Term 3 Week 2 Monday 17th July 2023

Our Prayer this Week

From the Principal

Key dates for the Diary

Term 3

Monday July 17th- Parent Teacher Interviews

Friday July 21st- Annual Trivia night and Major Raffle Draw

Monday July 24th- Kinder visit to St Colman's

                                         Filming of promotional video   

                                          Staff online Sounds Write training- week 1                 

Tuesday July 25th - Filming of promotional video

Thursday July 27th- SAC Meeting

Monday 31st July- Staff online Sounds Write training- week 2

Friday 4th August- Yr 5/6 All Stars Hooptime

Monday 7th August- Staff online Sounds Write training- week 3

                                          - Reconciliation begins

Friday 11th August- Yr 5/6 Rookies Hooptime

Monday 14th August- Staff online Sounds Write training- week 4

Friday 18th August- Yr 3/4 All Stars Hooptime

Monday 21st August-BOOKWEEK-

                                           - MOW all week

                                           -Staff online Sounds Write training- week 5

Tuesday 22nd August- School Closure Day- Structured Literacy PL for staff

Friday 25th August- 3/4 Rookies Hooptime

Monday 28th August- Staff online Sounds Write training- week 6

Wednesday 6th September- Sacrament of Reconciliation

Friday 15th September- Last day of Term 3- Footy Colours Day

2023 Meals on Wheels Roster

Week beginning; 21st August and

                                    30th October

School Closure Dates 2023

Term 3: Tuesday 22nd August (Literacy)

Term 4: Friday 10th November (Catholic Social Teaching) 

School Camps 2023

Year 3/4 Camp to Sovereign Hill September 12th and 13th

Year 5/6 Camp to Melbourne November 22-24 

Promotional Video

Next Monday and Tuesday we will be filming a new promotional video for our school. If you have a look at the current one a lot has changed since it was filmed so an update is required!

Kevin Cummins, Marketing & Comms Officer with the Catholic Education Office, Ballarat, will be creating the video and we all need to do our bit to ensure we demonstrate the best aspects of our school while he is here filming.

Therefore, on Monday can I please ask that all children are wearing the correct school uniform (including all black shoes and navy socks or tights)?

On Tuesday, children can wear the correct sports uniform (including the correct St Colman’s sports shorts with the school logo).

Thanks!

Language other than English Survey

At St Colman's we strive to work together with our families to provide a rich and comprehensive language program (LOTE – Language other than English). We are reviewing and interested in parent and student voice in the language (LOTE) that is taught at St Colman's. Teaching a second language is mandatory in Victorian schools. We have received several requests to consider the teaching of Auslan (Auslan is the sign language of the Australian deaf community) instead of French and we are curious if this would be the preferred option of our school community.

Please click on the link below to access the survey. It would be great to discuss the survey questions with your child(ren) before completing the survey. We value your feedback. Thank you!

Term 3 Classroom Information

See attached document highlighting what is happening in our classrooms this term.

Free to a good home!

We have two 4-drawer filing cabinets and one 3-drawer filing cabinet that we no longer use or need. If you would like one, it is all yours!

Please contact the office to arrange pick up.

Wanted- boxes

Mrs Kennedy is about to commence a construction unit in her art classes. She is asking parents to collect and drop off boxes they may have that are shoe box size or smaller, as we will be using them for a box construction project.

Playgroup at St Colman's

We have been delighted by the success of Little Colman's Playtime and we are extremely grateful to Lily Convery-Oborne for her passion and commitment in getting this little initiative up and running. Due to the popularity of this playgroup, we have decided to make this a fortnightly event, beginning this Friday.

The ongoing commitment to this project will require support from other members of the school community. If you are willing to help out by going on a roster to help organise Little Colman’s, please contact either the school or Lily. 

WE WILL NEED TO PURCHASE SOME GAMES AND EQUIPMENT FOR OUR PLAYGROUP. HOWEVER, WE WONDERED IF YOU HAD ANY OLD TOYS AND GAMES THAT YOUR CHILDREN HAVE GROWN OUT OF AND THAT YOU NO LONGER NEED. IF SO, WE WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE THE DONATION OF ANY PRE-SCHOOL TOYS AND GAMES, INDOOR OR OUTDOOR, THAT ARE IN EXCELLENT USED CONDITION.

Major Raffle

Only four days until this is drawn!! Last year the raffle raised almost $10,000 for our school and we would love to do the same again this year. 

We still need to sell approximately 250 more tickets

We are so grateful to all the families who have already fulfilled their rostered time and sold tickets. 

The annual raffle will be drawn at the Trivia night. See details below about this fun night.

Lunch Orders

LUNCH ORDERS are only available twice a week on Monday and Friday.

St. Colman's Community Garden

We are so grateful to local community member, Marie Varley, who has volunteered to work with our students each week to re-establish our neglected community garden. This week the Seniors and the Junior students will be spending some time getting their hands dirty!

You can help by donating any of the following items needed for this project.

• Used soft drink bottle (1.25 or 2 Lt)
• Any herb or vegetable seedlings
• Old carpet off cuts, door mats or hessian bags
• Old plastic pots
• White plastic that can be cut up and used as name tags (for example, ice-cram containers).

St. Colman's Enrolments

Enrolments at MRC

Are you enrolling your child to attend our sister school, Mercy Regional College in 2024? If so, please note that enrolments are now due.

Mercy Regional College is committed to giving every student a fair chance to receive a Catholic education. The College offers a number of scholarships to support student learning and assist with tuition, fees and levies.

If you would like further information on accessing financial support or any other part of the enrolment procedure, please contact College Registrar Ms Nicole Darcy:
T. 03 5593 2011
E. office@mercy.vic.edu.au

A live link is avaliable on the Mercy website.

Wonder Recycling Rewards for Schools

THIS HAS BEEN EXTENDED UNTIL THE END OF JULY. LET'S TRY AND FILL ONE LAST BOX.

We have already filled and returned three boxes of bread bags. This equates to approximately $500 in reward points that we will be able to cash in for sports equipment. What an amazing effort by you all!! Thank you!

Birthday Wishes

No student birthdays this week, but Happy Birthday to any member of our community who is celebrating their birthday this week!

Many blessings to you on your special day and throughout the year. 

Footy Tipping

Our Footy Tipping Competition is up and running and we have 35 registered entrants.

The lead is changing weekly and this week sees Stacey Atkins claiming top spot on 110 points. this puts her 2 points ahead of her closest rival MethodicalFlame.....

Entry fee is $20 adults and $10 school aged children and is due to be paid ASAP

If you haven't already done so, please pop into the office to pay for your entry.

Weekly Award Winners

Congratulations to all students who received an award at our weekly assembly last Friday. Remember, you are all most welcome to join us at the assembly, starting at 2:50 in the Undercover Area.

School Advisory Council

We would like to introduce you to our SAC members for 2022-2023.  Lily Convery-Oborne (Chair), Jo Wallis, Alison Greig, Michelle Lehmann, Jo Dolling, Zion Palmer, Sophie and Nick Allen, Rachel Baulch, Rosie O’Connor (School rep), Janet Cain (Principal) and Fr. Gary Jones (Parish Rep)

These people are the voice of the parish and parents in the school. If you have any questions or anything that you would like raised please contact one of these people.

The SAC meets twice a term and we thank these people for agreeing to be a part of this group that provides an essential link between the school and its families. 

Out of School Care

A reminder that during 2023 we have access to Out of School Care, supplied by TheirCare, at Mortlake College. Registration is made via the TheirCare website. https://theircare.com.au/

Search for Mortlake College P-12

St. Colman's School is a Child Safe Community

Child Safety Officers

Janet Cain and Rosie O'Connor are our Child Safety Officers.

Contact them on:

Phone: 55992285 or 0490539167

Email: jcain@scmortlake.catholic.edu.au or roconnor@scmortlake.catholic.edu.au

Standard 6:  People working with children and young people are suitable and supported to reflect child safety and wellbeing values in practice.

In complying with Child Safe Standard , St. Colman's must, at a minimum, ensure:

6.1    Recruitment, including advertising, referee checks and staff and volunteer pre-employment screening, emphasise child safety and wellbeing.

6.2    Relevant staff and volunteers have current working with children checks or equivalent background checks.

6.3    All staff and volunteers receive an appropriate induction and are aware of their responsibilities to children and young people, including record keeping, information sharing and reporting obligations.

6.4    Ongoing supervision and people management is focused on child safety and wellbeing.

NCCD

Please read the attached information sheet for parents regarding NCCD.

Community News

Our Lady of Mercy Parish Bulletin

Covid Information

As we have had quite a few reported cases of Covid 19 within our community, it is timely to remind ourselves of COVID Safe arrangements. We will be encouraging greater vigilance with our hand washing procedures at school.

Although there are no mandated isolation arrangements, the following is strongly recommended:

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.

If families require RAT kits, please contact the school office.

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, however we will continue to do this informally.

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.