Term 2 Week 7 Monday 27th May

Acknowledgement of Country

From the Principal

Important Dates:

Term 2 2024

27th May- 3rd June - National Reconciliation Week

Tuesday 28th May- Middles excursion to Warrnambool

Wednesday 29^th May – AFL 9’s; Years ¾ to attend

Thursday 20th May- Tri Sports in Camperdown

Friday 7th June- Division Tri Sports

Monday 10th June- King’s birthday Public Holiday

Friday 14th June- Parent Support Group (PSG) Meetings

Monday 17th- Friday 28th June- Rosie on Long Service Leave (Mick McKenzie to replace her)

Tuesday 18th June- Kinder visit to our school.

Monday 24th- Friday 28th June- Janet on leave

Monday 24th- Friday 28th June- NAIDOC Week

Monday 24^th June – MRC Taster Day (Year 6 students to attend)

Friday 28th June- Final day of Term 2 (early finish @ 2:15)

2024 School Camps (with St Thomas’ Terang)

Sept 2^nd-3^rd: Year 3/4 Warra Gnan Coastal Camp, Warrnambool

Nov 13^th-15^th: Year 5/6 Dunkeld Adventure Camp

School Closure Days for 2024

Term 3: Monday 15^th July- Religious Education; Re-contextualising the Scriptures.

                Tuesday 16^th July- Structured Literacy

Advocacy for Catholic Schools

Recently, the Allan Labor Government announced a $400 School Saving Bonus for all school students in government schools regardless of income, but only for Health Care Card holders in Catholic schools.

This is deeply unfair.

We believe the payment should be means tested for all students or apply to all students.

It should not be based on which school you attend. 

This policy punishes families for choosing to send their children to a Catholic school.

Our school, St Colman's and the peak body, the Victorian Catholic Education Authority, are working hard to oppose this policy and we need your help.

We need to show the Victorian Government that punishing families who choose a Catholic school is unacceptable.

Please consider contacting your local Member of Parliament to express your concern.

Our school’s local member is Emma Kealy MP (Nationals Member for Lowan) and they can be contacted by calling (03) 5382 0097 or by emailing emma.kealy@parliament.vic.gov.au

A template letter is attached below to assist you with making your voice heard. 

Thank you for your time in advocating for your family and our school.

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

Middles Excursion to Warrnambool

Our Middle classroom is very excited to be heading off for their excursion to Warrnambool tomorrow, Tuesday May 28th. The students will enjoy a live Australian Chamber Orchestra performance of the story book How to Catch a Star at The Lighthouse Theatre followed by a visit to the Cudgee Wildlife Park on their way back to Mortlake. Parents, please ensure you have completed the permission forms before 9am tomorrow. Children will need to wear their sports uniform and pack their snacks, lunch and drinks for the day.

Juniors visit to Mortlake Library

Our Junior class walked down to the Mortlake Library last Wednesday to join in their celebration of National Simultaneous Storytime. They had a wonderful time listening to the selected story Bowerbird Blues, as well as singing some songs. In addition to this visit, they will be attending Story Time at the Library on two other occasions. Parents and pre-schoolers are invited to come along with us!

Weekly Award Winners

Congratulations to our Weekly Award winners who were recognised for their amazing work during last Friday's assembly.

Online Platforms to Support Learning

We have had several inquiries from parents regarding Apps or computer programs that they could be using to support their child's learning at home. Below is a recommended list from our Teaching and Learning Leader, Shandell Moloney.

Our School Garden

With our volunteer gardener, Maree, recovering from surgery, we are looking for some parents who may like to volunteer some time to work alongside enthusiastic students in nurturing our garden. We are hoping to start a Garden Club, where children will volunteer to work with parents a couple of times a month in the garden.
Last week, three of our parents, Jo, Alison and Georgie, met to start this process. They believe that one Garden Club a month would be enough to keep the garden ticking along. They are still hoping for a few more volunteers so that parents would only need to commit to a couple of sessions each year. If you are an avid gardener and would like to support our Garden Club please let us know.

SRC Dress-up Day

Our Junior School Representative Council organised a fantastic dress up day for last Frday. The theme being Come As your Future Self. The children put a lot of thought into their costume and it was amazing to see so many big aspirations from our students. I know that if they put their minds to it, each and everyone of them will achieve their goals in life.

A gold coin donation was collected and the funds raised will now go to the Smith Family charity. They work extensively with Australian children in families and communities where we know it’s harder for them to fully participate in their education without some help. We would like to think that ALL children in Australia could have the same opportunities to achieve their childhood aspirations.

In addition to the Dress Up Day, the SRC provided a FREE pizza lunch to all of our students. The cost was covered by a very generous donation by one of our SRC reps, Charlotte Allen. Charlotte collected some pine cones on her farm and then sold them. She wanted to donate the money to the school and put it towards something that all of the students of St Colman's could enjoy! Thank you, Charlotte!

My Future Self

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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.

This year we will hold our meetings Wednesday of week 3 and week 8 each term starting at 6:30pm.

The dates are;

Term 2:  June 5th

Term 3: July 31st and Sept 4th

Term 4: October 23rd and Nov 27th (AGM)

Playgroup at St Colman's

We look forward to welcoming back our local pre-schoolers every second Friday, with our next session being held this week, Friday May 31st.

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.

School Counselling at St Colman's

We welcomed Rachael Main into our school community as our Pastoral Care Chaplain a few weeks ago. Rachael has slotted into her role with ease and is already building connections with our students and working with them to build their social and emotional intelligence.
In addition to these one-on-one sessions, Rachael is also going to be conducting whole class and small group sessions that will help to develop various social skills, team building, resilience and problem-solving skills in our students.
If your child was previously accessing the services of our school counsellor, Grace, they will continue with Rachael. If you think your child would benefit from this service, please speak to your child's teacher or Janet.

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).

SchoolTV Wellbeing Platform

Positive Parenting Series

The National Academy of Sciences defines four major responsibilities necessary for good parenting. These include: maintaining a child's health and safety; promoting a child’s emotional wellbeing; instilling a child’s social skills; and preparing a child intellectually.

Research shows, that one of the most important protective factors in the lives of young people, is a close relationship with a supportive adult. With the mental health of today’s young people being at an all-time low, it is simply not enough to parent effectively. Parents need to familiarise themselves with practical skills, knowledge and strategies when it comes to raising children.

There is no such thing as a perfect parent, but arming yourself with the right information is a good start!

Birthday Wishes

Happy birthday to our Year 5 student, Steff who is celebrating his birthday this week and to our staff members, Anna Bourke and Michelle Blain who also have a birthday.

Many blessings for the year ahead to everyone celebrating a birthday this week.

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

The Child Safe Standards

The Child Safe Standards (the Standards) are compulsory minimum standards for all Victorian schools to ensure they are well prepared to keep children and young people safe and protect them from abuse.  provides the framework for child safety in schools.

Child Safe Standard 8: Staff and volunteers are equipped with the knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children and young people safe through ongoing education and training.

In complying with Child Safe Standard 8 St Colman's must, at a minimum, ensure:

8.1    Staff and volunteers are trained and supported to effectively implement the organisation’s Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy.

8.2    Staff and volunteers receive training and information to recognise indicators of child harm including harm caused by other children and young people.

8.3    Staff and volunteers receive training and information to respond effectively to issues of child safety and wellbeing and support colleagues who disclose harm.

8.4       Staff and volunteers receive training and information on how to build culturally safe environments for children and young people.

How are we implementing this at St Colman's (SCM)?

• SAC induction completed on 29/1/2024.-Child Safe Standards, Child Safe Risk Assessment was tabled and discussed. Related Child Safe Policies are available on the School’s website. 
• All Staff participate in an Annual Induction that includes Child Safe Standards, Reportable Conduct, Mandatory Reporting , Code of Conduct acceptable & unacceptable behaviours. OHS and Risk Management, Student Wellbeing and engagement strategies.
• All staff completed the MARAM eLearn Mandatory Reporting Module each year.
• Student friendly resources have been developed and displayed around the school
• Contractors will be inducted using the following induction booklet
• Volunteers participate in an induction on appointment using the following induction booklet
• A Child Safety Officer is available to assist staff and volunteers to support and implement the child safety and wellbeing policy where it applies to their role.
• Staff also have access to DOBCEL’s Child Safe Standards PPT

Our Student Representative Council will be co ordinating our partnership with Cooinda Terang to become a collection point for Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme (CDS Vic).

We will be collecting all eligible empty drink containers and then returning them to the CDS collection point at Cooinda. The 10c raised from each return will go back to the SRC. They will nominate various charities to support as well as using 50% of the funds to upgrade school resources.

So please start collecting and sending in your empties. 

Most aluminium, glass, plastic and liquid paperboard (carton) drink containers between 150mL and 3 litres are eligible. You can keep the lids on, we recycle them too. The easiest way to know if your drink container can be returned is to look for the 10c mark on the label, often located near the barcode.

You can help in two ways:

1. The first is by far the simplest. Just return your empty eligible containers to the tubs in the corridors at school.
2. If you have a large amount of containers to deposit, you may wish to take them to a Container Deposit Depot and return them yourself. Please download the CDS Vic West App (instructions below). When you return your containers, nominate St Colman's School Mortlake as the charity you want to donate the money to.

Please note, that as we are in partnership with Cooinda Terang, our preferred deposit depot is their Reverse Vending Machine located at 49 Dow St Terang.

Mortlake Library News

Toastie Tuesday

Lunch Orders

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

Menu and price list below

Out of School Care

A reminder that we continue to have access to Out of School Care in 2024, supplied by TheirCare, at Mortlake College. Registration is made via the TheirCare website. https://theircare.com.au/

Search for Mortlake College P-12

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.