Term 2 Week 2 Monday 2nd May
- Acknowledgement of Country
- Our Prayer This Week
- From the Principal
- May Race Day Public Holiday
- Mother's Day Breakfast
- 2022 Online Raffle
- Mask requirements
- Cross Country
- Awards
- Our Diocesan Community
- School Advisory Council
- NAPLAN
- Girls Winter Uniform
- Footy Tipping Competition 2022
- Circle of Security-Learning Opportunity
- Key Dates for the Diary
- Parish Bulletin
- COVID Reminders
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.
Our Prayer This Week
Christ has no body now but yours.
No hands, no feet on earth but yours.
Yours are the eyes through which he looks compassion on this world. Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good.
Yours are the hands through which he blesses all the world. Yours are the hands, yours are the feet, yours are the eyes, you are his body.
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.
Attribute to St Theresa of Avila
From the Principal
We've certainly hit the ground running as we move into our second week of the school term.
Thanks to all families who have supported our school closure day today. These are important opportunities for staff to work on our key priorities for 2022. A reminder that Thursday is May Race Day and another day off.
Mother's Day is fast approaching with Covid restrictions lifting, we hope to see as many families as possible at our breakfast on Friday. Please see details about how to RSVP later in the newsletter.
As the weather cools off children are invited to move into their winter uniform. If you require anything please speak with Jane.
Kind regards, Stacey
May Race Day Public Holiday
St Colman's will be closed this Thursday May 5th for our public holiday. This is in line with the public holiday taken by the Moyne Shire.
Mother's Day Breakfast
On Friday we will celebrate all the special women in our lives by hosting a Mother's Day Breakfast.
Everyone is welcome and there is no cost. Toast, eggs and bacon will be available.
The breakfast will commence at 7.30am.
Please complete the survey below to indicate your attendance.
2022 Online Raffle
The St Colman's Online Raffle is on again this year. After such a successful fundraiser last year, we have decided to keep the same format. Prizes are the same as last year and tickets are $25 and there will be 600 available for sale. Raffle will be drawn on 20th June.
First Prize: $3000 voucher at Scotts Betta Home Living
Second Prize: $1000 Neighborhood Benefits Card from Acciona
Third Prize $500 voucher at Bates IGA Supermarket.
More details and ticket flyers will be sent home later this week or early next week, however you can start selling now using the link below.
Mask requirements
A reminder that all students who travel on buses are still required to wear masks.
Children who are close contacts are permitted to come to school as long as they have a negative RAT result. Adults and children who are in Grade 3-6 who are close contacts are also required to wear a mask at school.
Cross Country
Well, we managed to dodge the rain and hold a very successful Cross Country event last Friday. Thank you to Brianna for her organisation, the family and friends who came along to support the children and for the children who participated with such enthusiasm and persistency.
It was a closely contested event. Congratulations to the red team who took the team honours on the day. Gold came second and the blue team third.
Well done to all our age champions and to those students who will go on to represent the school at Noorat on Tuesday (tomorrow). These students should have received a note on Friday with the details, with parent permission to be given via PAM.
Awards
Congratulations to our award winners Ashely, Ivy, Kate, Cooper, Connor, Alex, Sadie, Imogen, Leo, Archie and Zoe.
Our Diocesan Community
Please find below the link for the April 2022 edition of “Our Diocesan Community”. https://www.ballarat.
The ODC features lots of great articles about things happening around the Ballarat Diocese, which covers the area of Western Victoria.
An article about the 'Mayor for a Day' visit is on page 34.
School Advisory Council
A reminder that the SAC dates for this term are
- Thursday 12th May, 7pm
- Tuesday 24th May, combined HCSN dinner
- Thursday 9th June, 7pm
NAPLAN
The annual NAPLAN tests will be conducted from May 10. This year they will be held online in the areas of Reading, Writing, Spelling, Grammar and Punctuation and Maths.
Each year 3 and 5 child will receive the following flyer. If you have any questions regarding NAPLAN please contact Stacey.
Girls Winter Uniform
The new winter skirts will be at school for collection from tomorrow morning. If you did not order a skirt, there are a few spares available in each size. Anyone who would prefer to order navy pants for their daughter can do so by contacting Jane. They will be in a similar style to the navy shorts.
Footy Tipping Competition 2022
A couple of close games in the footy makes for some interesting tipping results, both good and bad!
Congratulations to Abbolicha Hawks, James Krepp and Mason Dale who were on the right side of the close games, all tipping 7. Jenn Finn is the outright leader on 46, followed by Stacey (45) and then Tommy Dale on 44.
Circle of Security-Learning Opportunity
This 8 week parenting program, supported by Catholic Care Victoria, is an excellent opportunity.
If we have enough parents from St. Thomas’s and St. Colman’s it will run here during the afternoon from 1-3 pm commencing May 21. At the moment we do not have enough families to run this so please get in touch if you are interested. There is no cost.
Please find below details of other opportunities that might suit families as they are held via zoom.
If you are interested, please contact Stacey at school or via email principal@scmortlake.catholic.edu.au
Key Dates for the Diary
Term 2
2nd May- School Closure: Parent Engagement with Tony Dalton
3rd May- District Cross Country
5th May- May Race Day Public Holiday
6th May- Mother's Day Breakfast
23rd May- School Closure: Literacy focus
27th May- HCSN Network Day
13th June- Public Holiday
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.
Our Schoolzine calendar is now operational so there's numerous dates available on the app.
Parish Bulletin
Mass is celebrated at St Colman's every Sunday at 9am. All welcome.
COVID Reminders
Vaccination
Triple vaccination status will continue to be a requirement for all staff onsite with students and will be required for any volunteers and visiting workers. This will include:
- Parents assisting in classrooms.
- Visiting medical and allied health professionals.
- Visiting speakers, presenters and performers.
- Student teachers.
Parents visiting the school to attend school events (ie sports, performances, classroom visits) will not be required to declare their vaccination status.
Rapid Antigen Tests
Staff and students are invited to continue RATs twice a week. Staff or students who have previously had a positive COVID test are not required to test for 12 weeks after their initial positive result.
Managing a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19
As soon as a staff member or student becomes aware of being a suspected case - that is symptomatic (fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, loss of smell or taste):
- The suspected case is required to leave the school site, or be isolated on-site until they are able to leave.
- The suspected case is required to be tested with a rapid antigen test (if at home). A positive test result must be reported to the Department of Health.
- Positive cases must be isolated for 7 days.
In the event that school receives notification that a staff member or student was infectious while onsite:
- All staff must use a rapid antigen test if they have symptoms.
- All students must use a rapid antigen test if they have symptoms.
- Where a positive case is recorded from a staff member or student who has been on site, the school community will be notified. Personal information will not be released in this communication.
If a staff member or student tests positive with a rapid antigen test but does not have symptoms or has not been in contact with a positive case, a PCR test is recommended. If a subsequent PCR shows a negative result the staff member or student can return to school.
Close Contacts
A close contact (a person who has spent more than four hours with someone who has COVID 19 inside a house, accommodation or care facility) is no longer required to isolate as long as they follow the additional safety measures:
- Notify the school if returning within the 7 day period.
- Undertake RAT testing on school days within the 7 day period (unless the 12 week exemption applies)
- Wear a mask indoors if an adult or a student Yr 3-6.
- Not visit hospitals or care facilities.
- Avoid contact with people at higher risk of infection.
- If symptomatic take a RAT or PCR test.
Masks
Masks are no longer required to be worn by students, staff or visitors. However the wearing of masks continues to be a recommended practice which will still be required in certain circumstances including bus travel or a period of high levels of prolonged transmission.
Any staff of students who are identified as close contacts must wear a mask indoors.
RAT tests will be sent home tomorrow. If you do not wish to receive these please make contact with the school.