Saint Mary of the Cross (MacKillop) 

Loving and gracious God,

you loved and cared for your servant, Mary.

Help us to follow her example and look for ways that we can help others.

May we be people of action, people of generosity and people of kindness willing to reach out to those who need our care and support.

We ask this prayer in Jesus’ name. 

Amen.

Dear Parents and Carers

We've had a great start to the term, now entering week 5. Last week as a school we celebrated, via a liturgy in hubs,  Mary MacKillop’s feast day on 8 August. Mary MacKillop is Australia’s only Saint and her selfless work and legacy still remains strong today in all catholic communities. Her main message is simple, “where you see a need do something about it” and her vocation to education and ensuring all had an opportunity remains a contemporary message today. Much of her work, with the marginalised resonates still now with the challenges in society.  

Over the past four weeks, respect, nurture, and engagement, all values which Mary Mackillop lived daily,  have been evident in various learning experiences and extracurricular activities. These include a school camp, a Kinect dance incursion for the whole school, the celebration of 100 days of Prep, Prep Prayers in Pyjamas, Indonesian Speaking Competition, Green and Gold Day celebrating the Olympics and raising funds for Opening Doors for our First Nations people and their education, staff professional learning day  “On Country". During this time of the Olympics. The Olympics is as an excellent opportunity to educate our students on celebrating diversity in the classroom and more globally. The stories from the Olympics highlight respect, nurture, and engagement in action. Through Olympic education at school and home, we emphasise that we are all one people, no nation greater than another. Celebrating all victories shows our shared hopes and dreams, with sport uniting us in a unique way. We now look forward to celebrating the paralympics and the incredible achievements and stories which will come from these games.

Many thanks to you all for your generosity as we raised $967 for Opening Doors foundations on our Green and Gold Walkathon Day. Special mention to our Fire Carriers Ambassadors who helped plan the day. Gold medals were given out to Year 2 JR whose class raised the most money.  The Junior class with the Most Laps of  111 laps  was Year 1 CM. Year 3 and 4 most laps was 3 NM with 201 laps and Year 5 and 6 class with the most laps was 211 laps was Year 6 BC.

PFA Trivia Night: With a grateful heart to Tara Piazza and her PFA subcommittee for providing an incredible night for our parent community at the recent Trivia Night. $5,530 raised will go towards a new playground being installed in the passive play area on October 9 this year. Many thanks again for also bringing together the community in such a positive way.

IMPORTANT: Home Learning consultation via a google form:  This term we have two extra opportunities for you to use your voice and provide feedback. In this newsletter, we are seeking feedback via this simple google form which should only take a few minutes. We are consulting, in regards to our current  home learning (homework) expectations at Our Lady Star of the Sea. Our plan is not to do away with any sort of home learning but to review and consult with all stakeholders as to how we move forward. We have already surveyed students and teaching staff for their thoughts. Now we are asking our parent and carers group to fill out this very short Google Form. Please read below what some of the research is saying and what our homework across the school currently looks like. Your voice is very important to us as part of the consulattion period and any possible adjustments moving forward.

Australian research on the effects of homework on primary school children presents a mixed picture, with some studies highlighting potential benefits while others point out drawbacks. Here are some key findings from Australian sources:

Benefits:

• According to a study by John Hattie (University of Melbourne), homework can have a positive effect on student achievement, but the effect is small for primary school students. Hattie states, "The effects are highest, whatever the subject when homework involves rote learning, practice, or rehearsal of subject matter" (Visible Learning, 2009).
• The Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) suggests that homework can help develop good study habits. Dr. Erica Frydenberg from ACER notes, "Homework provides opportunities for students to learn to organise and manage their time" (ACER, 2014).

Potential Damage or Drawbacks:

• Research by Dr. Richard Walker (University of Sydney) found that homework can negatively impact family life. He states, "Homework can be a source of stress and conflict in many families" (Reforming Homework, 2012).

• A study by Dr. Justin Coulson (University of Wollongong) suggests that homework does not significantly improve academic performance for primary school children. He argues, "There is no evidence that homework lifts academic performance for primary school students" (The Conversation, 2016).

• Professor Mike Horsley (Central Queensland University) and Dr. Richard Walker found that homework can increase the achievement gap between high and low socioeconomic status students. They state, "Homework can disadvantage students without access to resources or support at home" (Reforming Homework, 2012).

• A report by the NSW Government's Centre for Education Statistics and Evaluation (2014) concluded, "There is little evidence that homework as currently practiced across the board in Australia is improving student learning."

These diverse findings suggest that the impact of homework on primary school children in Australia is complex and may depend on various factors such as the type of homework, the age of the students, and the home environment. It's important to note that the research generally indicates that any positive effects of homework are more pronounced in secondary school than in primary school. 

Our current Homework Guidelines for staff at Our Lady Star of the Sea:

Homework can be presented via: hand out, electronically or SeeSaw parent alert

Teacher Responsibility:

In Year Prep-2, teachers set homework on a Monday with the expectation that all children will complete the tasks by Friday. Teachers report to parents about homework via the Semester One and Semester Two written report.

In Year 3-6 teachers set homework on a Friday with the expectation that all children will complete the tasks by the following Friday. Teachers report to parents about homework via the Semester One and Semester Two written report.

Thank you for taking the time to fill in this Google Form which should take no longer than 5 minutes.

Indonesian Speaking Competition:On Saturday 27 July, 13 students took part in the state finals of the annual Sayembara Lisan Indonesian speaking competition at Melbourne High School. After the regional round was hosted at OLSOS, these talented students were selected to represent our school and region at a state level. With almost 700 entrants from across Victoria, getting to the finals was a huge feat. A big ‘selamat’ to Jack Harrington (1 MG), Evie Roberts (1 ZS), Imogen Mullen (1 ZS),Isabella Swain (2 BS), Indi Wheeler (2 BS), Mackenzie Hirsch (2 BS), Maya Fairway (3 CL), Mackenzie Worland (3 CL), Sylvie Hardwick (3 NM), Alfie Ward (4 AM), Scarlett Tyers (4 ME), Winni Ward (6 CT),Noah Jennings (6 LG).

Capital Grant application: Unfortunately we were unsuccessful with our application for another state grant. As a School Advisory Council, we have had discussions and will proactively move forward with liaising with MACS on how we can best continue to cater for our students, staff and families in the upgrade of our facilities whilst also revisiting our Masterplan.

Isla Briggs Vic Footy: Congratulations to Isla Briggs who participated and represented Victoria in Geelong last week for the State Football. They successfully had a week of really solid wins and took out the title. We are all so proud of you Isla.

Feed Me Bellarine: We currently have a box in the foyer for any donations of food to support the shortage of food at Feed Me Bellarine. Feel free to donate an item if you wish.

Kathleen Ingles Farewell: 

Finally it is with sadness for us and mixed emotions for Kathleen, that we farewell her on August 23. Kathleen has successfully been appointed to the role of Registrar at St Joseph's College. Lucky St Joseph's! We will miss Kathleen greatly across the whole school community. Kathleen has been a member of staff for 17 years and 5 months and has made countless positive contributions to Our Lady Star of the Sea. She indeed has displayed the values of Respect, Nurture and Engagement in abundance. Both personally and professionally we wish her all the very best in the next chapter as she takes on a new challenge and is in closer proximity to her beautiful young family. We will be sure to celebrate and show our appreciation of the amazing Kathleen over the coming fortnight. 

In replacement of Kathleen we welcome Beth Southall who also comes with a wealth of experience in the office administration role and has great rapport with students, families and staff.

Wishing you all a wonderful fortnight ahead.

Kerryn

Term 3 Week 5 - Red Hub Prep news

Term 3 Week 5 - Green Hub 1 news

Term 3 Week 5 - Blue Hub 2 news

Term 3 Week 5 - Purple Hub 3 news

Term 3 Week 5 - Purple Hub 4 news

Term 3 Week 5 - Yellow Hub 5 news

Term 3 Week 5 - Orange Hub 6 News

Knowing exactly what bullying is and understanding why it happens are critical to finding positive and evidence-informed solutions for everyone involved.

The national definition of bullying for Australian schools  says:

Bullying No Way Week, 12 to 16 August 2024, is Australia’s key bullying prevention initiative and connects schools and communities to find workable solutions to prevent bullying. 

The theme for 2024 is 'Everyone belongs'.

When we all feel like we belong, bullying struggles to find a place. It's about embracing who we are, respecting everyone's differences and standing up together against unkindness.

Belonging means we all have a role in preventing bullying. We're encouraged to speak up and create a safe place where everyone feels supported and respected, and our voices are heard and valued.

Purple is the new hero colour representing Bullying No Way: National week of action and our commitment to standing against bullying.  Students are asked to show their commitment to stand against bullying this Friday by wearing a splash of purple or orange with their school uniform.

At Our Lady Star of the Sea we aim to create a safe and supportive school community for everyone.

You are an important part of our work to prevent bullying and to respond effectively if it happens.  Stopping bullying involves everyone. 

If your child talks to you about bullying: (Tips from bullyingnoway.gov.au)

1. Listen calmly and get the full story. Your calm response is important to allow your child to tell you all about the situation.  After they’ve told you their story, ask questions to get more details if you need: who, what, where, when.  Although you may feel some strong emotions about your child’s experience, try to keep calm to avoid more distress to your child.
2. Reassure your child they are not to blame. Many children blame themselves and this may make them feel even worse. You could say things like, ‘That sounds really hard to deal with. No one should have to put up with that.’ or ‘I’m so glad you told me. You should be able to feel safe at school; that’s not fair at all’.
3. Ask your child what they want to do and what they want you to do. A critical part of your response is to avoid jumping in to solve the problem.  While it is natural to want to protect your child, helping them to find their own solution is a better option.  It helps them feel they have some power in the situation.
4. Visit www.bullyingnoway.gov.au to find some strategies. The website has tips and ideas for different bullying situations. One idea is to practise strategies at home to help your child feel more confident.
5. Contact the school. Your child may be reluctant for you to do this, so discuss the idea and reassure them that the school would want to know and is able to help. Make an appointment to meet with your child’s teacher and, if you need to, ask to talk with the principal. Contact the school immediately if you have a concern about your child’s safety.  
6. Check in regularly with your child.  Keep the conversation going. It can take time to resolve issues, so check in regularly with your child about their experiences and their feelings.  Your ongoing support is important. 

If you are looking for support for yourself to deal with a bullying situation, you will find ideas on the Bullying. No Way! website for parents.  As well, please feel free to contact the school if you would like to discuss any aspect of our approach to preventing bullying.

Thanks for your support to make Our Lady Star of the Sea School a great school for everyone.

Paul Anderson

Student Wellbeing Leader

It is always wonderful to see so many of our students engaging in an active way of travelling to school. This includes walking, riding or scooting to and from school.   However, it is important that parents continue to model and teach their children how to be safe when travelling independently or with small groups to and from school.   We have had several reports of children not using the supervised crossings, especially on Marlin Drive and on John Dory Drive.  Both of these streets are very busy and it has been reported to us that there have been several ‘near misses', where children have come from behind parked cars and cut across the road in front of approaching cars. 

It is important that everybody takes responsibility for ensuring that our students are safe.  

For students, this means they need to be aware of their surroundings and have clear strategies to keep themselves safe.  For example, looking carefully when crossing roads, following laws for pedestrians and riding safely.  It is particularly important that children think for themselves and make their own safe decisions, especially when they are travelling with a group of friends.

For the adults in our community, taking responsibility for ensuring that our students are safe involves:

1. Ensuring that your child/ren are ready for travelling independently in a safe manner
2. Driving safely, aware of the unpredictability of some children who are developing their independence in getting about by themselves.  This includes limiting your speed, especially in the streets close to schools.  
3. Taking the extra time to teach your child to always take the safest way to cross the road, especially using supervised crossings.  

Driving in the neighbouring streets close to school can at times be stressful.  Parents can sometimes be running a little late or desperately looking for a car park close to the gate so they can drop the kids off and get to work. Often in this rush to collect children, parents will put their child or others at risk by double parking in John Dory Drive or by completing an illegal u-turn at the front of the school.  We also see parents take their children straight across the road on John Dory when leaving the school.  

We all play our role in ensuring the safety of our community.  Please take care, slow down, and if you witness anything dangerous, please don’t hesitate in contacting the police.  If you see our students engaging in unsafe travel, please let me know by email on panderson@staroceangrove.catholic.edu.au.  

It should also go without saying, but it is not always the case, please remember that our Crossing Supervisors are working to help keep your children safe.  Please remember to be respectful and courteous to the supervisors, even when it is their job to remind you of rules and regulations that are in place to make school crossing safe.  

It’s that time of year again! Book Week 2024 is just around the corner, from 17 August – Friday 23 August. 

We are looking forward to our school celebrations on Friday 23 August. 

Students will participate in a fun, book-filled day, starting with a whole school parade at 9am. All are welcome.

It is wonderful to see the participation and creativity at all levels of the school on display and DIY is the best! 

This year’s theme is ‘Reading is Magic’. Students may choose to dress to the theme or a favourite book character.

Recycled Uniforms will be for sale at assembly Friday 30 August.

Open: 8.50am

Where: Staffroom 

Cash sales only. 

Students will need to wear their school hat from Monday 2 September.

Please ensure your child’s hat is in good condition and named. Hats are available to purchase from Bellarine Uniforms, Moorabool Street, Geelong.

Bellarine Uniforms

162 Moorabool Street

Ph: 5221 9199

bellarine@noone.com.au 

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 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

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