Term 3 Week 5 Monday 7th August 2023

Our Weekly Prayer

Tomorrow, 8th August it is the Feast of Mary MacKillop, Australia’s first canonised Saint.
In our prayer today, we remember Mary and the Sisters of St Joseph, particularly the ones who worked hard to establish schools within our Diocese of Ballarat.

God of the Prophets

You gifted Mary MacKillop with vision and courage.

In her we see one who was not afraid to speak fearlessly your gospel of love.

We pray for the sensitivity and imagination to read the signs of our times, and to articulate new possibilities for our own day.

Like Mary, may we learn to confront all that is oppressive and unjust, and empower
others towards true freedom and integrity.

Spirit of Wisdom, be with us as we face new horizons.

Amen

From the Principal

Key dates for the Diary

Term 3

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- Bullying. No Way! Day

Monday 21st August-BOOKWEEK- Dress Up and Book Fair

                                           - 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

Friday 1st September- Father's Day Breakfast

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 

Insight SRC Survey

All families received a letter inviting them to participate in the Insight SRC Survey.

For those that are new, these surveys are completed by staff, students and families to look at the organisational health of our school and to inform our goals going forward. It is designed to assist schools in gaining an understanding of parent perceptions of their children’s experience of school. It is a wonderful opportunity for you to have some input into the future direction of our school, so please take the time to share your thoughts. The survey only takes about 15 minutes to complete.

As there have been so few parent responses to the survey, our closing date has been extended to THIS Friday, 11th August.

We have decided to hold a morning tea in the staff room this Thursday at 9am

(stay after you do the morning school drop off).

During this time we will have tea/coffee and some sweet treats available and we will help you log into the Survey portal. You will than be able you complete the survey while enjoying your cuppa. Your results will remain confidential. Please bring the letter that contains your unique login details with you.

We look forward to seeing you then. 

Father's Day and Grandparent's Day

Advance notice that we will be celebrating Ftaher's Day with a school breakfast on Friday September 1st.

We are excited to welcome Grandparents into our school when we celebrate Grandparent's Day on Tuesday October 24th. 

National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence

Friday August 18th is National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence. The NDA is Australia’s key bullying prevention initiative for schools, encouraging whole-school communities to work together to implement evidence-informed positive and proactive solutions to prevent and address bullying.

Over the next few weeks, we will be spending times in our classrooms discussing what bullying is and explicitly teaching how to respond to bullying. We will hold a special day on August 18th where we will show our support for preventing and standing up to bulllying  by wearing 'a touch of orange'.

We will also have some Parent Fact Sheets on our newletter over the next few weeks.

PAM, Schoolzine and SIMON

Recently, we have had several parents inform us that they have had difficulty accessing PAM. As this is a major part of home/school communication it is very important that you have access to this platform. I urge you to come into school and Jane and I will help sort out any issues you may have with PAM, SIMON or the Schoolzine App.

Homework at St. Colman's

We have recently had a few parents ask about our 'no homework' policy at our school. Several years ago the school investigated the efficacy of homework in primary schools and also surveyed the parent group at that time. The school used the evidence from renowned researcher in education, John Hattie, to support their thinking.

“Research by John Hattie, Professor of Education at the University of Melbourne, has found that homework in primary school has an effect of around zero, as students are completing separate and unrelated projects rather than reinforcing learnt knowledge”.

It was decided that at St Colman’s our homework would prioritise the importance of daily home reading. That being said, we have noticed a decline in the number of students who are reading at home daily and who are getting their diary signed by an adult to indicate that they have been listened to when reading.

We are having a school-wide blitz on this and all children who read at home and have their diary signed by an adult will receive a Dojo point as a reward.

Parents that are wanting to provide opportunities to reinforce their child’s learning at home, are encouraged to utilise the Reading Eggs and Mathletics websites (links below).

Login details for your child can be found in their diary.

Book Week 2023

This year’s Book Week theme is ‘Read, Grow, Inspire!’ and Book Week takes place from 19th – 25th August, 2023. 

As is  the tradition at our school, families are invited to purchase one of this year's CBCA short-listed books for our library. All purchases made for the library will have a label placed inside them acknowledging the family who has made the generous donation. These books will be on display in the school's corridor from next Monday August 7th.

Our Book Fair will be set up from Monday, 14th August, 2023. Everyone will be invited to peruse the items on display until Friday, 18th August, 2023. Students will be encouraged to write a Wishlist, which they can take home and discuss a possible purchase with their families. Purchases can be made on the day of the fair, Monday 21st August, or at any stge until they are packed away on Friday 25th August. Payment needs to be made at the time of purchase.

On Monday 21st August (Week 7) we will hold our Book Week Dress Up Parade at 9am. This will be followed by a day of book related learning activities.

We will also welcome Ben Harkin to our school on this day to talk to our students. Ben is an inspirational young local boy who, despite being born without any arms, has gone on to travel the world and inspire thousands of people with stories of his adventures. This has turned him into one of the region’s most popular motivational speakers.

Weekly Award Winners

Congratulations 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 Middle classroom. 

Term 3 Classroom Information

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

Free to a good home!

We have one 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, and the next session is THIS FRIDAY 11th August.

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.

Lunch Orders

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

St. Colman's Enrolments

Birthday Wishes

Rocky and Dom are both celebrating a birthday this week.

Happy Birthday to you and any members of our community who are celebrating their birthday this week!

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

Footy Tipping

Our top 4 Tipsters all got 7 correct tips this weekend. So there has been no change to the leaderboard

Methodical Flame is on 128 points, Stacey Atkins is on 127 and UpTheHawks1 has 126 points.

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.

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. 

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 9:  Physical and online environments promote safety and wellbeing while minimising the opportunity for children and young people to be harmed.

In complying with Child Safe Standard 9, St. Colman's must, at a minimum, ensure:

9.1    Staff and volunteers identify and mitigate risks in the online and physical environments without compromising a child’s right to privacy, access to information, social connections and learning opportunities.

9.2    The online environment is used in accordance with the organisation’s Code of Conduct and Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy and practices.

9.3    Risk management plans consider risks posed by organisational setting, activities and the physical environment.

9.4    Organisations that contract facilities and services from third parties have procurement policies that ensure the safety of children and young people.

Our Lady of Mercy Parish Bulletin

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

NCCD

Please read the attached information sheet for parents regarding NCCD.

Community News

MRC 50th Jubilee Celebrations

Mercy Regional College is celebrating 50 years of Catholic education in our community. If you are a past student you may wish to attend one of the events they have planned.

Jubilee Day

We would love our past students, families and staff to join us in this celebration on Saturday 25 November from 11:30 to 3:30 in Camperdown. School tours, roll calls and displays for each decade, food trucks and music, tree planting, free family portraits, afternoon tea and more. This event is free.

Jubilee Dinner 

On Saturday evening (25 November) we will gather for dinner and the presentation of the inaugural Spirit of Mercy Awards, and the Annual Car Raffle. Then you are invited to kick up your heels to the lively music of The People’s Poets. 

Click on the link below for more information and to secure your spot!

Parent Event in Warrnambool

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.