St Colman's School Mortlake eNewsletter

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

A Prayer for Reconciliation Week

Lord, open up our hearts so that we may hear the message you teach of a world in which the wrongs of the past are recognised - a world in which a reconciled people walk and talk together sharing stories; a world in which all burn with the desire to have your peace and justice reign. We ask this in Jesus’ name.

From the Principal

Dear Families,

It is hard to believe that we are already half way through the term. There has certainly been a lot going on, so it's lovely that we have a quieter week coming up.

Last Friday we celebrated Catholic Education Week with St Patrick's Camperdown and St Thomas' Terang. It was fantastic to see all the Grade 3/4 children here at St Colman's. They were suitably impressed with our new court cover and the playground.

Thank you to everyone who has been vigilant in keeping sick children at home. More RATs will be sent home today. A reminder that these are to be used when someone is symptomatic.

Enjoy the week.

Kind regards, Stacey

Trivia Night 2022

After a false start last year, the St Colman's Trivia Night is back! Get some friends together and book a table for a night of trivia and laughs.

$20 includes all costs for the evening, including games throughout the night. No extra coins required.

If you or anyone you know, would like to donate a prize please contact us at school. A shout out on our newsletter and social media is included for local businesses.

Confirmation

This week we keep Billie Carmody, Kate Parker, Cooper Francis and Mason Dale in our thoughts and prayers as they partake in the Sacrament of Confirmation this Sunday. As they were at Baptism, they will be anointed with the oils of Chrism and confirmed with the fullness of the Holy Spirit. All are welcome to join us in this celebration at St Colman’s church at 9am.

Tri Sports

On Wednesday, our Grade 5/6 students will be participating in Tri Sports. This day includes competitions in AFL, netball and soccer.

Parents are asked to make sure that permission is given via PAM and that children have appropriate clothing for the day, including a change of clothes in case of wet weather and a jacket.

Lunch, snacks and a drink bottle are also essential.

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to Kate who celebrates her birthday this week.

2022 Online Raffle- Volunteers Needed

Thanks to everyone who has already bought a ticket, sold a ticket or shared a post about our raffle.

This week, we are looking for someone to coordinate the selling of tickets at Bates' over a couple of days. Can you help?

Or, can you help sell tickets one night after school at Bates'? Please let Stacey know at school or email principal@scmortlake.catholic.edu.au

So far we have sold 217 tickets so we have a way to go to get to 600.

BUY TICKETS HERE

NCCD

Nationally Consistent Collection of Data (NCCD) on School Students with a Disability:

What is the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data? Schools must now complete the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD) every year. It counts the number of students who receive additional adjustments or 'help' at school because of a disability. The NCCD helps governments plan for the needs of students with disability. For more information click on the link below to read the NCCD Information Sheet.

NCCD Information for Parents

MERCY REGIONAL COLLEGE - 2023 ENROLMENTS

The Mercy Regional College enrolment applications for Year 7 2023 are closing on Friday 24 June.

The College would like to invite prospective Year 7 families to complete an enrolment application form through the new enrolment portal - Enrolment Information. If you require any further assistance completing the form please do not hesitate to contact MRC Registrar Nicole Darcy at ndarcy@mercy.vic.edu.au or 03 5593 2011.

Our Junior O’Keeffe Campus will be open for tours throughout Term 2, to welcome those families who could not attend the MRC Open Day and O’Keeffe Afternoon in March. Please visit the following link to register - O'Keeffe Campus Tours.

Mercy Regional College understands that choosing a school is one of the most important things you will do for your child’s education and welcomes all enquiries about enrolment at Mercy.

Covid Updates and Reminders

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 (indoors only).

It is still a requirement that if your child tests positive for Covid-19 that you inform the school.

RAT Update

RATs will continue to be distributed to you as they have been throughout this school year for the remainder of this term.

However, from Monday 23 May 2022, we do not recommend that your child complete a RAT twice a week as previously advised.

RATs however will continue to be required by students who are household contacts to attend school (5 negative tests over a 7-day period) or who have symptoms.

The ongoing supply of RATs to families in our school will ensure that parents and carers will have them should they need them if their child is a household contact or has symptoms.

Families must continue to notify the Department of Health and the school if their child returns a positive RAT result. Additionally, you should inform us if any of your children are household contacts.

Thank you also to all families who has got their child vaccinated. Vaccination continues to remain the best way to protect students and staff in our school.

Getting vaccinated is easy and bookings can be done via the coronavirus website. If you have any questions about the vaccines, I encourage you to speak to your GP or a health practitioner.

Thank you again for your ongoing cooperation and support during this time.

Footy Tipping Competition 2022

Round 11 certainly had a couple of upsets and thus, a score of 7 was the best anyone could manage. Congratulations to Brianna09 who not only tipped 7 but managed to tip the exact margin. BreadwardLee almost got there, being one off the margin. Overall 17 tippers got 7. Jenn Finn and Stacey Atkins (yes!), are now equal first on 71 with Ticketyboo, tommydale, Sharyn Grinter and TiassieDevil just two off the pace.

Key Dates for the Diary

Term 2

1st June- Tri Sports 5/6 students

9th June-SAC Meeting, 7pm

13th June- Public Holiday

17th June-School Trivia Night

20th June- Raffle drawn today

23rd June- Whole School Excursion to Annie the Musical (Warrnambool)

24th June- Last Day of Term

Term 3

11th July- Term 3 begins

1st August- School Closure: First Aid Training

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

Term 4

17th October- School Closure-Literacy

Our Schoolzine calendar is now operational so there's numerous dates available on the app.

Parish Bulletin

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.

CATS

This will be our third attempt at bringing CATS to Warrnambool, with Covid interrupting our attempts in September 2021 and January this year. Our cast, crew and orchestra will have been preparing for this season for over a year by the time we take to the stage.

We are calling on our community to sell our season out and celebrate the work of our extraordinary cast, orchestra and crew.

Warrnambool Holiday Actors and Theatre Company

Term 2 Week 6 Monday 30th May