Newsletter Term 3 Week 7, 2022

School Photos

It was wonderful to see everyone turn up in the correct uniform for School Photos on Wednesday.  This is a mark of respect for themselves and for representing the school with pride.  There will be a “catch up" session for Photos on Thursday 15 September (morning) for those who were absent.

Building Stage 1 Early Years

We are currently in the Tendering Process, which closes next week, where a CESA approved builder will be given the building project.  By the end of term, the 4 classes in the Church Block will relocate to different rooms within the school.  I will write to each of these classes regarding the specifics of the timeline of their shifting rooms.  I will be asking for parent helpers on the day of the shifting to help move the larger items.

The classes moving are:

1 Blue  (Ms Borello)                                 relocate to STEM Room (Library)
Rec Red (Ms Cibich & Ms Cowan)           relocate to 3/4 Room (Blue door village)
Rec / Yr 1 Purple (Ms Willson)                 relocate to Italian Room (near Preschool entrance)
Rec Yellow  (Ms Jensen & Ms Cibich)      relocate to village (community room)
3/4 Blue                                                   have already relocated to Veritas Centre
STEM & Italian                                         lessons to be taught in classrooms
Music                                                       lessons held in St Francis Hall

Staffing Update

Jacinta Zandona on doctors advice, has gone on leave several weeks early before she has her baby and we wish her well.  Gesica Alvaro has been appointed Italian teacher at OLV replacing Jacinta whilst she is on leave.  I welcome Gesica to OLV.

Congratulations to Bianca Bruno who gave birth last Friday to Adele Natalia. 

Sports Fun Day

Sports Fun Day – Friday 30 September on our school Oval

Sports Fun Day is fast approaching!  This year we have decided to have Sports Fun Day on the last day of Term 3.  Our students have begun practising for the events. 

The following information will help explain our expectations regarding Sports Day.

• Parents / Grandparents can attend Sports Day.  At this stage there are no restrictions placed on visitors for this event (No QR Codes / sign in – this will make it a lot easier this year).  Masks as always are a personal choice.
• All students are expected to attend Sports Day – GiR – Year 6.
• School will start at normal time and Sports Fun Day will conclude at 3.05.
• The Out of School Hours Care service will be available for before and after school care as usual.

More details will be sent home shortly.

National Child Protection Week

This year’s National Child Protection Week will take place from 4 to 10 September 2022, with an overarching theme: “Every Child, in Every Community, Needs a Fair Go” and focuses on children growing up safe and supported.

You will find our Commitment Statement in our front office which outlines the Catholic Archdiocese Schools Commitment to keeping children safe in our setting and a copy of the statement can been viewed below.  We are committed to child protection by adopting measures to ensure the safety of all, for example teacher training, volunteer checks and ensuring our children’s voices are heard. Resources can be found at: https://www.napcan.org.au/ncpw-theme/.

Safeguarding Sunday

Safeguarding Sunday (formerly Child Protection Sunday) follows National Child Protection Week and will be celebrated by Catholic parishes and communities across the Archdiocese on September 11. It provides an opportunity for children to rejoice in the life of the Church, recognise that they are valued, respected and heard.

The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference intends Safeguarding Sunday to be a day to acknowledge the immense damage caused by the sexual abuse of children and adults at risk, including by priests, religious and lay people within Catholic contexts and an opportunity to clearly state our commitment to safeguarding all children and young people

Safety Reminder

“Students and families are reminded to be wary of approaches from strangers, especially when they are unaccompanied or travelling to and from school. If they are approached, students should not respond and should not accept offers of rides or gifts.

Students should seek the assistance of other nearby adults if they feel unsafe and should report the event to a trusted adult (parent or school staff member) as soon as possible.

SAPOL advises that taking out a mobile phone and calling police can deter the offender and they recommend the student making a formal report to their closest police station.”

School Hats

From next Monday 12 September, all students will need to wear their school hat for all PE lessons and play times.  The students have been reminded of this throughout this week. 

Remember to please write your child’s name on their hats (as well as any other items of uniform).

Father’s Day Liturgy

We thank Reception Red, Reception Yellow and R/1 Purple for leading our Father’s Day Liturgy. Thank you for the opportunity for us to give thanks and pray for the special fathers and father figures in our life.

Parish Mass: Every Tuesday at 9:30am

This term classes have been sharing Mass with Father Roderick and Seminarian Josh McDermid and local parishioners. The children have shown reverence during the service and actively participated in the Mass prayers and received communion. Families are welcome to join the Mass service.

Sacrament Preparation for Catholic Children

The Lefevre Catholic Community, in conjunction with the local schools, is calling for enrolments in the 2022/23 Sacrament Preparation Programme.  The programme, for children over 8 years of age will commence in October. Sacramental Brochures are available at the front desk.

For more information please contact Sr Marie Egan on 0409 078 683 or email familyfaith@catholicparishes.com.au

Religious Literacy Assessment Tool (ReLAT)

Our Year 4 students will be participating in an assessment in Religious Education. This annual assessment has been developed by the Catholic Education Office and will take place during Week 8 (Practice Test) and Week 9 (Assessment). Religious Education (RE) is a core Learning Area in all Catholic schools. It is a foundation for all learning and is integrated into the life of the school through prayer, liturgy and social justice programs.  ReLAT will focus on knowledge content which is core to the Year 3/ 4 Crossways Religious Education curriculum.  Students in Year 4 in 2022 have been engaging in the new Religious Education curriculum for two years. As a basic knowledge test, ReLAT complements the continuous, fuller, and deeper assessment of learning that occurs in the RE classroom. If you have further questions regarding this assessment, please see your child’s class teacher, myself or Frank DeTullio.

First Aid/Toileting Notification

We are trialling a new system to notify parents of minor first aid incidents and toileting accidents.  This will start from next week.  No action will be required from you, it is just to keep you informed.  You will receive an email with details of any minor first aid incidents or toileting accidents involving your child.  As this is new, the emails may go into your junk file.

We will not use this for major injuries or illnesses as we will phone you immediately in this case.   If you have any queries, please contact me.

Lost Property

There are numerous sports jackets in the lost property box in the front office without names!!  If your child has lost their sports jacket, please come and see if its there.

Uniform Orders

School uniform orders need to be placed by Wednesday lunchtime if you with to collect them the following morning.  Orders can be made through a link on our Website.

Toileting Issues

Could I please ask that if your child is prone to having 'toileting accidents' that you send some spare undies and pants/shorts etc. in your child's bag.  We don't always have the correct size uniform on hand for children to change into.  Accidents always happen, it doesn't hurt to pack a couple of extra undies & pants.

Any of our 'school spares' that we use when a child has an accident, we would appreciate them being returned once washed.  Could this please be done as soon as possible as our supplies are running low.

Thank you so much for your cooperation.

Bookings & Cancellations

Due to the increase in the number of children using the OSHC service it is important that you make sure you have a Permanent booking in place or allow as much notice as possible if you would like a casual booking. We cannot guarantee a place if you make your booking on the day as we may be full.

Therefore, it is important that any cancellations are reported to the service as soon as possible to open up the spot for another family. Even if your child is absent due to illness, please advise the OSHC service. We do not put through a charge if we have received notification of a cancellation, but if we do not get any notice an allowable absence will be applied to your account.

Bookings/cancellations can now be made via the Spike app. You can follow the link to this app via your latest invoice. It will have your Username listed and you use the Pin number that you sign your children in/out of on the IPAD. Bookings/cancellations can also be made via the OSHC mobile 0448863051, OSHC email oshc@olv.catholic.edu.au or via the front office.

If you book in via the app, and it does not accept the booking it means that the service has reached its allowable limit for the day. Please contact the OSHC service directly to see if any cancellations have been made and if we can accept your booking. Bookings on the App must be made by 6.00am for Before school care and by 2.00pm for After school care (1.00pm Wednesday)

Centrelink

On enrolment you will need to supply your customer reference numbers (CRN) for both the enrolling parent and the child/children.

Once the first booking has taken place and the invoice has been processed you will get a reminder on your My gov account to confirm the enrolment at OLV. This is only if you have already enrolled your child for Childcare subsidy and have been using childcare elsewhere.

For new users of childcare, you will have to enrol your child through Centrelink for Childcare subsidy.

A new CCS eligibility rule came into effect on the 11th of July 2022:

From 11 July, a child who has not used care at least once in the previous 26 weeks will no longer be eligible for CCS.

 Families will need to submit a new CCS claim if the child re-commences care.

Carparking

When using the Before school service and you arrive before 8.00am you may use the staff car park entrance on Victoria Road. After 8.00am please use the carpark located on Railway Terrace (tennis courts).

When using the After school service please use the carpark located on Railway Terrace until 5.00pm. After this time, you may use the staff carpark.

Please do not use the carpark located on Gedville Road, as this can be locked at any time from approx. 4.30pm.

Vacation Care

Our October Vacation care program has been sent out. Bookings must be made by the end of Week 9, so that excursions, staffing can be confirmed. We cannot guarantee a place after this time.

Please note that all fees must be up to date before bookings can be accepted.

A number of families have asked about the December/January holiday closure/opening dates so that annual leave can be planned.

These are as follows:

• School finishes on Thursday 15th December.
• OSHC service is closed on Friday 16th December.
• Vacation care commences on Monday 19th December – Friday 23rd December.
• Vacation care re-commences on January 9th, 2023 – Wednesday 25th January 2023.
• Vacation care is closed on Thursday 26th January and Friday 27th January.
• 2023 School term commences on January 30th.

Donations

Our children are enjoying their “tom-boy stitch” projects. If anyone has any spare balls of wool that they are willing to donate it would be greatly appreciated.

More than 50% of our school have joined in on Nude Food Tuesdays!

Send your child to school with zero packaging in their lunch box to become a part of the Nude Food fun!

September Nude Food Learning Goal:

Children become aware of their own environmental impact through participating in Nude Food Day. 

This month's Nude Foodies: R/1 Purple 

Success Criteria: R/1 Purple's student participation in Nude Food Tuesdays has doubled this term!

Ms Willson from R/1 Purple says: I like having a clean area outside of my classroom on Nude Food Tuesdays.