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Term 1
Thursday 30 January: Students return - Friday 4 April
Easter: Friday 18 April - Monday 21 April 2025
Term 2
Tuesday 22 April - Friday 4 July
Term 3
Monday 21 July - Friday 19 September
Term 4
Monday 6 October - Wednesday 17 December 2.30 pm 2025
God of Peace,
Jesus gives us His peace and asks us to share it with everyone.
We commit ourselves to the way of peace that You desire for us.
May Your peace begin with us within our hearts.
May we be peacemakers in our thoughts, our words and actions, in our family, in our community and in all our relationships.
Give us peaceful hearts and peaceful spirits,
We pray this in Jesus’ name.
Amen.
Dear Parents and Carers,
Welcome to the first week of the 2025 school year. I hope you all enjoyed a restful break, filled with quality family time.
This year, our theme is Together on the Path of Peace. Our theme is inspired by 2025 being the Catholic Church’s year of the Jubilee with the theme of Pilgrims of Hope- on the path of Peace. The Jubilee year is held every 25 years or during other years as called for by the Pope. The Jubilee year signifies a special year of grace, prayer, and reflection. As Pilgrims of Hope, we will focus on walking a shared journey of peace as a community. The Catholic view of peace emphasises reconciliation, justice, and the dignity of every human person, grounded in Christ's teachings of love and forgiveness. Peace is seen not only as the absence of conflict but as the active pursuit of harmony and social justice.
Walking this path means fostering peace in our thoughts, words, actions, and relationships. It begins in our hearts and extends to our families, school and wider community.
In alignment with this theme, we continue to implement practices that promote peace and unity in our community, including:
- A focus on Catholic identity and the human dignity of every person.
- Incorporating Prayer, Mindfulness and/ or Christian Meditation into the school day.
- Restorative practices for behaviour management, helping to repair relationships and build understanding.
- Emphasising forgiveness, social justice, and making a positive difference in the lives of others, including reaching out to our parishioners and elderly.
- Our commitment as a Fire Carrier school to reconciliation and fostering respect for Indigenous cultures.
- Stewardship through caring for creation, promoting sustainability and responsibility for the environment.
- Encouraging respectful relationships and inclusion, ensuring everyone has the opportunity to flourish.
Let us commit to being peacemakers, guided by Jesus’ teachings and strive to build on our harmonious and supportive environment for everyone.
Meet and Greets: You will receive an Operoo today to book in a time to meet with your child's class teacher next week. The purpose of the meet and greets is to provide opportunity for you to meet with your child's teacher and share any information you feel is important for your child's teacher to know. It is a lovely opportunity to get to know each other as you journey together in partnership over the course of the year. The meet and greet will take up to 10 minutes.
Home Learning at Our Lady Star of the Sea: As most of you are aware through communication in 2024, we are trialling and taking a new direction with our homework focus this year after completing a consultative process with all stake holdrers in 2024 and further exploring evidence based research.
Please find our Home Learning Policy moving forward and a summary of the Key Changes to Home Learning for 2025 below:
- Compulsory Reading (Prep–Year 6):
- Daily reading will be mandatory for all students and must be recorded in diaries.
- Times tables will be a focus and communicated via Hub News every fortnight.
- OCCASIONAL TASKS
No provision in the policy shall prevent classroom teachers from occasionally setting tasks for their whole class or individuals. Such tasks include a speaking and listening activity and an interview with a parent about a specific topic, e.g., gathering or inquiring about information to support project work and particularly in the Year 5/ 6 area, finishing off work as required, to align with secondary school preparation.
- A Home Learning link will be provided on the school website and a link added to Hub News for those families wishing to engage in their own home learning.
- The school also provides electronic platforms for sharing learning through parents Seesaw accounts and Google Classroom. This is a great way for parents/ carers to see the child’s learning and expand the family’s interaction with learning.
- Homework Marking:
- Homework will no longer be assessed or reflected in formal reports.
These adjustments are intended to make home learning more meaningful and manageable while supporting students' academic growth and overall well-being.
Staffing 2025: We welcome our new staff. Sarah Veenvliet Year 5 classroom teacher. Jack every Year 4 LSO; Amanda Durbridge Year 2 LSO and Charlie Alexander Year 5 LSO. Please also see our 2025 wonderful team below and the areas they will be working within the school.
Communication Channels: Please note our newsletter, emailed fortnightly on a Tuesday, is a thorough source of information and communication. It includes a message from myself with updates, a full calendar of events and our wonderful hub news which is very specific to your child's daily requirements. For clarity, always refer back to the newsletter. Emailing classroom teachers is our preferredmethod of communication and you will have access to your teacher’s email. Please note, teacher protocol is to email back within 24-48 hours on working days as per our policy. Included at the bottom of the newsletter is a rundown of the different communication platforms and their purpose. Please familiarise yourself with this if you are new or haven't already.
Recording your child's absence from school
A friendly reminder that we ask you to record your child's absence from school using Parent Access Module (PAM) before 9:00am on the day of absence with the reason.
Simply follow the below steps:
- Go to https://pam.staroceangrove.catholic.edu.au
- Login using your credentials. Your login email address is the one you have provided to the school. You can choose the 'Forgot password' option if you can not remember your password.
- Click on 'Parent Notified Absences' at the top right of the page
- Fill in the required fields. Done.
Year 6 2024 Special Award Winners: Congratulations to the following children who received special awards at the end of last year at their graduation ceremony.
Bellarine Psychology Leadership in Compassion Award - Iyah Durling & Zoe Hodges
Ocean Grove Lions Club Bursary Award - Willow Armistead & Winni Ward
Cosmopolitan Lodge Leadership Award with Richard Clarke presenting the award - Ahli James and Amara Gauld
Rotary Ocean Grove - Daisy Bianco, Jett Piec, Nate Wombwell, Maddison Mifsud
Bellarine Community Leadership Award on behalf of Alison Marchant Bellarine MP - Nicholas Wright
Corangamite Leadership & Community Spirit Award on behalf of Libby Coker -Federal Member for Corangamite - Bas Gee
Andrew Chinn Workshops and Beginning of Year Mass Monday 3rd February 2.15 pm: On Monday 3 February, Australian religious songwriter and singer, Andrew Chinn, will be visiting our school to share his songs with our children. Andrew’s songs, such as “These Hands”, “Rainbow”, “An African Blessing” and“Rise Up!” are used in classrooms and liturgies around Australia, New Zealand, USA and Canada. The workshops with all year levels will take place throughout the day and he will be performing with our students at our beginning of the Year Mass on this same day at the Church at 2.15 pm. All welcome. We look forward to seeing you there if able.
Our teachers have been busy and here are some photos of the spaces almost ready to go.
Wishing you all a wonderful and peaceful start to the year.
Kerryn
Sports Leader/Physical Education: Sam Scott, Indonesian Leader: Bree Jones, Mental Health in Primary School role and Learning Diversity Year 4-6: Natalie Skahill, Performing Arts - Music, Dance and Drama: Helen Stephenson, STEM: Leah Cole, Indonesian: Erika Shears, Digital Technologies Teacher: Corey Gallagher, Art Teacher: Rachael Thomas
Prep Red Hub Michelle Richards/Taliah de Beer (Friday), Jade Collier, Georgia Cowling LST Kylene Gray
Learning Support Staff (LSO) Annelie, Millie, Amy
Year 1 Blue Hub Alice MacNamara, Zac Stankiewicz, Nicole Maier LST Jane Laidler
Learning Support Staff (LSO) LeeAnne, Jody
Year 2 Green Hub Ryan Prest, Charlotte Monaghan, Ashlee Guiffrida, Melissa Garvey LST Sara de Jong
Learning Support Staff (LSO) Carly, Catherine, Amanda
Year 3 Purple Hub Christine Lourie, Jacinta Ryan, Bella Scaffidi LST Miranda Kelly
Learning Support Staff (LSO) Danielle, Priscilla, Luke
Year 4 Yellow Hub Marnie Hallam/Bec Notman (Friday), Laura Grey, Matt Eales, Lizzie Conquit LST Rebecca Nancarrow
Learning Support Staff (LSO) Robyn, Linda, Jack
Year 5 Purple Hub Caz Taylor, Sarah Veenvliet, Brendan Casey, Sharon Chirgwin LST Bree Jones
Learning Support Staff (LSO) Rachel, Emily, Bridget, Charlie
Year 6 Orange Hub Emily Bissell-Barahona, Lisa Grigg, Pat Kennedy, Bree Russell/ Maddie Seitz (Friday) LST Jess Mullens
Learning Support Staff (LSO) Sam, Jane, Abbey, Michelle
2025 School Fee Invoices will be emailed to families in Week 2.
Fee statements are sent out each term. Fee payment by Direct Debit is the school preferred option. Please return your Direct Debit Authority form by Monday 3 February. The first instalment for Monthly and Quarterly instalments is on 16 February 2025. Following due dates are:
Monthly: Beginning 16 February for 10 payments, finishing 16 November.
Quarterly: 16 February, 16 May, 16 August, 16 November.
Families choosing to pay in full are asked to do so by Friday 28 February.
Health Care Card / Concession Card
If you are a holder of a Health Care, Concession or Veterans Affairs Gold Card please forward a copy of your card to secretary@staroceangrove.catholic.edu.au Eligible card holders are entitled to assistance through the Camp, Sport and Excursion Fund. The amount received by the school on behalf of the eligible card holder is offset proportionally against your school account to cover camp, selected sport or excursions.
Concessional School Fees Program
Health Care, Concessional and Veterans Affairs Gold card holders as well as students identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander may be eligible for Concessional School Fees.
The following families are strongly encouraged to apply for concessional school fees:
- Any family of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander heritage.
- Any family holding an HCC and eligible for CSEF.
- Any family experiencing severe financial hardship.
- Any family holding a DVA Gold Card.
- Any family identified as refugees and holding an ImmiCard.
- Any family required to relocate their (Australian resident) child to St. Michael’s Catholic Primary School, North Melbourne, due to the child requiring long term medical treatment at The Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne. Pro-rata concession is provided for part-year attendance. An annual statutory declaration is required to confirm eligibility.
- HSS who attend a MACS primary school on a part time basis, who meet any of the criteria detailed above.
For further information view the Concessional Fee Policy for MACS primary schools and Application Form.
Term1 2025
Tuesday 28 January: Staff return
Wednesday 29 January: Staff professional Learning day- First Aid
Thursday 30 January: Students return
Monday 3rd February: Beginning of Year School Mass 2.15 pm at the Church. All Welcome.
Meet and Greets Week 2.
Friday 28 February: Student Free Day for Staff Professional Learning
Friday 4 April: Last Day of Term 2.30 pm Finish
Term 2 2025:
Friday 6 June: Student Free Day for Staff Professional Learning
Friday 4 July: Last Day of Term 2.30 pm Finish
Term 3 2025:
Monday 11 August: Student Free Day for Staff Professional Learning
Monday 11 August 6.30 pm-8 pm: Parent Education Session with Karen Young- "Strengthening against Anxiety"
Friday 19 September: Last Day of Term 2.30 pm Finish
Term 4 2025:
Monday November: Student Free Day. TIL day for Teachers
Tuesday November: Student Free Day. Public Holiday for Teachers.
Friday December 5: Student Free Day. 2026 Staff Planning Day
Wednesday 17 December: Last Day of Term 4 2.30 pm Finish
Please note: Please refer to the Parent Calendar for all dates
Term 1
Thursday 30 January: Students return - Friday 4 April
Easter: Friday 18 April - Monday 21 April 2025
Term 2
Tuesday 22 April - Friday 4 July
Term 3
Monday 21 July - Friday 19 September
Term 4
Monday 6 October - Wednesday 17 December 2.30 pm 2025
| Schoolzine App |
School app, used for sending reminders, notifications and for providing access to PAM, Parent Calendar, newsletters, School website. Additionally, you can find the newsletter and information, including the canteen menu.  |
| Staff email address | first initial and surname@staroceangrove.catholic.edu.au |
| School newsletter |
Our main form of communication is the fortnightly newsletter, emailed on Tuesdays. Group emails from the school office will also be sent through the Schoolzine platform. |
| School website |
www.staroceangrove.catholic.edu.au Access to policies/procedures, school information and parent calendar. |
| Parent calendar | Link to calendar can be found on our website Home Page and school app. |
| PAM Parent access module | A platform for lodging student absences and gaining access to student digital school reports. Past years' reports are also stored on this platform.
Please click the link here: http://pam.staroceangrove.catholic.edu.au . This will take you to the PAM login page. Your username is the email address you have provided to school. For new families please sign up now by clicking the link here: http://pam.staroceangrove.catholic.edu.au This will take you to the PAM login page. Click on the 'Forgot Password?' link and follow the prompts. You will be asked to enter your email address, then you will need to access the link sent to your email address. You can then create a password and this, along with your email address will be your login to PAM. * Use the School App for a quick access to PAM |
| Permission notes |
 Operoo is an electronic version of permission forms and information for excursions, camps and parent/student meetings. It also provides you the opportunity to update medical information promptly while providing the school with instant access to the emergency information provided by you.
* Use the School App for a quick access to Operoo
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| Seesaw |
 Student digital learning journal and providing an additional means of reminders for the entire parent group.
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Our Lady Star of the Sea Ocean Grove School Facebook Page: Sharing of learning experiences and events hosted by the school. OLSOS Parents Ocean Grove Vic Parent Chatter Facebook: A platform for parent reminders and queries. OLSOS Ocean Grove Recycled Uniforms Families may post here to purchasing, sell or give away of school uniforms.
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| Canteen Online Ordering |
The canteen service is open on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays operated offsite by Sue Bickerton.
Ordering cut off time is 8.30am.
Fresh Salad boxes are available on Wednesdays only.
Sushi is for Thursdays only, these MUST be pre ordered by 10am Wednesday. To cancel an order:
Before cut-off time (8.30am): Login to your account and select ACTIVE/CANCEL ORDERS. Locate your order and select CANCEL on the right-hand side of the order (you may need to scroll across to see the cancel link).
Orders are processed through www.quickcliq.com.au You can order up to 30 days in advance.
If you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions, you can contact Sue on 0408 704440 Monday to Friday between 8am to 2pm or via email chaoticplates@gmail.com Emails will not be checked until 3pm so please do not send an email if you are ordering or changing your child’s order.
* Use the School App for a quick access to our canteen online ordering platform
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| Student Medical Forms |
Students who require ANY medication at school must have their medication stored at the office, accompanied by the relevant forms, as below. No medication will be dispensed without these being completed and up to date.
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| School Assembly |
School assemblies are held every Friday morning 9am in our school gym, known as Djila Tjarri. All welcome.
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