Dear God,

This is our school. 

Let it be a place of love and hope as we come to learn and pray surrounded by people who care for us; friends, family, and teachers. 

May our actions make each day brighter for someone whom we talk with, share our time with. 

While experiencing new exciting things may we approach challenges without fear, knowing others are there to guide and support us. 

May all teachers lead by example and in their teaching take their students on a journey of discovery. 

Let us remember our challenge to be like Jesus and his mother Mary and may we make Our Lady Star of the Sea school a place where people feel welcome.

We ask this prayer through Jesus Christ. 

Amen.

Dear Parents and Carers

Welcome back to Term 3. We are delighted to see our students are refreshed and energised for the term ahead. We hope you had a wonderful holiday break with your children.

This term, whilst a shorter term of 9 weeks, is full of many exciting opportunities.

We begin Term 3 with hope and enthusiasm. We look forward to all students  being ready to continue their learning journey focusing on their individual goals in their learning. There is also much to look forward to which the teachers have been  planning for including First Eucharist, engaging learning experiences, more excursions and Year 3-6 camps, a parent session on strengthening against anxiety for children and teenagers. Also thanks to the PFA who will be bringing to us the Bogan Bingo night, Father’s Night and hot dogs in the final week for footy day.

Principal for the Day: Congratulations and thank you to Phoenix Brown for leading the school as Principal for the Day last term. Phoenix enjoyed his morning tea with the staff, inspecting the condidtion of the oval, cooking sausages for his class and visiting some classes to find out students' highlights from Term 2.

Wishing you all a wonderful start to the term.

Paul

At Our Lady Star of the Sea School, the care, safety, and wellbeing of every child and young person is our central and fundamental responsibility. Our deep commitment is rooted in the teaching and mission of Jesus Christ, placing love, justice, and the sanctity of each human person at the heart of the Gospel, as articulated in the CECV Commitment Statement to Child Safety.

Every student enrolled with us has the right to feel safe and be safe. The safety and wellbeing of children in our care will always be our first priority; we do not and will not tolerate child abuse. Our aim is to create a child-safe and child-friendly environment where children are truly free to enjoy their lives to the full, without any concern for their safety.

This profound commitment guides everything we do, from our daily interactions to our comprehensive policies. It is underpinned by the 11 Victorian Child Safe Standards, which are integrated into our operations to ensure the highest level of protection for our students.

Our commitment to our students

• We commit to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people enrolled in our school.
• We commit to providing children and young people with positive and nurturing experiences.
• We commit to listening to children and young people, and empowering them by ensuring that they understand their rights (including to safety, information and participation), and by taking their views seriously and addressing any concerns that they raise with us.
• We commit to taking action to ensure that children and young people are protected from abuse or harm.
• We commit to ensuring that the needs of all children and young people enrolled in our school are met, including those who are most vulnerable.
• We commit to recognising the importance of friendships and to encouraging support from peers, to help children and students feel safe and less isolated.
• We commit to developing a culture that facilitates and provides opportunities for children and student participation, and that strengthens the confidence and engagement of children and students by being responsive to their input.
• We commit to teaching children and young people the necessary skills and knowledge to understand and maintain their personal safety and wellbeing.
• We commit to seeking input and feedback from students regarding the creation of a safe school environment.

Our commitment to parents, guardians and carers

• We commit to communicating honestly and openly with parents, guardians and carers about the wellbeing and safety of their children.
• We commit to engaging with, and listening to, the views of parents, guardians and carers about our child safety and wellbeing practice, policies and procedures.
• We commit to transparency in our decision-making with parents, guardians and carers where it will not compromise the safety of children or young people.
• We commit to open engagement and communication with parents, guardians and carers about our child safe approach and our operations and governance related to child safety and wellbeing.
• We commit to ensuring that relevant information relating to child safety and wellbeing is accessible to parents, guardians and carers.
• We commit to acknowledging the cultural diversity of students and families, and being sensitive to how this may impact on student safety issues.
• We commit to continuously reviewing and improving our systems to protect children from abuse.

Our Responsibilities & The Victorian Child Safe Standards:

"Everyone employed or volunteering at Our Lady Star of the Sea School has a responsibility to understand the important and specific role they play individually and collectively to ensure a child safe culture in which the wellbeing and safety of all students is at the forefront of all they do and every decision they make." (CECV Commitment Statement to Child Safety).

This collective responsibility is guided by the Child Safe Standards, which are embedded throughout our school's operations:

1. Cultivating a Child Safe Culture: Our leadership actively champions child safety, fostering an open and accountable culture where protecting children is everyone's shared responsibility.
2. Child Safety in Policies and Procedures: We have clear, comprehensive child safety policies and procedures that are regularly updated, easily accessible, and understood by all staff, volunteers, and our school community.
3. Codes of Conduct: We maintain rigorous Codes of Conduct that set clear expectations for appropriate behaviour for all staff, volunteers, and school community members when interacting with children.
4. Human Resources Practices: Our recruitment and screening processes are thorough, including police checks, reference verification, and ongoing monitoring, to ensure that only suitable individuals work with our students.
5. Responding to Concerns and Complaints: We have transparent and well-communicated processes for responding to, reporting, and managing any child safety concerns or disclosures, ensuring that swift and appropriate action is always taken.
6. Engaging Families and Communities: We actively involve families and the wider community in our child safety efforts, valuing their input and promoting their partnership in keeping children safe.
7. Complaints and Feedback Mechanisms: We provide accessible, child-friendly, and culturally sensitive avenues for children, families, and staff to raise complaints or offer feedback, ensuring all voices are heard and taken seriously.
8. Staff and Volunteer Training: All staff and relevant volunteers receive regular, comprehensive training on child safety, equipping them to identify risks, respond to disclosures, and understand their reporting obligations.
9. Safe Physical and Online Environments: We maintain safe physical environments within our school grounds and provide education on online safety, ensuring all spaces where children learn, play, and interact are secure.
10. Continuous Improvement and Review: We are committed to ongoing review and evaluation of our child safety policies, procedures, and practices to ensure their effectiveness and identify areas for continuous improvement.
11. Addressing Diverse Needs: We actively promote the cultural safety of Aboriginal children, and ensure a safe environment for children with a disability, and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. We recognise that some children may face additional vulnerabilities and tailor our approach accordingly.

Should you ever have any questions or concerns regarding child safety, please do not hesitate to contact me, Paul Anderson, Student Wellbeing Leader (panderson@staroceangrove.catholic.edu.au), Kerryn Sells (ksells@staroceangrove.catholic.edu.au) or the school office.

Policies to support the Victorian Child Safe Standards and Ministerial Order No. 1359

Our Lady Star of the Sea, assisted by Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) have  the following policies in place.  These policies are published on our School Website. 

• Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy
• Child Safety Code of Conduct
• Engaging Families in Child Safety Policy
• Protect : Identifying and Responding to Abuse - Reporting Obligations

Understanding Anxiety in Children

At some point, every child feels nervous, worried, or unsure—especially when facing new experiences like starting a new school year, trying something unfamiliar, or taking a test. But sometimes, those feelings grow stronger and start to affect everyday life. That’s when we might be talking about anxiety.

What is Anxiety?

Anxiety is a normal and important emotion—it helps keep us safe. It’s like an internal alarm system that warns us of danger. But in some children, that alarm goes off too often, even when there’s no real threat.

Around 1 in 7 children experience anxiety that’s strong enough to impact how they feel, think, and behave?

Anxiety, Stress or Worry—What’s the Difference?

• Worry tends to be specific and short-term (e.g., “What if I forget my lines in the play?”)

• Stress usually comes from a particular situation or pressure (e.g., lots of homework due at once).

• Anxiety sticks around. It’s often a bigger, ongoing feeling that can show up in physical ways (tummy aches, headaches, trouble sleeping) and affect behaviour (avoiding school, becoming withdrawn, or getting upset easily).

How Parents Can Help

If your child is showing signs of anxiety, there are gentle and effective ways you can support them:

• Acknowledge their feelings: Let them know it's okay to feel worried sometimes and that you're there to help.
• Keep routines steady: Predictable daily patterns can create a sense of security.
• Help them name their feelings: Giving a feeling a name—like "worry" or "nervous"—can take away some of its power.
• Teach calm breathing: Try "bubble breathing"—breathe in slowly through the nose, then out like you’re blowing a bubble.
• Model calmness: Children often take cues from how we manage our own stress or worries.

Meet Karen Young – Hey Sigmund

One fantastic resource for parents is Karen Young, a former psychologist and founder of the website Hey Sigmund (www.heysigmund.com). Karen writes with warmth, clarity, and science-backed insight about children’s emotions, especially anxiety.

Why visit Hey Sigmund?
• It explains anxiety in ways that make sense to both children and adults.
• It offers practical, easy-to-use strategies you can try at home.
• It helps you feel less alone and more empowered as a parent.

We encourage you to visit www.heysigmund.com and explore the "Anxiety in Children" section for articles, tips, and free resources.

Parent Information Evening with Karen Young

We have engaged with Karen Young, who will be work with staff during our next Professional Learning Day on August 11th.

Karen will also present to parents at 6:30 - 8pm on Monday August 11th.

Please save this date.  More information regarding this In Person Parent Information Session will be sent out closer to the date.

If you have any concerns about your child’s wellbeing, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your child’s teacher or our school wellbeing team.

Paul Anderson

Student Wellbeing Leader

Term 3 Week 1 - Purple Hub Yr 3 News

Term 3 Week 1 - Yellow Hub Yr 4 News

I am excited to announce that Our Lady Star of the Sea is participating in Jump Rope for Heart this term – a fantastic fundraising and physical activity program by the Heart Foundation.

By participating in Jump Rope for Heart this term, I’m expecting to get our students moving. We’ll have skipping ropes available on the school grounds and are encouraging everyone to help raise funds for lifesaving research and support programs.

Over the coming weeks your child will learn new skills, increase their physical activity, and learn about heart health. And the program will end with our school-wide ‘Jump Off Day’ on September 5th where your child gets to show off their new skipping skills to their friends.

When you register your child online, you’ll get access to additional skipping resources to help give your child a great reason to get away from the screens and get outdoors. Register and create your own secure webpage at www.jumprope.org.au/parents. 

By signing up online, you and your child/ren can:

•    Easily raise funds online.
•   Track skipping skills progress and earn virtual badges along the way.
•   Post updates to your page so family and friends can follow their progress.
•   Access additional skipping resources.

Your child should have a ‘Parent and Guardian Guide’ flyer to take home, which includes further information on the program. If you didn’t receive this, visit www.jumprope.org.au/parents for all the information that you need.

Thank you for getting involved in Jump Rope for Heart!

                                                                   
Sam Scott

Our Lady Star of the Sea have will be moving to a new OOSH care provider in Term 4 2025. The current provider, Kelly Club, have provided excellent care for our students both during terms and over holiday programs and Student Free days. The change to another provider has been instigated by Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools.

MACSEYE (Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools Early Years Education Ltd.) will be our new Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) for our students and families. They will start operating and providing OSHC from Term 4 of this year.

MACSEYE is a newly approved provider, set up by the Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) to offer a range of early childhood and school aged care programs. MACSEYE is an approved registered provider, and sets a high standard of quality in line the National Quality Standards. MACSEYE is committed to seeing every child and family flourish. Their programs are designed to foster a sense of identity, health and well-being.

As a Catholic provider, MACSEYE will have strong links with our school and local parish, working together to build a vibrant community of support for children and families. 

MACSEYE will provide a high-quality service for our students.

The attached flyer gives you an overview of MACSEYE – additional information on fees and how to enrol will be coming soon.

If you have any questions, you can email MACSEYE directly at contact@macseye.vic.edu.au or call 1300 501 029.

Term 3 2025

20th August: Yr 4 rest day 

22nd August: Book week parade

26th August: District Athletics

27th August: First Eucharist Sacrament Information Night 6.00-7.00pm 

29th August: Assembly Yr 2AG

31st August: First Eucharist (session 1 9.00-10.00am) 

1st-3rd September: Yr 6 camp

4th September: Yr 6 rest day

5th September: Assembly Prep JC

7th September: First Eucharist (session 2 9.00-10.00am) 

8th September: School Feast Day

8th-19th September: Prep & Yr 6 swimming lessons 12.30pm 

9th September: Fathers night 4.30pm-6pm

9th September: Division athletics (year level qualifiers)

10th September: Yr 3 rest day

11th- 12th September: Yr 3 camp

12th September: Assembly Yr 1NM

14th September: First Eucharist (session 3 9.00-10.00am) 

15th-17th September: Yr 5 camp

18th September: Yr 5 rest day

19th September: Assembly, Footy colours day, End of term (early finish 2.30pm)

Term 4 2025

6th October: Term 4 begins

10th October: Assembly Prep MR

16th October: Arts Trail 4-7pm

17th October: Assembly Yr 2RP

24th October: Assembly Yr 6EB

31st October: Assembly Yr 3CL

3rd November: Student Free day

4th November: Melbourne Cup Public holiday

7th November: Mission Fete/Mass

14th November: Assembly Yr 2MG

21st November: Assembly Yr 5 BC

24th November: PFA AGM 7.00-8.30pm

28th November: Assembly Yr 4 TBC

2nd December: 9-1.30pm Prep Orientation in small groups

2nd December: School concert 5-7.30pm

3rd December: 9-1.30pm Prep Orientation in small groups

5th December: Student free day 

9th December: Whole school orientation 9-10am, Prep orientation 9.30-11am

12th December: Assembly Yr 6PK Farewell and Thank you

17th December: Assembly Yr 6 Graduation, End of term (early finish 2.30pm)

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