St Paul's Newsletter: Thursday, 11 May 2023
2023 St Paul's Newsletter - Term 2, Week 3
From the Principal
Dear Families,
This Sunday we celebrate Mother’s Day. Mother's Day is an opportunity to highlight the central roles our Mothers play in our lives. May those little rays of sunshine – your children – bring you great joy for the day, and for every other day of the year too! It is important that we also celebrate all the other women in our lives such as grandmothers, stepmothers, aunts, cousins, teachers and special friends who have helped to shape and form us into the person we are today.
Thank you to all who were able to attend the Mother's Day Mass yesterday morning, it was a wonderful way to celebrate as a community. We look forward to breakfast tomorrow, as well as the famous Mother's Day Stall, which provides the opportunity for our students to purchase gifts for the special women in their lives.
We especially thank the Parents and Friends Committee for purchasing and organising the gifts for the Mother’s Day Stall. We are also very grateful for the organisation of the Mother's Day Breakfast. Thank you to all the volunteers who have volunteered to assist tomorrow. The students will have a very special morning, and we welcome you to visit the classrooms from 8:00am.
2023 ART SHOW: Wednesday 31 May, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
This is promising to be a fun evening in which to celebrate the artwork that has been completed by our children. Even staff members have completed a canvas for the evening – How do you think you will go at matching the artwork to the staff member? There will also be six very special art pieces put up for auction, with each piece collectively completed by the children from each class.
Friday 12 May: Art Show Free Dress Day!
Students are invited to wear free dress and bring in/donate an art item which will be used to create hampers. We are conscious of cost of living pressures, and we know how well-supported our Country Fair was, so if a child does not have an item or gold coin but wears free dress, that is totally fine we will not be asking the children. Please see below from Mrs Curwood.
Emerald Barbecue
This Saturday we host the Emerald Barbecue. If you are in Emerald on
Saturday morning, please call in to Emerald Meats, a great supporter of our school
community, and grab a sausage in bread! Thank you to the families that have
volunteered for this Emerald Barbecue.
Prayer Gathering Assembly
This Monday at 2:10pm our Prep class will host our Prayer Gathering. All welcome!
Student Late Arrivals
On the occasions when your child/ren arrive at school please ensure that you escort them into the school office and sign them in so that admin and teaching staff are aware that your child has arrived and is on the school grounds. Your compliance with this process assists us in ensuring the safety of your child.
New Conditions for Teachers
We are going through a period of extensive and significant change as an industry in education. There is a new enterprise bargaining agreement that is about to be signed off by MACS and the Independent Education Union which mandates a 38-hour working week (attendance) for all Victorian teachers. Activities that teachers are directed to do outside those 38 hours, will accrue time in lieu, or need to be paid as overtime. MACS will soon sign off on the agreement which involves daily start and finish times for teachers.
This new agreement will have an impact on after-hours school events, such as parent meetings, musicals, camps, art shows, and information nights. Our teachers are more than happy to support extra curricula activities, but these changes are industry-wide, and therefore our school must abide by the conditions. We do not anticipate any events being cancelled, but there may be different ways of working that are worked out over the next couple of years.
Due to the agreement, you will notice adjustments in dates and times, such as an earlier start to the 3-Way Conferences (21 June), and a change to our Term 4 end-of-year dates (see below). I can reassure our community that the St Paul's staff are an extremely dedicated and hard-working group, and we will continue to support community and extra curricula activities working within the requirements of this agreement.
3 Way Conferences: Wednesday 21 June
We will hold our 3 Way Conferences (previously referred to as Semester 1 Parent-Teacher Interviews) on Wednesday 21 June.
ADVANCED NOTICE
School will conclude at 12:30pm on Wednesday 21 June, with conferences starting at 1:00pm.
Supervision for students that travel on the bus and/or attend OSHClub will be available.
More details will be sent in the coming weeks.
IMPORTANT UPDATE: Term 4 Dates
Please note the following adjustments to closure days in Term 4...
- CANCELLED - Closure Day on Monday 11 December is CANCELLED. School will be open and running on Monday 11 December.
- Closure Day: Monday 4 December - this date aligns with a Closure Day at Monbulk PS. We anticipate (TBC) that OSHCLUB will offer a full day program.
- School concludes for the 2023 school year on FRIDAY 15 DECEMBER
2023 Swimming: November 8, 9 and 10
Our one day swimming program has been booked. We are travelling to Monbulk Aquatic Centre over 3 days, straight after Melbourne Cup Day.
Not every child will swim on all of the days. Each child will get one day of swimming as follows:
- Day 1: 50% of Year Prep-3 students - Wednesday 8 November
- Day 2: 50% of Year Prep-3 students - Thursday 9 November
- Day 3: All Year 4 - 6 students - Friday 10 November
Half of the Year Prep-3 students will go swimming on Wednesday, and the other half will go on Thursday. On Friday all years 4-6 students will swim.
Session Breakdown:
- 11:30am - 12:15pm Dry Water Safety
- 12:15pm - 1:00pm Wet Water Safety
- 1:00pm - 1:30pm Lunch Break
- 1:30pm - 2:15pm Water Games/Inflatable
Whole School Excursion: Wednesday 24 May
This Term our whole school is studying the concept of ‘Sustainability’. To support the students’ learning throughout this topic the Whole School will be attending an excursion to Healesville Sanctuary!! WOO HOO!!!
Each class will participate in a half hour workshop at different times during the day. The programs for each level are:
- Prep-2: Habitats, Features & Lifecycles
- Gr3: STEM for Endangered Species
- Gr4-6: Adaptations, Survival & Sustainability
On the day, all classes will participate in the Spirits of the Sky show at 12pm.
Families will receive an Operoo eForm with further details. We are looking forward to a great day!
Wellbeing: Parent Session
Sarah Kleverkamp, our Student Wellbeing Leader, along with Paula Hogan, Learning Support Officer and Counsellor, are offering a Wellbeing Parent Session, on Monday 15 May. This session will include understanding anxiety, signs, responses, strategies, resources and more. The session will be a relaxed format, where parents can enjoy a cuppa and learn together. An Operoo eForm has been sent to all families for planning purposes.
2024 Enrolments due Friday 2 June
We now expect 23 Preps to begin in 2024. Enrolments are on the rise at St Paul's! If you, or a friend, have a child who will be commencing school next year, please pick up an enrolment form from the office or download it from our website and return it to school prior to Friday 2 June.
Yours sincerely,
Michael Watt
From the School Office
CDF Pay - Orders Now Open
Friday, 19 May - Hot Lunch Day
Orders Open: Now
Orders Close: Monday 15 May @ 10pm
* Please note: No late orders can be accepted after orders have closed
For a direct link to CDF Pay click here
PTV - School Bus Management System (SBMS)
Important update for students who are approved for travel on the School Bus Program: Upgrades are being made to the School Bus Management System (SBMS).
To make this important change, the SBMS will be unavailable from COB Friday 5 May 2023 for a period of time.
If you need help during this time, you can email the School Bus Program team on schoolbus@education.vic.gov.au or call on 1800 338 663.
Operoo - Student Medical and Contact Details
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.
- Have any of your family or contact details changed?
- Have there been any changes to your child's medical profile?
- Have you uploaded your child's updated Allergy, Asthma or Anaphylaxis plan?
Important Dates
TERM 2
- Friday 12 May - Mother's Day Stall
- Saturday 13 May - Emerald BBQ
- Sunday 14 May - Mother's Day
- Saturday 20 May - Confirmation 12:00pm
- Wednesday 31 May - 2023 ART SHOW
- Thursday 1 June - Working Bee
- Thursday 22 June - School Advisory Council
- Wednesday 21 June - 3 Way Conferences (aka Parent/Teacher/Student Interviews)
- Friday 23 June - Term 2 Concludes
TERM 3
- Monday 10 July - Term 3 Commences
- Wednesday 26 July - Grandparents and Special Person's Day
- Wednesday 26 July - School Advisory Council
- Tuesday 8 August - Feast of Mary MacKillop
- Wednesday 9 August - Mary MacKillop Mass
- Saturday 12 August - Emerald BBQ
- Tuesday 15 August - Feast of the Assumption of Mary
- Wednesday 16 August - Assumption of Mary Mass
- Thursday 31 August - Working Bee
- Thursday 31 August - School Advisory Council
- Friday 1 September - SCHOOL CLOSURE DAY
- Wednesday 6 September - Friday 8 September - Year 5/6 Camp to Sovereign Hill
- Friday 16 September - Term 3 concludes
TERM 4
- Monday 2 October - Term 4 commences
- Wednesday 11 October - Prep Mass
- Wednesday 18 October - School Advisory Council
- Saturday 21 October - Emerald BBQ
- Thursday 26 October - Working Bee
- Monday 6 November - SCHOOL CLOSURE DAY
- Tuesday 7 November - Melbourne Cup PUBLIC HOLIDAY
- Wednesday 8 November - 50% Years P-3 Students Swimming Program
- Thursday 9 November - 50% Years P-3 Students Swimming Program
- Friday 10 November - 50% Years P-3 Students Swimming Program
- Thursday 30 November - School Advisory Council (AGM)
- Monday 4 December - SCHOOL CLOSURE DAY
- Wednesday 6 December - Gratitude Day Mass
- Thursday 7 December - Christmas Carols Night
- Wednesday 13 December - Passing On Ceremony
- Wednesday 13 December - Year 6 Graduation (6pm Mass)
- Friday 15 December - Final school day for students
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 Kelly Garrett with items being purchased by gold coin donation. If you are looking for items of secondhand uniform please feel free to text Kelly on 0435 810 954 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.
Child Safe Standards: Ministerial Order 1359
The original Child Safe Standards were implemented in Victoria during 2016. They were developed in response to The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Abuse (2013 - 2017). In 2019 Victoria agreed to adopt the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations. Schools are one example of a Child Safe Organisation.
There are eleven Child Safe Standards:
Child Safe Standard 1 – Organisations establish a culturally safe environment in which the diverse and unique identities and experiences of Aboriginal children and young people are respected and valued.
Child Safe Standard 2 – Child safety and wellbeing is embedded in organisational leadership, governance and culture.
Child Safe Standard 3 – Children and young people are empowered about their rights, participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously.
Child Safe Standard 4 – Families and communities are informed and involved in promoting child safety and wellbeing.
Child Safe Standard 5 – Equity is upheld and diverse needs respected in policy and practice.
Child Safe Standard 6 – People working with children and young people are suitable and
supported to reflect child safety and wellbeing values in practice.
Child Safe Standard 7 – Processes for complaints and concerns are child focused.
Child Safe Standard 8 – Staff and volunteers are equipped with the knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children and young people safe through ongoing education and training.
Child Safe Standard 9 – Physical and online environments promote safety and wellbeing while minimising the opportunity for children and young people to be harmed.
Child Safe Standard 10 – Implementation of the Child Safe Standards is regularly reviewed and improved.
Child Safe Standard 11 – Policies and procedures document how the organisation is safe for children and young people.
MACS provides Catholic schools with templates for the required documentation which we are required to adapt to reflect our school community whilst ensuring all legal requirements are met. Below are 3 key documents that we continue to review in light of the new standards:
Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy
Child Safe Standards: Identifying and Responding - Reporting Obligations
Community Notices
Community Directory
