Term 1 Week 6 Monday 7th March

Our Prayer This Week

 We pray for all those who live with
disability, especially those who are
stigmatised in any way. May we do all
we can to support their flourishing as
truly equal participants in the human
family. Amen. 

From the Principal

Our term is flying by and we have already hit the half way mark. Our school is very fortunate to have many people who give of their time to ensure that a variety of things happen. Last week we had a number of community members support our Grade 6 students in delivering Meals on Wheels. This is one way that we can be of service to our community as well as connect with our social justice beliefs as a Catholic school. 

Thank you also to those people who have already volunteered to support our Athletics Day on Friday. More volunteers are needed, so please get in touch if you're able to help. 

Congratulations!

Congratulations to Noah Bausch-Anderson on the arrival of another little sister, Tilly May Anderson. Born on the 2nd of March, 2022. Tilly is now settling into her new home and sleeping a lot (allegedly). 

Prep Rest Day

Traditionally our Prep students have Wednesday as a rest day during first term as they transition to five days of school. This year we would like to invite our Preps to attend on Wednesdays for the last three weeks of term. 

These dates are March 23rd, March 30 and April 6.

Wednesdays are the days that the junior classroom have Art, Sport and Library so if a rest day is still needed it won't impact on the regular classroom program. Prep parents are welcome to give Stacey or Shandell a call if you'd like to discuss this further. 

Athletics Day Friday 11th March

Our Athletics Day with St Thomas' is fast approaching.

Children will be travelling by bus to the Terang Rec Reserve. Permission will be sent home via PAM prior to the event. Please make sure that your child has applied sunscreen before heading to school. There will be no lunch orders, so please ensure that your child has enough food and water for the day. Fingers crossed the weather is a little more kind than the swimming carnival! 

A range of helpers will be required on the day to ensure that the day is a success. There are four different options for volunteering. 

1) 7.30am and 8.30am: setting up

2) 9.20am-11.30am: supporting events 

3) 11.30am-2pm: supporting events

4) 1.30pm-2.30pm: packing up

Please contact Jane, Stacey or Brianna at school  if you are able to help.  

Stomp Dance

On Tuesday we were treated to an excursion from Stomp Dance Company. Tabitha took the P-3s and then the 4/5/6 class for a dance lesson. The children thoroughly enjoyed the experience- some even more than they thought they would! 

Project Compassion

During Lent we are encouraged to think of others. One way that we can do this is by donating to Project Compassion, the major appeal for Caritas Australia. Each classroom has a Project Compassion box where children are invited to donate coins. 

Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18 | Phil 3:17-4:1 | Luke 9:28-36
Apparently, there is an old Syrian saying ‘inside the people you know, there is a person you
don’t know.’ One of God’s gifts is the grace to keep discovering beautiful things about the
people close to us. If you talk to people who have been married for a long time, they will
often mention the way their partner surprises them, even after twenty years of sharing the
same kitchen sink. Likewise, our children and our friends. If we put them in a box with a
label, we can become blind to some unexpected wonders God wants us to see.

Perhaps it was like this for Peter, James and John on the occasion of the transfiguration
which we hear about in the Gospel today. By this stage, they have been on the road with
Jesus for quite some time. They have seen the storm calmed, the demoniac brought to
peace, the woman healed of her hemorrhage, the daughter of Jairus raised to life. They
have heard outrageous things. You’d think they’d be getting the picture by now.
The experience on the mountain allows them to understand that they have hardly begun to
understand the depth of the mystery of Jesus. A voice from the cloud says ‘this is my Son,
the Chosen One. Listen to him.’

This week, as part of Project Compassion, we hear the story of Biru, a young man from the
Ho ethnic minority in India. He lives with a disability. But there is so much more to him that
needs to be seen. Our support of Caritas Australia has empowered him to become an
entrepreneur, to meet his future with pride, confidence and hope. Project Compassion
challenges us to see beyond the immediate situation of people such as Biru and discover
the person we don’t yet know, to celebrate the possibilities of life ‘for all future generations.’
Both before and after their great experience on the mountain top, Luke’s Gospel reminds
us that the disciples still face a challenging road. Life will teach them more and more about
Jesus. Let us all be open the lessons of a real relationship with the God of justice and love.

Biru is seen working at his bicycle repair shop outside his home in his village in the state of Jharkhand, India.
Photo: Sameer Bara

Sacraments 2022

Dear Parents,

The beginning of our sacramental program is fast approaching and we would like parents to let us know if they are going to participate. This will enable us to order the required materials and plan our after school sessions. 

Children in Grade 3 or above are invited to celebrate the sacraments of Reconciliation, Confirmation and First Eucharist. 

Children who have not celebrated these sacraments in Grade 4, 5 or 6 are also invited to participate.

Reconciliation: Wednesday 30th March, 5.30pm

Sacramentof Confirmation: Sunday 5th June at 9am Mass.

Sacrament of First Communion: Sunday 20th November

Please contact Stacey or Rosie if your child will be participating. 

satkins@scmortlake.catholic.edu.au

roconnor@scmortlake.catholic.edu.au

Thanks for your support. 

West St works

The Moyne Shire have confirmed that work will start in West St on Monday. The plan is to resurface the road where the buses pull up as well as cover over part of the drain to make access to the buses easier and safer. It is hoped that this section will only take one week to complete. 

During this time buses will pick up/drop off on Townsend St near the back gate. 

They will then begin on the corner of Dunlop St near the church and work back towards the school to improve the footpath and curb. It is hoped that they will not reach the front of the school until the holidays. 

Plans are also well underway to construct a cover over the tennis court to turn this into an all weather space. More information about this project will be made available over the coming weeks. 

Award Winners

Congratulations to our award winners this week. 

Milana, William, Xavier, Spencer, Zac, Charlotte, Scarlett, Isabella, Blair and Isabella. 

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to Will Cameron and Xavier Camplin who both celebrate their birthday on Tuesday. 

Positive Start Initiative

The Victorian Government has provided information on the Positive Start in 2022 initiative, which offers students in all low-fee Catholic schools a chance to reconnect with peers and enjoy the kinds of activities that many missed out on over the past two years.

Under this initiative, eligible families have the opportunity to book holiday camps for children free of charge.

To be eligible for free holiday camps, students must meet one or more of the following criteria:

• attend a school that experienced closures of five days or more due to COVID-19 in 2021
• have an approved Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) application for 2022
• have a parent who holds a valid means-tested concession card
• are Indigenous students
• reside in out-of-home care (temporary or permanent)
• are from a refugee background
• are students with a disability.

The letter linked below gives more detailed information regarding this initiative. Families must register their interest by Friday 25 March 2022 to be considered.

Accessing School Reports

Some parents have reported that they have not been able to access their child's school reports in PAM.

It is unclear whether there is an issue with the school or with individual peoples phones. 

Could you please login to your PAM account and click on the student name then in the Profile Menu, scroll down to "Assessment Reports" and press done. You should be able to see a list of PDF's for all past reports. Open the PDF to read the report. If you are unable to open the PDF, please contact Jane or Stacey.

Medical Details on PAM

It is important to keep your child's Medical Details up to date in PAM. We use this information to check that we have any medications and instructions needed for your child on a regular basis or in the case of emergency.

If there is any change to your child's medication, you need to update PAM as well as talk to us about any medication we need to have on hand.

It is particularly important to have Asthma plans up to date and if your child no longer needs this, we need to know that too.

Footy Tipping Competition 2022

Footy starts NEXT WEEK!

It would be great if all families could enter the Footy Tipping this year. The cost has been reduced to $20 for adults and $10 for kids. This year, all money will go into the prize pool so this is GREAT VALUE!

See the attached flyer for details.

Enter via the link below 

Key Dates for the Diary

11th March- Sports Carnival

14th March- Long Weekend

16th March- School Closure Day 

23rd March- Mercy Regional College Open Day

29th March- School Phots

30th March- Sacrament of Forgiveness, 5.30pm

31st March-PSGs and SAC Meeting

1st April- District Athletics

8th April- Final Day of Term

Term 2 

25th April Anzac Day

26th April Term 2 commences

2nd May- School Closure: Parent Engagement with Tony Dalton

23rd May- School Closure: Literacy focus

Term 3

1st August- School Closure: Literacy Pedagogy

8th September- School Closure: Liturgy (Religious Education) 

TBC: First Aid closure day to update CPR and other First Aid requirements. 

Talking to your child about war

There's a lot going on in the world at the moment. Thanks to Clare Jehu, our Pastoral Care Worker, for providing this information. 

COVID Reminders

Please find following, an extensive letter outlining the current COVID arrangements. This will remain here in case you need to refer to anything. Some key points include things we are doing to protect our community:

• Mask wearing for all staff and Grade 2-6 students is compulsory. It is highly encouraged for all other children. Students must provide their own masks. 
• Masks are required for ALL children who travel on a bus. 
• Visitors must check in via the QR code and be vaccinated. 
• RATs have been delivered with each member of the community being invited to test themselves twice a week. The school must be notified if there is a positive case.  The school will inform the community if there is a positive case. Head to this link for a video on how to conduct a RAT. https://youtu.be/AyrggazYk_0

Please contact me at school if you have any concerns or queries. The new school mobile number is 0409 539 167.

Mercy Regional College Open Day

Please follow the link to register your attendance at the MRC Open Day. 

Emergency food relief

EMERGENCY FOOD RELIEF

Mortlake Community Health Centre - 23 Boundary Rd, Mortlake

The THIRD Thursday of every month from 1:00pm – 3:00pm

The emergency relief consists of food packages, prescription vouchers and social support to people who are in need financially and emotionally through the Mortlake Community Health Centre.

All are welcome when the need arises and confidentiality and discretion are assured.

For bookings, phone Louise on 0458 750 351.

Auskick

Auskick kicks off in Mortlake on May 1st. Please see the flyer for details on how to register. Contact Jess Dennis on 0422 808107 for details.

Parish Bulletin

Mass is celebrated at St Colman's every Sunday at 9am. All welcome.