Term 1 Week 3 Monday 12th February 2024
- Acknowledgement of Country
- From the Principal
- Important Dates:
- Ash Wednesday
- Beginning of Year School Mass
- Shrove (Pancake) Tuesday
- Caritas Project Compassion
- 2023 St Colman’s Core Values Awards
- Enhancing Catholic School Identity (ECSI) Survey
- Our Lady of Mercy Parish News
- Student Leadership at St Colman's in 2024
- Specialist Timetable for Term 1
- Structured Literacy Project
- School Wide Positive Behaviour Support
- School Advisory Council (SAC)
- Welcome Picnic
- Playgroup at St Colman's
- SchoolTV Wellbeing Platform
- St. Colman's School is a Child Safe Community
- Toastie Tuesday Starts Next Week
- Lunch Orders
- Birthday Wishes
- Out of School Care
- Terang & Mortlake Health Service Health and Wellbeing Newsletter
- AngliCare Energy Assistance
- NCCD
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.
From the Principal
Dear St Colman's community,
Last week was another calm and productive time at St Colman’s, as students and staff settle into the routines of their learning spaces. We feel it is one of the smoothest transitions back to school but we are trying not to say that too loudly in case we spoil it! Along with a lot of attention being paid to setting up productive and engaging homeroom environments, we have continued to celebrate the amazing attitude that students are bringing to their learning. Thank you for the work you have obviously done with your children in ensuring they are happy to come to school.
We are looking forward to sharing a wonderful celebration with our families and Parish community tomorrow morning at our Welcoming Mass. It will be a most joyful start to the school year!
Read on to find out what else is happening in our school community. It is always a good idea to familiarise yourself with the key dates section of the newsletter. Please feel free to contact me at any time with any questions, concerns or suggestions you may have.
Have a wonderful week.
Kind regards,
Janet
Important Dates:
TERM 1 2024
Monday 12th- Friday 16th February- Meals on Wheels
Tuesday 13th February- Opening School Mass at 11am
Shrove Tuesday (pancakes for lunch)
Wednesday 14th February - Ash Wednesday
- Foundation Rest Day
Thursday 15th February- School Advisory Council meeting 6:30pm
Friday 16th February - St Colman’s & St Thomas’ Swimming Carnival @ Mortlake Pool
Wednesday 21st February- Foundation Rest Day
Monday 26th February – STOMP Dance Class Day 1
Tuesday 27th February – STOMP Dance Class Day 2
Wednesday 28th February – STOMP Dance Class Day 3
- Foundation Rest Day
Thursday 29th February – Division Swimming Warrnambool
Friday 1st – Thursday 7th March- F-6 Swimming Program
Monday 4th March – STOMP Dance Class Day 4
Tuesday 5th March – STOMP Dance Class Day 5
5:30: Family Picnic and STOMP Dance presentation
Wednesday 6th March – Foundation Rest Day (FINAL ONE)
Friday 8th March- St Colman’s and St Thomas’ Athletics Carnival @ Terang Rec Reserve
Monday 11th March- Labor Day Public Holiday
Wednesday March 13th- March 25th- NAPLAN Testing Period
Thursday March 14th-March 15th- Parent Support Group Meetings
Tuesday 19th March- Lions Eye Health Program screening at St Colman’s
Wednesday 20th March- MRC Open Day
Friday 22nd March – Regional Swimming Horsham
Tuesday 26th March – District Aths Carnival
Wednesday 27th March- School Photos
Thursday 28th March- Term 1 ends at 2:15
Term 2 2024
Monday 15th April Term 2 commences
School Closure Days for 2024
Term 1: Tuesday 30th January- Structured Literacy
Term 2: Friday 26th April- Wellbeing
Term 3: Monday 15th July- Religious Education; Re-contextualising the Scriptures.
Tuesday 16th July- Structured Literacy
Catholic Identity
Ash Wednesday
This Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, which marks the first day of Lent. Lent is an important period of reflection, growth, and new beginnings in the Christian calendar. We are encouraged to use this special time to show our devotion to our faith, draw closer to God, and prepare for Easter.
On this special day of reflection, we wear the marking of the cross in ash on our foreheads. The ashes symbolise our mortality – “Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
We will have our Ash Wednesday service, during our whole school liturgical celebration on Tuesday at 11am.
Beginning of Year School Mass
Our Beginning of the Year School Mass is on tomorrow Tuesday 13th February at St Colman’s Church at 11am. As Father Gary continues to recover from his recent surgery, we welcome Father Jim McKay who will be leading this Eucharistic Celebration for us. All families are asked to join together in celebrating our beautiful school and the new year. Our newest students will be welcomed and our Student Leadership Team, listed below, will be presented with their badges and formally commissioned during this mass.
Shrove (Pancake) Tuesday
Tomorrow is Shrove Tuesday which marks the coming of Lent. As is the Christian tradition, we will be making and sharing pancakes for lunch tomorrow.
Whilst we will enjoy our pancakes we will be also be dicussing with our students the reason behind eating pancakes on the day before Ash Wednesday when Lent commences.
As Lent is a period of fasting and contemplation, Christians would give up indulgences such as sweet, fatty foods. This meant they had to use up the ingredients before the start of Lent, so that nothing would go to waste. Some of the most common ingredients they would need to use were:
- eggs
- milk
- butter
Of course, these are three of the main ingredients for pancakes! So, pancakes became the traditional food to eat in a Shrove Tuesday feast, to prepare for the restrictions of Lent.
Caritas Project Compassion
During the Lenten Season, we ask all our families to raise money for the Caritas Project Compassion. Each family will bring home a money box today and they are asked to fill the box with coins. These coins are then returned to school and used in the Class Money Line competition held on the last day of this term. The class with the longest coin line will win a hot chip lunch.
All the coins are then forwarded on to the Caritas Australia team, where they will use the money raised to support their charitable works.
For over 60 years, Caritas Australia has worked hand in hand with the most marginalised and remote communities in Australia and overseas to confront the challenges of poverty.
The theme they have set for Project Compassion this year is: For All Future Generations.
Supporting and educating our students in the work of Project Compassion helps them to understand the plight of many marginalised people in our world. This forms a major part of the Catholic Social Teaching offered at St Colman's, where we address matters of social, economic and ecological justice in the world and help our youngest citizens understand that they can make a difference in the world not just today but For All Future Generations.
2023 St Colman’s Core Values Awards
Last year at our End of Year celebration, we awarded the recipients of the St Colman’s Core Value Awards for 2023.
The Sr Margaret WELCOME Award
This award is named in honour of a wonderful and kind local lady who was once a member of our school and parish community. The Sr Margaret Welcome award is presented to a child who is both kind and inclusive. As Sr Margaret once did for new community members, the recipient of this award makes an effort to greet people politely when they encounter them at school and welcomes everyone into outside games and classroom activities.
Awarded to IVY WARDLAW for exemplifying a warm, kind and welcoming presence at St Colman’s.
The St Colman of Cloyne LEARN Award
Named in honour of our patron saint, the St Colman of Cloyne Learn award is presented to a child who demonstrates a commitment to academic growth. The recipient of this award shows resilience in learning challenges, demonstrating a positive attitude and determination to work towards personal improvement.
Awarded to JAPNOOR CHAHAL for dedication to learning new things.
The Our Lady of Mercy CARE Award
Named in honour of our parish and the religious order which founded our school, the Our Lady of Mercy Care award is presented to a child who demonstrates kindness and compassion. The recipient of this award is respectful of school resources and community members. They make an effort to be empathetic as well as patient to the needs of their peers.
Awarded to ZEKE PYERS for being inclusive to all and being able to form connections with all students.
We congratulate these three students on their well-deserved awards and have added their names to the honour board in our foyer.
Enhancing Catholic School Identity (ECSI) Survey
Every five years all Catholic primary schools in our diocese complete the Enhancing Catholic School Identity (ECSI) Survey.
The Catholic University in Leuven was commissioned by the Catholic Education Commission of Victoria Ltd (CECV) to design a process and tools, based on sound research, to accomplish the goal of understanding our current Catholic identity and where the school community might like to see itself in the future.
The ECSI Survey is a key element of this process and I write to request your participation. The online survey gathers responses from students in Years 5 and 6, all staff and a representative sample of parents.
You are asked to complete the survey online; it may take up to an hour to do so. Attached is a letter of explanation and a set of instructions. Your child will also bring home a copy of this information today. In order to get an accurate picture of how our school community sees our school, it is essential that as many of you as possible complete the survey. Please find some time in your busy lives to sit and reflect upon our Catholic Identity and complete the survey.
Go to; http://www.ecsi.site/au/user/
Enter the password: Ghj654
Click on NEW USER
Our school Access code is: (case sensitive): mpUWYb
Many thanks in advance for taking the time to do so!
Our Lady of Mercy Parish News
WEEKEND MASS TIMES
ST THOMAS’ TERANG
Saturday 6.00 pm
Sunday 10.30 am
ST COLMAN’S MORTLAKE
Sunday 9.00 am
Student Leadership at St Colman's in 2024
School Captain | Ivy Wardlaw |
School Captain | Mason Dale |
Social Justice Leader | Alex Lehmann |
Gold House Captain | Phoebe Draffen |
Blue House Captain | Xavier Camplin |
Red House Captain | Will Cameron |
Senior Room SRC Reps | Charlotte Allen |
Middle Room SRC Reps | Zoe Frances |
Archie Dale | |
Junior Room SRC Reps | Patrick Greig |
Layla Furness-Tuffnell |
LEARNING AND TEACHING
Classroom Information
Each term we will create an information flyer informing you with the curriculum content being covered in each of the three learning hubs at St Colman's. This document also contains the contact details and guidelines for communicating with all staff.
Specialist Timetable for Term 1
Below is the Specialist timetable for Term 1. All children need to wear their sports uniform and return their library books.
Health/Phys Ed (Ms. Moulden) | STEAM (Ms. Moulden) | LOTE/Library (Ms. Cain and Miss Stape) | |
Juniors | Wed 11:30-1pm | Tues 1:45-3:15 | Thurs (Term 1 only ) 2:15-3:15 |
Middles | Wed 9:30- 11am | Tues 11:30-1pm | Wed 12:30, 1:45-2:15 |
Seniors | Wed 1:45-3:15 | Tues 9:30- 11am | Wed 11:30-12:30 |
Structured Literacy Project
We are thrilled to announce that our school - along with many others - has joined the Diocese of Ballarat's Structured Literacy Project. In 2024 we will be taking the further steps towards a renewed, evidence-based approach to Literacy instruction through participation in this award-winning research partnership with La Trobe University.
The Sciences of Reading and Learning tell us that a systematic, explicit approach to the teaching of the alphabetic code and the grammatical rules that underpin written English offers our students the best chance at becoming confidently literate. The approach we are strategically adopting is called Structured Literacy, which is the approach endorsed by the International Dyslexia Association, the International Literacy Association and the Australian National Inquiry into the Teaching of Literacy.
Our whole staff group will be working closely with the Structured Literacy team from the Catholic Education Office over the next few years, to learn more about the principles, elements and characteristics of a Structured Literacy approach with our first school closure last Tuesday dedicated to learning. We will strive to keep you updated on the progress of this important project, but for now you may wish to watch a short video (link below) from the DOBCEL Structured Literacy team to find out more.
Attached is important information regarding the collection of data for the research project. If you do not wish for your child/children’s data to be used in the study, you may opt out by:
1. Printing, completing and returning the attached form.
2. Requesting a hard copy form from the office.
3. Emailing your completed form to the office at admin@scmortlake.catholic.edu.au
School Wide Positive Behaviour Support
School Wide Positive Behaviour Support is: A multi-tiered framework for establishing the social culture and behavioural supports needed for a school to achieve behavioural and academic outcomes for all students. For the next two weeks at St Colman’s we are working with our students on developing effective learning habits that will set them up for success throughout the year ahead. During that time, all staff will be reinforcing the behaviour expectations as set out in our Behavior Matrix (below).
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
School Advisory Council (SAC)
We would like to introduce you to our SAC members for 2024.
Jo Wallis (Chair), Alison Greig, Michelle Lehmann, Zion Palmer, Sophie Allen, Rachel Baulch, Danielle Kenny, 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 first meeting for 2024 is being held this Thursday at 6:30pm in the staff room at school.
Welcome Picnic
Our first school community event of the year will be held on Tuesday 5th March starting at 5:30pm.
Highly regarded Melbourne-based dance company STOMP Dance Co, will come to our school each day for a week and teach our students four- to-five dance routines. The week of dancing will culminate on Thursday night with an outdoor concert that will showcase all they have learnt during the week.
More details will come out soon, this is just a 'save the date' for what should be a fun night for our kids and their families.
Playgroup at St Colman's
Our fortnightly Playgroup is ready to start again. We look forward to welcoming back our local pre-schoolers every second Friday, starting this Friday February 16th.
PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD WITH YOUR FRIENDS WHO HAVE PRE SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN. EVERYONE IS WELCOME!!!
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.
WELLLBEING
SchoolTV Wellbeing Platform
This year, our Diocese has partnered with School TV to bring a range of helpful resources to families from a variety of experts, such as Dr Michael Carr-Gregg. There will be videos, interviews, fact sheets, articles and more.
This award-winning resource helps build relationships, foster connections, enable understanding and break down barriers to navigate a pathway towards better mental health and wellbeing for young people. It can assist in starting conversations on topics that are sometimes awkward or difficult to tackle.
The link to our school's Landing Page is below. A link will also be available on our school's website for easy access.
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
Acceptable Use and Cyber Safety Agreement
In line with Child Safe Standard 9: Physical and online environments promote safety and wellbeing while minimising the opportunity for children and young people to be harmed, all students and their families will be asked to read, discuss and sign the attached document; Acceptable Use and Cyber Safety Agreement.
The measures to ensure the cyber-safety of St Colman's School are based on our core values. To assist us to enhance learning through the safe use of information and communication technologies (ICTs), we are now asking you to read this document with your child(ren) and sign the final page and return it to school. It is essential that all children understand not only their RIGHTS as technology users, but also their RESPONSIBILITIES to be safe and vigilant when using technology.
The Agreement was discussed with all students in class today and they should have brought a hard copy of this document home with them today.
LEADERSHIP & STEWARDSHIP
Hook IN2 Hockey
Hockey Victoria Roadshow
Our students were fortunate to have a skills session with a coach from the Hockey Victoria Roadshow today. Hockey Victoria visits hundreds of Primary Schools across the state, providing FREE introductory hockey clinics to students. They aim to give as many students as possible the opportunity to participate, with between 500 and 2000 students visited per year.
For those students who now wish to continue their hockey journey after the Roadshow Program is completed, now have the opportunity to register for Hookin2Hockey at hockey South West, Warrnambool. All children will bring home the below flyer containing registration information.
Junior Student Representative Council (SRC)
At the end of last year, we announced our Junior SRC representatives for each classroom. This is a new initiative for St Colman’s and it is hoped that this committee will help the student’s at our school feel more connected and provide them with a greater voice in the organisation of some aspects of our school.
These students, along with our two school captains, will comprise our Student Representative Council for the year.
School Captains- Ivy and Mason
Junior Reps- Patrick and Layla
Middle Reps - Archie and Zoe F
Senior Reps - Charlotte
They will meet with me each term and discuss issues and/or concerns raised by themselves and their peers. We will brainstorm and plan how we can raise awareness of Social Justice concerns in our community and wider world. As well as organise fundraising events for charities and fundraising for school resources and equipment etc.
We held our first SRC meeting last Friday and the all of the children were excited about their new roles and the diffence theat their 'voice' could make to our school. They are very keen to get some student centred activities up and running. They would like to have a ‘special lunch’ each term (like last year’s Hot Dog and Milk day). They also would like Toastie Tuesdays to start. Children will bring a sandwich to school and for $1 we will toast it for them. Money raised will go towards updating our school’s sporting equipment. This will start next week with the help of the SRC team.
Special days for the year:
March 21st: Odd Sock Day (Down Syndrome Awareness)
Final day of Term 1: Casual Clothes Day and Money Line for Missions (Project Compassion)
Term 2; Crazy Hair Day (gold coin for Cancer research)
Last Day of Term 2: Casual Clothes Day and ‘special lunch’ TBC
Term 3: Pyjama Day (gold coin for Homelessness)
August 18th: National Day of action against Bullying
Last Day of Term 3: Footy Colours day and hot dog and milk lunch.
Term 4: Casual clothes day for TBC
All of these days will be assisted in planning and organising by SRC Team.
COMMUNITY NEWS
Terang Junior Domestic Basketball registrations are now open!
We welcome new and returning players to follow the link below, to register NO LATER than Tuesday February 20th.
Season will commence Friday 1st March, 2024. BLACK or NAVY Shorts ONLY, strictly NO pockets or NO footy shorts allowed.
There will be NO LATE registrations accepted past the cut off date of February 20th, 2024. Any queries please message TOBA page, Stephen Vaughan or Kym Grundy.
Terang Olympic Basketball Association commitee
Toastie Tuesday Starts Next Week
Lunch Orders
LUNCH ORDERS are only available twice a week on Monday and Friday.
Menu and price list below
Birthday Wishes
Happy Birthday to one of our Foundation students, Miles, who is celebrating his 6th birthday this week.
Many blessings to you on your special day and throughout the year.
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
Terang & Mortlake Health Service Health and Wellbeing Newsletter
AngliCare Energy Assistance
As part of Anglicare Victoria’s FREE Energy Assistance Program, they provide assistance with energy bills to support Victorians to:
- Talk to their energy retailer and get help with debt
- Access extra financial support
- Check they are receiving eligible concessions on their bill
- Find and move to an affordable energy plan
- Understand bills and fix any possible errors
- Support your child's education with free internet at home
They can provide immediate assistance for clients who are struggling to pay for their gas or electricity bills to prevent disconnection to their property!
The follower two flyers provide further details.
NCCD
Please read the attached information sheet for parents regarding NCCD.