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Prayer for National Families Week 2023
Let us pray…
Gracious and loving God, through your son Jesus, you show us how to love one another.
We thank you for our families, for our mums, dads, carers, grandparents, our brothers and sisters. May we appreciate and value each one’s special gifts and unique personalities.
May we respect and appreciate each member and grow together in kindness and love.
May we also pray for our extended family and those who come into our lives and become family.
Where there is love, there is family.
We ask this prayer through Jesus Christ, your Son.
Amen
Dear Parents and Carers
I hope you are enjoying the start to Term 2 with your children. They certainly continue to make us proud in their love of learning and respectful, safe and responsible behaviours.
The recent ANZAC Day assembly conducted by 1 AM with special live music guests Vin Healy and Matteis was a perfect example of this.
We were reminded Anzac Day is about the past and reflecting on the sacrifices made by our service men and women. It is also a time to stop and think about the present and the future. Today we share a wonderful country. Today we share wonderful freedom. And although it is not perfect, we share a wonderful world. We invited students, as they go about their day, to stop and think about how they can make a better world for themselves, their friends, their classmates and family. Peace starts with us. Peace starts with the choices we make. ANZAC day is about peace and hope and, in remembering, being truly thankful.
Confirmation: The following Year 6 children will be celebrating the Sacrament of Confirmation this coming Saturday 13 May. The sacrament of confirmation builds on the sacraments of baptism, Reconciliation, and Holy Communion, completing the process of initiation into the Catholic community. We congratulate and pray for the following candidates as they receive the Holy Spirit and further commit to using these gifts in service to others, ensuring they contribute to making the world a better place throughout their daily lives.
Allegra Aquilina, Harry Banks, Jabez Bellingham, Eve Bennett, Billy Bianco, Finn Briggs, Harry Bright, Kai Buhagiar, Braxton Burgoyne, Lila Butcher, Zara Cardona, Lillia Casamento, Oliver Chapman, Zoe Clarke, Leonard Cole, Harrison Creak, Lachlan Cunningham, Matilda Dalton, Chloe Davies, Kiara Dean, Harrison Delrayne, April Dowling, Lewis Due, Jackson Ellis, Sebastian Flanders, Matteo Fragapane, Owen Gallagher, Zayne Garner, Stella Graham, Max Grantham, Blake Hachem, Arthur Hardwick, Matilda Kerr, Isabella Kiddle, Harrison Lawry, Daniella Leonidou, Reese Liston, Flynn Madden, Harvey Martinelli, James McIntyre, Ned McNamara, Ella Mitchell, Isabella Montgomery, Angus Montgomery, Audrey Morgan, Jessica Neicho, Annabelle O'Neill, Oliver Parton, Maddison Pitfield, Tobie Prout, Rory Quinn, Abigail Reddan, Audrey Reid, Sapphire Renkauskas, Jackson Riddle, Ruby Ritchie, Ellie Rundle, Heidi Salisbury, Holly Sargeant, Chase Scott, Flynn Simons, Hunter Simons, Kashmir Singh, Giuseppe Sottile, Lilian Spolding, Arie Strode, Eden Theobald, Jasmine Turner, Oliver Warren, Olive Wearmouth, David Wilkens, Patrick Wolfe, Mackenzie Wurfel, Zachary Zarro.
FIRE Carriers (Friend’s Igniting Reconciliation through Education)
On Friday, we officially became a FIRE Carriers school! This stands for Friends Igniting Reconciliation through Education. The ceremony was very similar to the Laying on of Hands which the Year 6s are preparing for with Confirmation. It was a moving ceremony at the Aboriginal Catholic Ministry centre in Thornbury. Ruby, Arthur and Bas spoke with passion and contributed many great ideas that we will aim to implement into our everyday practices to support reconciliation in our community. They now have the leadership to perform this ceremony with other students at school who wish to become FIRE Carriers and is something we will do at an assembly, to share with the whole school. We are excited about the journey ahead and our role in growing relationships and understandings with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Many thanks to Ms Mariane and Ms Emily for further supporting this initiative.
Here is a reflection from Ruby Ritchie.
I am Aboriginal and love the culture of the Aboriginal people so I became a FIRE Carrier. Before I go on I should explain what FIRE stands for, Friends Igniting Reconciliation through Education. I am so connected to the community and the land and that’s why I love being a FIRE Carrier. You learn as much as others learning with you, I'm so proud of being a Fire Carrier. At Star of the Sea the recognition of my heritage was so amazing, we have lessons to learn and take care of the legacy of the Aboriginal people.
Family Week May 15-19 “Circle of Inclusion.”
Next week we celebrate National Families Week. National Families Week 2023 celebrates families in all their diversity and promotes the capacities and resilience of families in creating strong, safe and connected communities. Family Week is a perfect time to come together to celebrate the power of family relationships in all their diversities, and the importance they play in our lives and community. This year's theme is 'Circle of Inclusion' We reflect on the strengths and significance of families, make contact with extended family and friends, and share in the enjoyment of family activities within the wider community. It is a time to celebrate the meaning of family and to make the most of family life – no matter what form your family takes.
Tonight we celebrate our mums, grandmothers or carers. You are welcome to come in any time between 4.30pm - 6pm and enjoy a sausage, have your photo taken and look at your children’s learning and classroom space. On Friday, we will also acknowledge our mums, grandmothers or carers during assembly at 9 am.
On Friday 19 May, we will further celebrate National Families Week by coming together in House Colours (Family Groups) before recess and taking part in a range of family activities and games. There will also be a focus on Family Week through prayer and suggestions for home learning next week is included in the Hub News.
First Nations People Education and Uluru Statement from the Heart link here: The Faith and Spirituality group in our parish is organising some Winter reflection meetings on 25th of June, 2nd of July and 9th of July, incorporating Naidoc Week. Their proposed timing 2.30pm - 4.00pm on each of the Sundays being held at Our Lady Star of the Sea. We were fortunate to meet with the group and share what we are doing as a learning community with Reconciliation. They were deeply impressed by our school’s commitment through our indigenous elements in the curriculum and the resources deployed in our Reconciliation Action Plan. We look forward to further forming a link between Parish and School in this area.
Retreat Invitation- Inner Peace in Divine Love – the First Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius of Loyola. :
Fr. Javier Diaz SJ together with Anne Thomas will guide this retreat 'in daily life' – also called a retreat for busy people. Interested adults are invited to participate. There is no cost involved in making this retreat.
The booklet and application forms are on the Holy Trinity Parish website and below in the Religious Education section.
Click here to view a short 1 minute video put together by Michael Todd, Religious Education Leader at St Ignatius College, with Fr Javier extending the invitation.
Wishing you all a spirit filled fortnight ahead.
Kerryn
Help Seeking
We often hear students refer to others as a ‘snitch” or a ‘dobber’ in times when children seek help from an adult when things are going wrong, when they are harmed or even when they are made to feel unsafe. This pressure not to tell has been embedded for several generations and I’m sure was the case for most of us growing up. Did you know that the act of asking for help or support can act as a protective factor for children’s mental health and wellbeing?
Help-seeking is a positive coping strategy.
Help-seeking could mean asking for assistance with day-to-day events such as learning experiences, and relationships (e.g. negotiating with peers on a task, managing anxious feelings or relationship breakups).
Seeking help is important because it can foster children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing.
There are a range of influences and experiences – both positive and negative – that impact on an individual’s mental health. These influences and experiences are known as risk and protective factors.
Being able to ask for help can act as a protective factor because help-seeking can lead to accessing resources that support mental health and wellbeing.
When children and young people view help-seeking positively, it builds a sense of agency and confidence that they can influence their world and receive help if needed.
Children and young people who have a positive experience of help-seeking are empowered to access available supports in future.
Getting help when needed may buffer the impact of risk factors that challenge a person’s mental health and wellbeing.
Recognising and describing emotions
Supporting children to recognise and describe their emotions builds help-seeking confidence. Instilling positive beliefs and attitudes about accepting support empowers children to recognise when help is required and seek assistance when needed.
At Our Lady Star of the Sea we aim to develop help-seeking behaviours by:
- Creating an environment where help-seeking is encouraged and valued.
- Supporting children’s social and emotional learning, and to help them understand and name their emotions.
- Providing positive role models and demonstrating help-seeking. For example say out loud, “I’m not sure how to solve this problem – I’m going to ask for help”.
- Provide encouragement and positive feedback for help-seeking. For example, “It looked as though you felt upset. I’m really glad you came to talk to me about it”.
- Having systems that enable children and families to ask for help (such as a key person they know they can talk to, if needed). This may involve emailing the class teacher, contacting the Principal or Student Wellbeing Leader. Students are also encouraged to use our Student Safety Form (requires student login). This is mainly used by students in Years 3-6.
If you have any questions regarding Help Seeking or other Student Wellbeing matters, please feel free to contact me.
Paul Anderson
Student Wellbeing Leader
Report a student absence using the Parent Access Module (PAM).
Access the PAM login page by clicking on the following link: http://pam.staroceangrove.catholic.edu.au. Your username is the email address you have provided to school.
Click on Parent Notified Absences button
Click on + Add Future Absence
Add Absence details, enter the following information: student, reason, absence period, absence date, notes if required.
For new families please sign up to PAM (Parent Access Module) 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.
National Walk Safely to School Day
On Friday 19th May we are participating in National Walk Safely to School Day.
National Walk Safely to School Day is a community initiative that aims to raise awareness of the health, road safety, transport and environmental benefits that regular walking (especially to and from school) can provide for the long term well-being of our children. Apart from the physical benefits, regular walking also has a favourable impact on our cognitive and academic performance.
We encourage you to walk, ride or scoot to school on the day to help create a healthy lifestyle for all.
The travel smart leaders will be coming around on the day to conduct a survey to work out who was able to walk, ride or scoot to school and will have stickers for our active travellers.
Athletics Day will take place on Thursday 18 May 2023 at Landy Field, corner of Barwon Terrace and Swanston Street, South Geelong. The students will leave school at 9am and return to school at approximately 3.00pm.
Time Table for the day:
8.30-8.45am - students assemble with belongings in class groups- Juniors on front basketball court & Middles/Seniors on back basketball court.
9.00 am - buses begin to depart school for Landy Field.
Juniors (Prep-2) Timetable
Tabloid sports (10 minute rotations) 9.45am - 12pm
| 9.45am - 9.53am | Event 1 |
| 9.55am - 10.03am | Event 2 |
| 10.05am - 10.13am | Event 3 |
| 10.15am - 10.23am | Event 4 |
| 10.25am - 10.33am | Event 5 |
| 10.35am - 11am | Snack |
| 11am - 11.08am | Event 6 |
| 11.10am - 11.18am | Event 7 |
| 11.20am - 11.28am | Event 8 |
| 11.30am - 11.38am | Event 9 |
| 11.40am - 11.48am | Event 10 |
| 11.50am - 11.58am | Event 11 |
| 12pm - 12.25pm | Lunch |
| 12.25pm - 1.40pm | Junior Sprints/Junior Relays (Back straight) |
| 1.45pm | House Cheering centred grass area. |
| 1.50pm | Teacher/Parent sprint / Toddler 20 metre dash |
| 2pm | Presentation winner/ trophies presented |
| 2.15pm | Buses leave to return to school |
Seniors (Year 3-6) Children will take their bags with them to events
Field Events (20 min rotations) 9.45am -12.25pm
| 9.45am - 10.05am | Event 1 |
| 10.05am - 10.25am | Event 2 |
| 10.25am - 10.45am | Event 3 |
| 10.45am - 11.05am | Event 4 |
| 11.05am - 11.25am | Event 5 |
| 11.25am - 11.45am | Event 6 |
| 11.45am - 12.05pm | Event 7 |
| 12.05pm - 12.25pm | Event 8 |
| 12.30pm - 12.45pm | Lunch (Years 3-6) |
| 12.45pm - 1.40pm | Senior Sprints- 9/10 years, 11 years, 12/13 years |
| 1.45pm | House cheering centred grass area |
| 1.50pm | Teacher/ |
| 2pm | Presentation winner/ trophies presented |
| 2.15pm | Buses leave to return to school |
Children are to wear their school sports uniform, which must include a school hat. Each child will also be required to pack their snack, lunch & water bottles. Depending on the weather, it may be advisable for students to bring a coat. Please attach a small safety pin to their sports top for ribbons.
Athletics day requires large volunteer numbers in order to run the events smoothly and within the time constraints of the day. Volunteers who are registered with the school are asked to nominate which area they would prefer to assist in - Junior or Middle/Seniors, along with a time estimate for when you are available on the day. Volunteers wishing to help with the Juniors will assist directly with modified athletic events their child is involved with on the day. They can meet their child's teacher in the infield. Parent volunteers of middle/senior students will be given a specific job on the day and emailed directly by Sam Scott.
Parents are encouraged to take their child/ren home from Landy Field at the conclusion of the day. This will assist in the coordination of buses that are returning to school. If you plan to take your child/ren home from Landy Field at the conclusion of the day, please email your child's classroom teacher so we can confirm numbers with the bus company. Any parents wishing to take children home from Landy Field, will need to sign them out with their classroom teacher at Landy Field on the day.
Any queries can be directed to Sam Scott sscott@staroceangrove.
Sam Scott
Sport Coordinator
Retreat Invitation- Inner Peace in Divine Love – the First Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius of Loyola.
Fr. Javier Diaz SJ together with Anne Thomas will guide this retreat 'in daily life' – also called a retreat for busy people. Interested adults are invited to participate.There is no cost involved in making this retreat.
The booklet and application forms are on the Holy Trinity Parish website.
Please visit below for all information:
Parent/Carers and Staff of OLSOS,
SZapp Version 4.0.0
There is a new version of SZapp available for Android and IOS Devices. Please ensure that you have updated to this version to assure you receive communications from the school.
If you are using an Android Device, you will need to uninstall the old app and install the new version.
IOS Devices (iPhones) will be able to update without requiring a re-install.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, but we are confident that the improvements in the new version will make it worth it.
An online guide on how to install and register/login to SZapp is available on the Schoolzine Website here:
Click here to view the Installation Instructions
If you experience any difficulties with completing this process, please reach out to Schoolzine using support@schoolzine.com. To assist with your query, they ask that you provide a description of the issue you are facing, the email address you are using when facing this issue and a screenshot of the issue.
Term 4 2024
Thursday 21 November: Yr 5 Parish Mass/Year 1 MOPA Excursion
Friday 22 November: Yr 5BC assembly
Thursday 28 November: Yr 3 Parish Mass
Friday 29 November: Staff Professional Learning Day - Student Free Day
Staff Planning Day for 2025
Tuesday 3 December: School Concert 5:30pm-7:30pm
Wednesday 4 December: Prep orientation
Thursday 5 December: Prep orientation
Tuesday 10 December: Whole school orientation/Prep orientation
Wednesday 11 December: Future leaders days 2025
Friday 6 December: Diversity Day 2pm assembly
Tuesday 10 December: Whole school orientation day 9.15am - 11am
Wednesday 12 December: Yr 6 end of year excursion
Friday 13 December: Yr 6EB assembly/End of year Mass
Monday 16 December: Whole school Beach Day (students are welcome to bring plastic shovels and buckets. Ensure they remember to bring sunscreen and hats).
Wednesday 18 December: Yr 6 Graduation Assembly/Last day of school Students finish at 1pm
Term1 2025
Tuesday 28 January: Staff return
Wednesday 29 January: Staff professional Learning day
Thursday 30 January: Students return
Please note: Please refer to the Parent Calendar for all dates