Action Against Bullying and our students will be focussing on how we can build a culture of kindness. Bullying is not tolerated at St Paul's. Our classes will be talking about what defines bullying, and what we can do to prevent bullying in our world.
It is important for us to remember that bullying is repeated behaviour, not once-off conflict situations.
There are three types of bullying behaviour:
- Verbal bullying: which includes name-calling or insulting someone about physical characteristics such as their weight or height, or other attributes including race, sexuality, culture, or religion
- Physical bullying: which includes hitting or otherwise hurting someone, shoving or intimidating another person, or damaging or stealing their belongings
- Social bullying: includes consistently excluding another person or sharing information or images that will have a harmful effect on the other person.
If any of these behaviours occur only once or are part of a conflict between equals (no matter how inappropriate) they are not bullying. The behaviours alone (once-off) don't define bullying.
Verbal, physical and social bullying can occur in person or online, directly or indirectly, overtly or covertly.
Bullying can happen in person or online settings. Online bullying is sometimes called cyberbullying.
Verbal, physical and social bullying can happen in person.
Verbal and social bullying can happen online, as can threats of physical bullying.
Research shows that children who are bullied online are often also bullied in person. This means that effectively dealing with online bullying means looking at other situations as well.
Source: National Day of Action Against Bullying Website
HOW DO WE RESPOND?
At St Paul's, we are all aware of the potentially harmful effects of bullying, including online bullying (cyberbullying) on young people, and take reports of bullying seriously.
The primary aim of our school's response is to restore a positive learning environment for all students. We will inform parents, with the common goal to support the students and restore the relationships.
Positive responses are based on the understanding that children and young people are in the process of learning how to be a member of the school and wider community.
For more information, you might like to access our STUDENT BEHAVIOUR POLICY and our ANTI BULLYING POLICY
Allergies and Anaphylaxis: Food and Pets in the School Grounds
We often find ourselves in situations where we make, buy, donate and share many foods. We are out and about constantly and it is helpful to be reminded to keep ourselves safe as well as be conscious of others.
St Paul’s Primary School is concerned about the safety and well-being of all our students. Many of you will know someone who is affected by anaphylaxis, a life threatening allergic reaction. Our school does its best to be an allergy aware school. Staff have regular training in severe allergy management and we have implemented many strategies to help keep students diagnosed as being at risk of anaphylaxis as safe as we can.
This year we have two students at St Paul’s who live with the risk of anaphylaxis to foods, and another student who’s allergy triggers include dog saliva, pollen and dust mites.
As the main source of dog allergen is saliva - dander (shed skin particles) and hair can carry the allergen. All breeds of dog can potentially cause allergies, although some may not shed as much hair and dander (and therefore allergen) as others. Dogs also collect pollen and dust mites in their saliva which causes additional risk to this young child.
It is not our intention to ban dogs at St Paul’s, however, we do need to put some boundaries in place.
It is very important that children can safely exit their classrooms and our school without the risk of being licked by a dog, and that dogs do not enter any buildings or classrooms. If families intend to bring a dog to St Paul’s, we respectfully request that the dog:
- Remains in the car park/basketball court area on the path
- Be kept on a lead at all times
- The dog lead be held by a responsible person at all times
- That dogs not be walked into the outdoor under cover space
- Not enter any buildings or classroom/s
Thank you for your understanding.
Helen Hermann - Long Service Leave
Please note that Helen Hermann, our Office Manager, is taking a well deserved Long Service Leave break. Helen will be at school tomorrow, and then will begin her leave as of this Monday 21 March. Helen will return to school full time on Wednesday 6 April.
Bosa Sofranic-Carter and Tarnia Hiosan will fill in for Helen, and we are extremely grateful to Bosa and Tarnia for taking on this most important role.
Please note that at times office services will be limited. Thank you for your support and understanding.
PRINCIPAL’S CONFERENCE: HOPE - For Now and Whatever Lies Ahead. March 23-25
Next week I am attending The Victorian Association of Catholic Primary School Principals
(VACPSP) Principal's Conference in Lorne: "HOPE- For Now and Whatever Lies Ahead". The conference is a Professional Learning experience that will equip Principals with the latest educational research and I look forward to sharing my learning with you all as the year moves on. Stephenie Peels will be Acting Principal on Wednesday and Thursday. Sarah Kleverkamp will be Acting Principal on Friday.
SEEKING VOLUNTEERS!!!
Without the generous assistance of our parent volunteers many school events and activities could not take place. Volunteers are a valued and absolutely vital aspect of our school. We welcome and encourage involvement from parent volunteers - in fact, WE NEED YOU!
As Covid restrictions ease further we can begin to welcome parent volunteers back to school.
As part of the compulsory Victorian Government Child Safe Standards, schools are required to demonstrate evidence of their commitment to safer recruiting of staff including teachers and volunteers. This requirement extends to the engagement of parent volunteers and involves more open and transparent screening and supervision practices.
In order to volunteer at St Paul's we have sent all families the "2022 Engaging Volunteers - Child Safe Standards" eForm via Operoo. Please complete this eForm as it is a major part of meeting this requirement and we thank you for your understanding.
VOLUNTEERS: Whole School Sports Day
We are seeking several more parent helpers for our upcoming Whole School Sports Day. The day will be held at school on Friday 1 April, and we desperately need more helpers. The day will definitely proceed without enough volunteers, however events may need to be modified or even cancelled because we need people to supervise, and at this time we have not had the required response.
If you can assist on the day please:
- Complete the "2022 Engaging Volunteers - Child Safe Standards" Operoo eForm
- Provide a copy of your Working With Children Check Card to the school office
- Email Emma-lee Curwood: ecurwood@spmonbulk.catholic.edu.au
VOLUNTEERS: Parents and Friends - Are you Interested?
In recent times, our ability to hold school events has been severely impacted by Covid-19 restrictions. As these restrictions are now easing we can see an opportunity to re-establish our Parents and Friends (P&F) Committee.
The St Paul’s Parents & Friends Committee (P&F) consists of parents and friends of the school, each with the common interest of the wellbeing of St Paul’s Primary School Community.
The objectives of the Committee are:
• To foster within the school a spirit of community amongst the families attending the School
• To work with and under the guidance of the Principal and staff for the benefit of the School
• Through fundraising to assist with the development of school facilities
• To bring about a sense of community and togetherness of families through social events
• To assist, when requested, in events organised in connection with the School
• To keep the School community informed of any developments and/or events being organised by the Committee
We do have some existing P&F Executive Committee that are happy to keep volunteering, and we are looking for new members to join us. You can volunteer for the Executive Committee that meets monthly, or you might be interested in assisting with fundraising initiatives/events such as the school disco or hot lunch days. Toddlers/younger siblings are welcome at P&F Meetings. We would also love some new initiatives for school events so feel free to share your ideas!
If you would like to get involved in P&F activities, please CLICK HERE TO OPEN THE 2022 P&F EXPRESSION OF INTEREST SURVEY and we will be in touch over the next couple of weeks. The survey will close on Friday 18 March.
Car Park
Our car parking regulations exist to ensure the safety of our children and adults while in the car park. I would like for everyone to read through the following rules, once again, and enforce them whenever using the asphalt car park:
- Driving speed is to be that of walking pace
- Observe correct procedures for using the car park (please refer to plan in last week’s newsletter)
- Always exercise extreme caution when reverse parking
Children 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.
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, I ask you to understand that 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.
I thank you all for supporting the school and parish in creating and maintaining a safe car park environment at St Paul’s.
Yours sincerely,
Michael Watt
TERM 1 SCHOOL CLOSURE DAY
Friday 8 April - No School For Students
TERM 2 SCHOOL CLOSURE DAY
Tuesday 26 April - No School For Students
Newspower Easter Colour to Win Competition 2022
Newspower newsagency are running an Easter Colouring In Competition. Please click the link below for details.
Lunch Clubs are BACK!
Our lunchtime clubs are back up and running. They are held in the library/open learning space 1:30-2pm, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.
From the School Office
Have you got our school App yet?
Our school app, SZapp, is a handy tool for easy communication between home and school.
With the app you can:
- Receive timely updates, reminders and notifications from school
- Read the school newsletter
- Report an absence
- Check the school calendar
- Quick access to CDF Pay
- Quick access to the school website (for general information such as downloading Medication Authority forms or finding the link to the uniform shop, via the Current Parents tab)
If you do not yet have the app, can we please ask that you follow the instructions below to download the SZapp to your smartphone. If you are unable to download the app please contact the school office.
Help wanted please ...
Daffodil bulbs needed for Year 1/2KR.
If any parent has some spare daffodil 🌼 bulbs they can donate to 1/2 KR we would be most grateful. We will be planting them in pots during our kitchen garden time.
Please leave any donations at the office or send them into Mrs Ranahan.
Thanking you in anticipation.
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
Catholic Education Guide 2022
To assist your decision making in relation to your child's education for 2023 and beyond, please find below a link to the 136 page 2022 edition of the Catholic Education Guide.
CLICK HERE: https://victoriaschoolguides.starcommunity.com.au/catholic-education/
