Term 4 Week 2
Welcome back everyone! Although we have returned to online learning these past two weeks, it is good to be back and seeing the faces of our beautiful children. Hopefully everyone was able to have some down time over the break and enjoy the sunshine. As we begin to transition back to school there may be a few of us both adults and students who are anxious. Miss Jodie has written about some things to consider on the ‘Wellbeing’ page. Be sure to check this out. All children are to wear their sports uniform each day as we transition back to school. We will begin to wear the summer uniform once we are all onsite. Hats are also an essential part of the uniform. Classes will find the opportunity to work outdoors on some occasions. Ensure your child has applied sunscreen before the start of the day. We will have sunscreen available but I recommend that you supply a small roll-on sunscreen that your child can use themselves to avoid any allergy issues.
Our prep children celebrated 100+ days of prep on Friday. I managed to pop in and see some very creative ‘100 day’ Tshirt designs. The children were eager to show me their t-shirts and I certainly felt my spirits lift once I left the meets. Thanks to the prep teachers and parents who helped make this a fun day!
Over the holidays we had some learning/play areas developed. The area near the ‘shops’ was re developed to include outdoor learning spaces. The area was becoming eroded by weather and truly needed a sprucing up to also include a new and safer path from the park and a concreted area leading up to the top oval. All the sand and screening has gone with new drainage installed. We also have three new flagpole to finish off the area. We are waiting on two tables with benches that will be readily used as the classes begin to use this area as an alternative outdoor learning area. Thank you to the fundraising efforts of the Parents Auxiliary for contributing funds to develop this space. Hats are also an essential part of the term 4 uniform. Classes will find the opportunity to work outdoors on some occasions. Ensure your child has applied sunscreen before the start of the day. We will have sunscreen available but I recommend that you supply a small roll-on sunscreen that your child can use themselves to avoid any allergy issues.
Next week our students begin to come back face to face. We start with our preps then later in the week our Yr 1/2 students attend. It is proving a ‘jigsaw’ getting all the students back in the next three weeks with new yard timetables, specialist timetables, essential worker children onsite timetables, supervision timetables etc.. No doubt it will also be a massive job for you to organise the part time onsite/offsite schooling over the next three weeks. But we can all see the light at the end of the tunnel! Attached is a summary of the staggered return of the students. Keep this handy so you can refer to it if you get confused. All children who are onsite are to wear their sports uniform, both those coming back with the classes and those being supervised. We will revert back to full summer uniform in week 6 when we are all back onsite.
Onsite learning will continue for:
- Children whose parents are deemed essential workers who cannot work from home. If either parent is working from home your child must remain home
- Children the school has identified as vulnerable
Follow the Registration For Online Learning to register for the days your child needs onsite supervision for the above reasons.
The school continues to maintain strict protocols and procedures which will be maintained throughout the term and with the return of the students.
- Children in Years 3-6 are to wear a mask indoors. Please supply a mask for your child each day. Teachers will talk to your child about mask wearing and endeavour to monitor the wearing of a mask indoors.
- All adults entering the school grounds at any time MUST come to the office and sign in using the Vic QR code and wear a mask
- Only staff and students will be permitted on school premises. This means that all students will need to be either dropped off or picked up using the drive through system or parents to park their cars further away and walk the student to the gates, while always socially distancing and wearing a mask
- Parents are asked to remain outside the school gates. (unless in an emergency) (See drop off & Pick up details)
- Children who are unwell will be sent home
- Children will continue to observe Hygiene protocols with access to hand sanitiser and soap
- Parent volunteering in classrooms will unfortunately continue to be suspended until further notice
Face Masks
For all school settings, the Victorian Chief Health Officer directs and recommends students in Year 3 to Year 6 to wear face masks when indoors on school
premises, unless an exception applies. A face mask must cover the nose and mouth. Face shields, scarves or bandanas do not meet these requirements.
There are a number of lawful reasons for not wearing a face mask, including for staff and students who are unable to wear a face mask due to the nature of their disability, medical or a
mental health condition. Please see coronavirus.vic.gov.au for the latest face mask requirements
Drop Off & Pick Up
Morning drop off
Children can be dropped off between 8.30am and 8.45am when the school gates. Children will then walk straight to their classroom where their teacher will be there to greet them. The school bell will go for the start of the day at 8.45am. Please stagger your morning arrival to help with the traffic flow and arrive between 8.30pm and 8.45pm. Remember to stay in your car and take up the next available spot and move down so we can fit as many cars as possible.
Afternoon pick up
Starting at 3.15pm. Please stagger your afternoon arrival time to help with the traffic flow and arrive between 3.15pm and 3.30pm. Please do not leave your car as we endeavour to send children to their cars as safely as possible. A staff member will be directing traffic to ensure safety and efficiency with extra staff on duty to assist the children. I ask that you are patient!
Remember to always social distance and wear a mask if you have walked and then waiting outside the gates.
Before/After school care
Before and after school care continues to be available outside of school times. Parents who are utilising this service may enter the school grounds to drop off and pick up their child. Remember to sign in using the Vic QR code in Cooinda. Please contact Shannon if you need this service: 0426 203 858
Unfortunately we have had to cancel the school production scheduled to be performed next week at the Clocktower in Moonee Ponds. however we are hoping to continue with practising this at school and creating a film for everyone to enjoy. There are still a number of unanswered questions regarding events for later in the year. As soon as we have answers to whether these events are cancelled, have a changed format or changed date we will let you know.
I wish you all health and happiness as we embark on this term 4 journey together! Can’t wait to see the children soon!
Cathy
Term 3 Week 6
Our Year 4 children and families have been celebrating the Sacrament of First Eucharist these past two weeks. The St Augustine church was full with family, friends, staff and parishioners as we all celebrated together and welcomed the children fully into the mass by receiving the Eucharist for the first time. It has been a special two weeks with three more Sundays to go. We congratulate all the children who have received their First Eucharist and pray for those who will celebrate the sacrament in the coming weeks.
The school is all abuzz with talk about the Fun Run on the 7th September. They have all taken home the information letter and booklet. It is a day very similar to a lapathon but with an exciting twist. The children will be running laps of the yard but also moving through fun inflatables with lots of prizes on offer! The idea is that each child asks friends and family to sponsor them to run these laps. Sponsoring a whole amount rather than per lap is advisable. All money is collected online. Be sure to follow the instructions on the letter sent home on Tuesday. Children also have the opportunity to choose prizes depending on how much they raise. All children will participate regardless of whether they have sponsors or not. The money raised will contribute to the installation of new football goals on the oval and seating on the top oval for the children.
Thank you to the Parents Auxiliary and Emma Antonius for organising the Tony’s Pie orders. There are a number of families who will be enjoying this delicious food for dinner! Collection of these orders is this Friday. Head to the ‘Parents Auxiliary’ page of the newsletter for information about lunch orders, Bunnings BBQ and the school Fun Run.
It was great to see a number of our parents attend the volunteer induction program. As we invite more parents back into the classroom as helpers it is essential that we run these courses. They assist with knowing how to work with the students and teachers and continue to strengthen our partnership with each other.
Next week we celebrate Book Week. On Tuesday the children will participate in a book week parade. The children are able to come to school dressed as a book character. They are all excited as they organise these costumes and think of the book to represent. The parade will be at 9am on the basketball court. Families are welcome to attend. This event is weather dependant.
We also celebrate St Augustine’s Day next Friday the 26th August. The actual feast day is August 28th. The Year 5/6 student leaders have organised many activities for the day. Children are to wear sports uniform on this day.
On Friday the 5th August the staff spent a wonderful Faith Development Day with Fr Elio Capra exploring, “What makes a Catholic School and the Mission of the Catholic School.” After two years of home schooling and the challenge of the pandemic it was fitting to have the opportunity to gather as St Augustine’s Catholic staff to pray, learn, and dialogue with each other. Fr Elio took us on a journey as Catholic Educators in the important role we have in the lives of each other, the students, parents, and the community. He explored with us the five pillars of our Catholic Identity: Jesus Christ, the Scriptures, the Church, Prayer and Sacraments and Service and Mission. The challenge of the day, ‘What do we need to do to further enhance our Catholic Identity?’, was met with enthusiasm. We felt a sense of pride in acknowledging that we were already doing many things but were open to even more ways of enhancing our identity. An example is when Fr Elio reminded us of the importance of Gospel stories and their message in today’s society. The staff have begun implemented each Friday, ‘The challenge of the Sunday Gospel.’ We are grateful for our day and give thanks to Fr Elio in the way he led and deepened our knowledge, gently challenged us and also made us laugh.
Every year Catholic schools participate in MACSSIS surveys: Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools – School Improvement Surveys. The staff, eighty parents and years 3-6 will participate in these surveys starting on the 29th August. These surveys are a tool where we can collect, analyse and interpret data to inform us on our school improvement. This data tells us about what different people in the school community think and feel about their learning environment. It is a valuable way to reflect on the year and set future improvement goals. Eighty families have been chosen at random to participate. If you are a lucky chosen one, I ask that you spend the time to participate and help us with our continued improvement.
We have had a few cases of Hand Foot Mouth Virus reported to the school, particularly in the prep area. There is no connection between this virus and the foot and mouth disease that affects cattle and some other animals. Please see your doctor if your child is feeling unwell.
Cathy