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Heavenly Father,
We come before you in reflection and prayer, inspired by the profound words of the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
Lord, grant us the courage and humility to walk alongside our First Nations people, to listen and learn from their wisdom, and to work together towards healing and unity.
We pray for our political leaders, that they may have the wisdom, empathy, and determination to embrace the principles of the Uluru Statement and take the necessary steps to create a more just and equitable society.
Help us, as a nation, to acknowledge and embrace the truths of our history, to seek reconciliation, and to build a future where all Australians are honored, valued, and empowered. May we walk together on a path of healing, understanding, and respect.
We offer this prayer with open hearts and a commitment to justice and reconciliation, trusting in your abundant love and grace.
Amen.
Dear Parents and Carers
As you are aware, we have already had many extracurricular activities happening throughout this term. Last week was Family Week, following on from Mother’s Day which was a lovely celebration at school level. The theme “Circle of Inclusion” was fitting as we endeavour to nurture and embrace all as part of the Our Lady Star of the Sea family. We also participated in our annual athletics day and gathered in house and family groups for an activity on Friday to celebrate families.
Next week is National Reconciliation Week from 27 May to 3 June. The first Monday on or after 27 May is Reconciliation Day. This date was chosen because on 27 May 1967, 90 percent of Australia's population voted in a referendum in favour of amending the national constitution in regard to indigenous peoples. These dates commemorate two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey- the successful 1967 referendum and the High Court Mabo decision respectively. As we know, the statement of the heart and the referendum on the voice is a high priority at present within the media and the community. We, as a catholic community, acknowledge that reconciliation must live in the hearts, minds and actions of us all and we endeavour in our daily lives to create an environment which is strengthened by respectful relationships between ourselves and the wider community: locally, nationally and globally.
A friend shared with me recently Noel Pearson’s Boyer lecture 2022 titled These three stories will make us one: Australians. In his delivery he states ‘Mutual recognition will enable us to acknowledge three stories: the Ancient Indigenous Heritage which is Australia’s foundation, the British Institutions built upon it, and the adorning Gift of Multicultural Migration.’
Our Fire Carriers and development of a Reconciliation Action Plan support the student’s learning and respect of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.We all have a role to play when it comes to reconciliation and in playing our part we collectively build relationships and communities that value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples histories, cultures and futures.
Our school Mural is one such partnership and learning opportunity provided to our students. During assembly Norm Stanley unveiled the mural and our Fire Carrier leaders gratefully acknowledged Norm, Elisha and Kristen from the Geelong Gallery who attended. Many thanks to our magnificent art teacher Rachael Thomas for her planning and organisation. The mural looks incredible and will be installed on the end of the portables in coming weeks.
Another partnership is the opportunity to attend a session or more with the parish unpacking the Uluru Statement of the Heart and what it means to us in our parish and school. See below in the RE section for dates and times. These sessions will be held at school in Purple Hub and you are warmly invited.
With all students, as part of our Reconciliation Week celebrations and, along with the school choir, we will be singing " From Little Things Big Things Grow". This is an action we are undertaking from Reconciliation Australia. The students will be learning the significance of this song and its meaning for First Nations people. We will share this special celebration and the meaning in the next newsletter.
Whole School Sports Day:
Congratulations to all on a successful School Sport day and many thanks to Sam Scott, Jess Mullen and Lisa Grigg for your organisation. The students were amazing.
Junior results
| 1st Place | Malady | 991 |
| 2nd Place | Wathaurong | 988 |
| 3rd Place | Boyd | 959 |
| 4th Place | Mercy | 913 |
Senior Results
| 1st Place | Wathaurong | 119 |
| 2nd Place | Mercy | 112 |
| 3rd Place | Malady | 97 |
| 4th Place | Boyd | 73 |
Overall Results
| 1st Place | Wathaurong | 1107 |
| 2nd Place | Malady | 1088 |
| 3rd Place | Boyd | 1032 |
| 4th Place | Mercy | 1025 |
Mental Health and Wellbeing in Schools: This government funded initiative is going really well with Marnie Hallam leading. New initiatives Our Lady Star of the Sea are embracing include: Tuning Into Kids for parents, Seasons Program for students, Lunch Time activities for students and Little Carers at Our Lady star of the Sea. Please see below for more information on Little Carers. Please click here for our Mental Health and Wellbeing in Schools presentation outlining all things we do at Our Lady Star of the Sea in promoting positive mental health and our new initiatives.
COVID Update: Please look out for a new box of RAT tests in your child's bag as we ask you to test as required due to COVID cases circulating again.
Tuesday 19 December: Our last day of school is Tuesday 19 December. Dismissal will be at 1 pm following the end of year mass.
Wishing you all a peaceful fortnight ahead.
Kerryn
Technology Boundaries
There’s no denying it. Parenting in the digital age can be extremely tough, no matter the age of your child. Technology is part of our everyday lives, and many children today are brought up in an environment surrounded by digital devices such as smartphones and tablets. Although this technology brings with with it huge advantages to our society, there are also massive negative impacts that can greatly affect your child.
Our Families raise concerns such as:
- I worry about how much time they spend online
- It ends in conflict when we ask them to put technology away
- Their mood changes when they are online
- I want to know they are safe
At the school level we have concerns such as:
- Issues that happen online outside school hours take up a lot of time in school hours and impact on relationships or belonging at school as well as having an effect on learning
- Concerns regarding the number of students using apps and games that are not age appropriate and contain high levels of violence and anti-social content at a critical time when young brains are developing
- Students using devices to ‘self sooth’ when anxious means they are not practicing other strategies
Parents and teachers play an important role in helping young children develop positive behaviours regarding technology use. In the video below, Behavioural Specialist, Jason Gibson talks through some areas of our childrens' technology use that are important to put 'fences' (boundaries) around.
Source: Schoolzine (Video will open in a new tab.)
More advice on how you can help keep your child safe online is available at iParent website (from the Office of the eSafety Commissioner).
Paul Anderson
Student Wellbeing Leader
The Young Carer Project
We’re excited to be participating in the Young Carer Project, developed and led by Little Dreamers Australia. To do this, the Project engages key teachers and wellbeing staff, Young Carers and the broader school community, conducting training, workshops and online modules.
In every Australian classroom, two to three students will be providing unpaid care for a family member with a disability, chronic or mental illness, or addiction. The Young Carer Project believes in a school community where Young Carers have equal access to educational opportunities as their peers. Please email Bree Russell (brussell@staroceangrove.catholic.edu.au) or Marnie Hallam (mhallam@staroceangrove.catholic.edu.au) if your child is a young carer and you would like further information.
Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) is developing a Digital Ambition and is seeking input into the ambition from school communities across the Archdiocese of Melbourne.
The MACS Digital Ambition is a statement of how we will enable our MACS 2030 Strategy through a contemporary technology experience for all. Importantly, it will set out how we will provide students, staff, and whole school communities with safe, simple, intuitive, and innovative digital experiences.
To ensure our Digital Ambition is aligned with the needs of our school communities, MACS is inviting and encouraging you to participate in this consultation process by:
- Reviewing the Digital Ambition Draft for Consultation.
- Providing feedback to the targeted questions via a quick online survey. This link will remain open until Friday 26 May. Survey Link
- Attend online ‘drop-in’ sessions where the MACS team will be happy to answer any questions directly. There is a dedicated session for parents and families on Monday 22 May 2023 - 7:00 – 8:00pm. Click here to join the meeting
Outreach Consent Form.pdf to access the link to the consent form.
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:
Did you know you can add your current Working With Children Card to your Services Victoria profile, as a digital card? Log in to your Services Victoria account to add the card.
https://service.vic.gov.au/services/working-with-children-check-digital-token
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.
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
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.