Term 3 Week 7 Monday 21st August 2023

Our Weekly Prayer

From the Principal

Key dates for the Diary

Term 3

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

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

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

Term 4 Commences on Monday 2nd October

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 

Father's Day and Grandparent's Day

Advance notice that we will be celebrating Father'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. 

Old Computers for Sale

Our successful fundraising efforts this year have enabled us to purchase 55 new Chromebooks for our students. We will offer the 'good quality' old computers up for sale for $50 each. All computers will have current data wiped from them and they will be restored to factory settings prior to being sold.
If you would like to purchase a second hand laptop, please contact the office.

Sacrament of Reconciliation

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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.

Jane and I will be sending out a TEST message this week (we forgot to do this last week!). If you receive it we need you to respond so that we can determine who is and who isn't receiving these messages.

First Aid Alerts

One of the ways that we will now be using PAM is to alert parents when their child has received first aid treatment here at school. We will create a Sick Pass on SIMON detailing the incident and the treatment received and the parent(s) linked to the PAM account will receive an email notification providing them a report of the incident. This is another compelling reason to ensure your PAM account is set up properly.

Discovery Day at MRC

As part of our Transition Program with Mercy Regional College, Year 6 students will be participating in a Discovery Day at the O'Keeffe Campus on Monday 28th August. Details are contained in the flyer below. Parents will receive an email from MRC regarding the day and bus arrangements. Please contact MRC if you have further questions.

Discovery Day at MRC

As part of our Transition Program with Mercy Regional College, Year 6 students participatied in a Discovery Day at the O'Keeffe Campus today, Monday 28th August. 

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.

Term 3 Classroom Information

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

Term 3 Classroom Information

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

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 25th 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

Happy Birthday to Layla who is turning 6 this week.

We wish her, and any other members of our community who are celebrating their birthday this week, a very happy day!

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

Footy Tipping

 We are nearly ready to crown our winner with only one match to go in the Home and Away season.

Methodical Flame is on 140 points and Stacey Atkins is on 139. The stage is set for a close finish!!!

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

There are still many people who need to pay 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. 

Our Diocesan Community

Please find below the link for the July 2023 edition of “Our Diocesan Community” 

Please find below the link for the July 2023 edition of “Our Diocesan Community” 

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 10:  Implementation of the Child Safe Standards is regularly reviewed and improved.

In complying with Child Safe Standard 10, St. Colman's must, at a minimum, ensure:

10.1  The organisation regularly reviews, evaluates and improves child safe practices.

10.2  Complaints, concerns and safety incidents are analysed to identify causes and systemic failures to inform continuous improvement.

10.3  The organisation reports on the findings of relevant reviews to staff and volunteers, community and families, and children and young people.

Our Lady of Mercy Parish Newsletter

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!

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.