Dear Parents and Carers

Next Sunday is Child Protection Sunday and today’s prayer asks us to ensure our catholic communities and indeed, all communities are safe and remain safe for our most precious gift, our children. We pray for those individuals and families who have or still continue to suffer. 

I trust all the dads, grandfathers and significant others had a wonderful day Sunday in the glorious spring sunshine with your amazing children.

Given Sunday’s announcement by the government, I’m sure you can feel the end of Learning from Home much closer now. As you are aware, all our students are returning to onsite learning on Monday 12 October. As a staff, we are very excited about having all our students back on site in Term 4. We also again cannot thank you enough for your continued support and dedication to supporting your child’s learning at home when, at times, it would have been very challenging. We thank you for working in partnership with us in such a positive, respectful way. As a staff we feel truly blessed.

Wellbeing: It is R U OK Day on Thursday 10 September and to mark this day we ask that we all wear a touch of yellow. On Friday the teachers have prepared a Wellbeing matrix for Year Prep - Year 6 with some fun, engaging activities that are good for everyone’s wellbeing. Look out also for a special staff video.

New student wellbeing resources: As shared via an update yesterday, SchoolTV has generously shared a special report video with the CECV as part of its Coronavirus series.

In this presentation, Riding the Corona Coaster, Dr Michael Carr-Gregg explores how the uncertainty of not knowing what will happen next may impact students, families and staff in school communities. He examines increasing concerns regarding mental health issues such as anxiety, depression and substance abuse among young people, and emphasises the importance of promoting help-seeking behaviour and reducing stress levels at home. Dr Carr-Gregg provides tips for parents/carers on looking after their wellbeing during this challenging time.

Students for 2021: We are currently working through our consultative process regarding classroom structures for 2021. If  your child, or children, are not returning to Our Lady Star of the Sea in 2021 please  email principal@staroceangrove.catholic.edu.au as soon as you know.

Health Care Card: If you are a holder of a current Health Care Card and have not registered your details with our school office I encourage you to do so. Our funding from the government is calculated depending on the number of families who have a Health Care Card. The more Health Card Holders a school has the more government funding is available to the school.

Camp, Sport and Excursion Fund: Families holding a valid means-tested concession card or temporary foster parents are eligible to apply. A Special Consideration category also exists. We have been advised that eligibility for the CSEF has been extended to Monday 5 October. If you have not lodged an application for 2020 and feel you may be eligible please complete the CSEF Application Form 2020 and return it ot the school office by Monday 5 October. For further information regarding CSEF, including eligibilty click here.   

Annual Review Meetings 2020: At this time of the year all staff take the opportunity to reflect in a formal way on how they have brought our vision to life and on their goals. It is an opportunity to celebrate their achievements over the last 12 months. They have also developed future professional learning goals. I would like to take this opportunity to celebrate all our staff and the amazing work they do for our students. The passion and dedication of each staff member is truly valued.

Outdoor Learning Centre: As you are aware we received a $6000 grant from Libby Coker’s community grants to go towards an outdoor learning space for this year. We have had concept plans drawn up and have received a planning permit. We are now waiting on final drawings and a building permit. Depending on the timing we are at least looking to have the barbecue area completed this year. Along with the grant money we will also be using some PFA money, including Earth Fest money raised in 2019,  and school funds. Some of you may recall this area was going to be built in Rhonda Boyd’s honour as a parting gift from the PFA. This was a dream of Rhonda’s  and a gift from the PFA to the community in Rhonda’s name.

Here are some concept drawings.