Term 4 Week 7 Monday 14th November 2022

Acknowledgement of Country

St Colman’s acknowledges the Girai wurung people as the traditional owners of the land on which our school stands and we respectfully recognise elders both past and present.

Our Prayer this Week

For those who live with the loss of a loved one through war. May they find peace.

For those who live with the effects of war, especially those in Ukraine. May members of the world community bring relief.

For those who have died in war. May they be held close in the peaceful embrace of our loving God.

For those whose war scars will forever be raw. May our nation be open to hearing their voices and working to bring them relief.

AMEN

From the Principal

Dear Families,

It was fantastic to welcome some of our new Preps for 2023 on Friday. One of the many advantages of a small school is that new students quickly feel at home and that they are welcomed by everyone in the school community. Preparations for 2023 are certainly in full swing. 

We are looking forward to returning to Springers on Wednesday as part of our PE program. A reminder that there will be no lunch orders on that day. 

A reminder that Annual General Meeting for the School Advisory Council will be held on Wednesday 23rd November. Have a great week and keep dry! 

Kind regards, 

Stacey

Job Advertisement

St Thomas’ and St Colman’s are seeking applications from suitable teachers for the 12 month fixed (.6) position of P.E Teacher/Classroom Teacher to commence on Friday 27th January 2023.

The successful applicant will assist in planning, preparing and co-ordinating P.E at each school along with having a classroom role. The position would be .2 at St Thomas’, Terang (P.E only) and .4 at St Colman’s, Mortlake (P.E/Classroom).

If you know anyone who might be interested please share this opportunity with them. 

https://www.teachers.on.net/vacancy/87599-p-e-teacherclassroom-position-st-colmans-school-mortlake

Out of School Care

From 2023, St Colman's students will have access to before and after school care. This service is run by TheirCare at Mortlake College. Further information can be found on the flyer or on the TheirCare website. 

Transport arrangements are being explored between St Colman's and Mortlake College. 

If you are interested in attending an information session please let me know at principal@scmortlake.catholic.edu.au

Award Winners

Congratulations to those students whose efforts were rewarded with an award this week. 

Well done to Archie, Gus, Cooper, Lacey, Blair, Dom, Jack and Dakota. 

Remembrance Day November 11

Thank you to Arlo, Indi and Layla who represented St Colman's at the Mortlake Remembrance Day Service. A small service was also conducted at school. 

Lest we forget. 

Rising Covid Cases

Advent resources

Please follow the link to find some great resources to help families engage in Advent. The Names of Jesus Advent chain will help families explore who Jesus is and the Little Nativity Pack will allow children to play out the wonderful story of Jesus coming! 

https://evangelisationbrisbane.org.au/shop/free-resources/

Cyber Safety- From Vic Police

Cyber Safety

It was a pleasure to speak with the students today about how to stay safe online.  Brooke and I discussed simple strategies that the students could use to help keep themselves, friends and family members cyber safe.

It was great to hear from the students all the ways they know to safeguard themselves when playing games online or when on social media sites.

• Block unwanted players/comments
• Tell a trusted adult when they have an issue
• Only play/connect with people they know
• Be role models online
• Don’t share or store inappropriate images online
• Online bullying is against the law

We shared the “CYBER” acronym relating to how to stay safe online;

C – Communicate (tell a trusted adult when something isn’t right)

Y – You (It’s your Cyber world, don’t let it control you)

B – Balance (Have balance in your life, sleep, exercise, good nutrition, other hobbies)

E – Education (Keep your Cyber knowledge up to date, see links below)

R – Respect (If you don’t respect others online, you’re really not respecting      yourself)

R – Reputation (Your online activity can become what people think of you)

R – Resume’ (Your online activity leaves a digital footprint that can be seen by anyone)

The esafety commission has some amazing information for every age group (adults included!), we encourage everyone to have a look with their young person.

https://www.esafety.gov.au/

Kids Help Line, another great place for young people to utilise when they want to communicate.

https://kidshelpline.com.au/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIopvck9XZ-QIVZZZLBR1lVgb6EAAYASAAEgL9ufD_BwE

L/S/C John Keats and L/S/C Brooke Pollock, Youth Resource Officers, Warrnambool Police Station: 55601133 or 55601195

Meals on Wheels

St Colman's is rostered on for Meals on Wheels next week (21st to 25th November). If you can volunteer for one or more days, please complete the attached survey.

New PAM accounts

In 2023, all parents will be given a new PAM account. Instead of having one account per family, each parent will have their own account. In preparation for this, you need to login to your current PAM account and complete the survey that has been created which asks for your email addresses as this is what you will use to login to your new account. If you are having difficulty accessing the survey, please try going to our website and clicking on the PAM tab up the top or contact Jane at the office.

Gymnastics

Over the next 3 Wednesday our Wednesday PE lessons will be taking place at Springers Gynmastics in Warrnambool. We will travel down prior to 11am and return around 2pm, with students having the opportunity to participate in a 45 minute gymnastics session. 

This activity is partially funded by a Sport Schools Grant that we have gained to help support our involvement in different types of sports. 

Lions Eye Health Program

On Tuesday, the Lions Club of Warrnambool will be conducting eye screening at school. This is a free service. 

This screening program helps to identify children with eye concerns that require further investigation. If you would like your child to participate please return the permission form TOMORROW.

More information can be found at the following website  lehp.org.au

Our Diocesan Community

Please find below the link for the October 2022 edition of “Our Diocesan Community” 

https://www.ballarat.catholic.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/ODC-October-2022-web.pdf.  

There are lots of great things happening around our Diocese. 

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to Dakota and Milana who both celebrate birthdays this week. We hope you have a great day. 

Key Dates for the Diary

Term 4

15th November- Lions Eye Screening

18th November- 2nd Prep Transition Day

22nd November- Prep interviews

23rd- School Advisory Council AGM

24th November- St Colman's Feast Day

5th and 6th December- Gr 3/4 Camp to Halls Gap

6th December- Global transition day (MRC and Mortlake College)

9th December- St Colman's Transition Day

13th December- Graduation and end of year celebrations

16th December- Last day for students. Mortlake Community Christmas Carols

MRC Art & Technology Exhibition

Mercy Regional College invites everyone in the community to visit its annual Art & Technology Exhibition on the weekend of 26-27 November at the Old Terang Courthouse. The exhibition will be launched with a drinks and nibbles event on Friday 25 November, from 5pm. Everyone is welcome to attend - please RSVP at https://cutt.ly/mrc-art-tech. 

MRC Car Raffle 2022

Mercy Regional College Car Raffle 2022 will be drawn on Wednesday 30 November! Purchase your tickets for a chance to win one of the 10 wonderful prizes, including a Renault Captur valued at nearly $35,000, a $2,000 Betta Home Living voucher, an Apple Watch and many more. Tickets are available online at https://cutt.ly/car-22, at MRC reception an at numerous businesses around the region. Don’t miss MRC raffle stall at the Noorat Show to purchase an extra ticket with cash. Tickets are $10 each, 6 for $50 or 13 for $100. 

Bike Helmet Safety

Mercy Regional College

Our Lady of Mercy Parish News

Cricket Blast

Children's Art Colouring Competition on Saturday 19 November.

Pop this one in your diary. 

COVID Reminders

New settings are now in place. 

Most settings are changing from must to highly recommended.

For example, you must stay home when testing positive is changing to, it is highly recommended that you stay home.  

Changes to COVID-19 isolation requirements.

It is strongly recommended that students: 

• Who test positive for COVID-19 should stay home and isolate for five days.
• Should not attend school after five days if still symptomatic.
• Who are symptomatic but have not tested positive should not attend school.

Where students become symptomatic at school, they should: 

• Be collected by their parents/carers.
• Undergo testing for COVID-19. 

It is strongly recommended that staff: 

• Who test positive for COVID-19 should stay home and isolate for five days.
• Should not attend school after five days if still symptomatic.
• Who are symptomatic but have not tested positive should not attend school.

COVID-19 reporting requirements.

The Department of Health recommends that a person who tests positive for COVID-19 should inform those with whom they have recently been in contact, including their workplace, school and household. 

Schools no longer have to alert their school community of positive cases. 

Face masks.

Staff and students who wish to wear a face mask should be supported to do so, and schools should continue to make face masks available for staff, students and visitors. 

The Department of Health recommends that masks should be worn by a person who is a close contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 when leaving home. 

Additionally, the department recommends that masks should be worn by a person who has COVID-19 for 10 days after a positive test when they need to leave home.