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Dear Parents,
Thank you to the 94 individuals who responded to our newsletter survey. The results were 81% in favour of a fortnightly newsletter so, in Term 2, we will begin sending the newsletter out fortnightly on odd weeks. We will commence this first week back Term 2.
We also appreciate those who took time to comment and would like to address a couple of points. In streamlining our communication process, I would like to reiterate the newsletter is our first source of communication and should have everything you need to know about the fortnight ahead. Hub news within the newsletter is very important as it has the finer details specific to your child’s hub and the place you should go to, to check. Secondly, if a reminder needs to be sent out or something is missed, which we are hoping will be rare, the whole school group email will be used.
Care Monkey is an effective platform used for permission slips and RSVP’s. Whilst we have all pertinent dates in the newsletter calendar, you are also encouraged to access the Google Parent Community calendar.
The parent Facebook page and Schoolzine App are places parents may look for clarity however the first place to look is newsletter and group email and our preferred way to communicate. SeeSaw is a place for students to showcase their learning to you.
Last week, we saw our Year 3 students receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. A special thank you to Father Darien and Miss Lib and teachers in preparing the students. Congratulations to the following students: Jude DeJong, Molly Armitstead, Ebony Binnion, Angus Carr, Livian Kelso, Jaxon Garrard, Caitlin Maud, Lily Tunks, Ruby Brooks, Ted Cass, Mercedes Collier, Willow Crap, Francesca Cunningham, Albie Reid, Spencer Finch, Romulus Stefankowski, Nash Pascoe, Finn McCormack, Annabelle Hipik, Sibella Lehmann, Xander Hateley, Matilda Dooling, Alana Atkinson, Mason Poirier, Milla Bennett, Allister Hill, Lani Turner, Elisa MacPherson, Patrick McCaffrey, Evie Mulcaire, Lola Brydges, Cale Cook, Sarah Oaten, Hugh Rolfs, Ava Seddon, Eilidh Sheridan, Luke Snowden, Willem Van Uijert, Reed Wardley, Estelle Fanning, Reilly Pope, Georgia Perkins, Matilda Wood, William Wakefield, August Wood, Tully Reynolds, Georgia McDonough, Henry Jankowski, Kayla Harrington, Emma Naus, Kai Russell, Sonni Andrews, Eva Briggs, Adelaide Hammond, Archie Heenan, Ivy King, Teddy McCartney, Ruby McLean, Darcy Moran, Ivy Winchester, Joshua Grant, Vincent Hambleton, Miller Reilly, Cooper Levis, Abbey Walsh, Ava Stonehouse, Skye Partridge, Bailey Butters, Lilli Godfrey, Xavier Godfrey, Cecilia Standen, Matt Standen and Spencer Wood.
Project Compassion continues to be a focus during our Lenten period with the focus of 100% Giving Hope to those less fortunate. Each class has a project compassion box that you still have time to donate to and these funds will go to Caritas. On Friday the Easter raffle will be drawn and a donation will be made towards Caritas. At 2.15 pm Friday the top 10 winners will be announced on the basketball court with the whole school before dismissal.
As a Catholic community we continue our Lenten journey into the holidays with Easter being the final weekend. Easter Mass times are available in the Parish Bulletin which can also be accessed on the Holy Trinity Parish website. As a Catholic school Community we will be celebrating the Easter message of new life and hope on the first day back within hubs.
Congratulations to Liam Dean who will be Principal for the day tomorrow, his deputy will be Jasper Lindsay.
I wish you and your family a restful holiday break with the Peace, Joy and Hope that Easter brings.
Kerryn Sells
How to Keep Your Children Learning During the Holidays
The holidays are a time for rest, relaxation, family time and celebrations.
But learning doesn’t have to stop when school finishes at 2:30pm this Friday. You can help foster a love of learning in your children over the holidays.
Below are some great school holiday activities that get kids engaged, curious and excited about learning…
1. Get messy in the kitchen and bake
Pull out the baking cups and measuring spoons, because cooking is a great way to bring those fraction lessons to life! Most kids love getting messy, so why not bake a cake with them? Let them do the scooping, measuring and mixing and they’ll be applying their mathematical knowledge, as well as learning about the chemistry of baking. Following a recipe is also good practice for them in following instructions. Check out Kidspot Kitchen for oodles of kid-friendly recipes that range from easy peasy to simple as.
2. Play board games and puzzles
Board games like Scrabble, Monopoly, Pictionary or even Snakes and Ladders, are fantastic for exercising little minds. Pull out a boxed game and your kids will be practising their numbers, letters and shape recognition skills, improving their hand-eye coordination, or honing in on their visual perception and colour identification skills.
3. Pull out a deck of cards
4. Make reading part of the Routine.
Regular routines go out the window when school stops. But you can still keep a sense of routine, and important daily rituals, all through the holidays. Reading is one of the best forms of learning for all kids (and that includes reading to them):Younger kids develop language skills, improve literacy, and put their imagination to good use. For older kids, fiction books can further support their writing skills, and through non-fiction they can learn about topics that interest them that they may or may not study in the school environment. Reading can also aid relaxation and reduce stress and anxiety, increase empathy, and promote good sleeping habits.
A recent study found that children who had access to books at home had significantly better reading skills than those who didn’t.
5. Let them be bored.
The holidays can often be a constant battle of finding new and interesting things to keep kids entertained.
But there’s a lot to be said for leaving them to their own devices, and letting them just be.
‘Children need time to themselves – to switch off from the bombardment of the outside world, to daydream, pursue their own thoughts and occupations, and discover personal interests and gifts’, explains Teresa Belton.
Children of the digital age are used to having constant entertainment and instant gratification. So removing these distractions allows some much-needed time for quiet reflection, a wandering mind, and developing creative strategies to keep them entertained.
The best type of boredom can be found in the great outdoors,where they can investigate the natural environment.
It also encouraged imaginative play, which helps kids to express their creativity.
Encourage your older kids and teenagers to go for walks, sit in the park, and experience the world through their own eyes — even for a few minutes a day — instead of through their ipad screen.
So let your kids enjoy the holidays — but show them that learning can be one of the most fun holiday activities, too.
Paul Anderson
Student Wellbeing Leader
ANZAC DAY MARCH
Students are invited to represent our school and join in the Ocean Grove ANZAC Day Parade on Saturday 25 April. Students will meet at the front of Coles, in The Terrace at 9.30 am. The March begins at 9.45 am and the wreath laying is at 10.05 am. Students will be accompanied by Manni Caddy and Lizzie Conquit, however parents are responsible for the supervision of their child/children before and after the March. Students are to wear their winter uniform.
Paul Anderson, Deputy Principal
For the first two weeks of Term 2 children can choose to continue to wear their summer uniform, or, if more appropriate, their winter uniform. By Week 3, students wear their winter uniform.
School hats must be worn in Term 2, until 30 April.
Please ensure that all items of clothing are labelled with your child's name so that if items are lost they can be returned promptly.
If have purchased uniform second hand could you please remove the old name and update it to your family name.
When it comes to using sun protection, temperature isn't a good guide. You can’t see or feel UV but UV is the part of the sun that can damage skin and eyes and lead to skin cancer. SunSmart advises that Victoria’s UV levels start to rise from mid-August. Please remind your child to pack their hat and sunscreen.
Term 4 2020
Friday 16 October: Respectful Relationships "Gratitude Day"
Monday 19 October: Book Week Dress Up Day
Thursday 22 October: Footy colours casual clothes day and Gold Coin donation for Cherished Pets Ocean Grove.
Friday 23 October: AFL Grand Final Public Holiday, school closed
Sunday 25 October: School working bee 10am - 12pm - Purple Hub TBC
Tuesday 3 November: Melbourne Cup Public Holiday, school Closed
Friday 6 November: Mission Fete Day
Monday 9 November: School Photo Day Individual and Class Photos
Tuesday 10 November: School Photo Day Family Portraits
Monday 23 November - Tuesday 24 November: Year 6 Camp Wyuna
Tuesday 24 November: Prep 2021 Parent Information Session 6 - 7pm TBC
Thursday 26 November: Prep 2021 Parent Information Session 6 - 7pm TBC
Friday 27 November: Staff 2021 Planning Day, student free day
Monday 30 November: Year 3 Camp Wyuna
Tuesday 1 December: Year 4 Camp Wyuna
Wednesday 2 December: Year 5 Camp Wyuna
Wednesday 2 December: Prep 2021 Orientation Day 9.30am - 11am TBC
Tuesday 8 December: Prep 2021 Orientation Day 9.30am - 11am TBC
Thursday 17 December: End of Term 4
Please note: Please refer to the Parent Calendar for all dates
Bellarine Community Health Dental Service
Oral health therapists will be visiting Our Lady Star of the Sea Primary School on Monday 27 May. The visiting dental health service provides a screening check to children at Our Lady Star of the Sea, upon request from parents/guardians via the consent form attached. BCH Parent Consent Form
The service is free to students and may incur referral to Bellarine Community Health Dental Service.
If you would like your child to have a FREE dental screening, please return completed consent form to the school office by Friday 26 April.
If you do not wish to participate in the school screening program, you are welcome to contact the Bellarine Community Health Dental Clinic to arrange an appointment for your child. All primary school aged children, are treated free of charge.
If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact Bellarine Community Health dental team on 5258 0828.