HOLY TRINITY PARISH PRAYER

Heavenly Father, Holy Trinity Parish is your family committed to praying and growing together as we build on the gifts of our past, the living of our present and our hopes for the future.

Lord Jesus, we are nourished by prayer, the word and sacraments especially the Eucharist. We recognise and trust in each other’s spiritual gifts.  We will strive to be a visible sign of God’s love for the world.

Holy Spirit, baptized in your name, we accept the challenge to live as Jesus did.  We will celebrate our lives and gifts in service to others, welcoming all people and sharing our talents and resources. As a parish we will endeavour to make present the Kingdom of God, here and now. 

AMEN

 Dear Parents,

We had a wonderful celebration yesterday connecting our Parish and school with the welcoming of new families, Prep children and the commissioning of staff, School Education Board and Parents and Friends. We were fortunate to have Luci Quinn, the Principal of Clonard College, address us on the world day of Social Justice and the launching of Project Compassion. She reminded us that a little over 2000 years ago Jesus was the "God of Now". He showed God to others through his actions with poor, the sick , his enemies and the unloved. She went on to talk about Catherine McAuley, who 200 years ago was the "God of Now" for the poor, the hungry and the sick in Ireland. She finished by reminding us , that just like Jesus and Catherine, we are the "God of Now". It is through our actions now that we bring God to ourselves and others in the present. Social Justice is not only "for us" but "by us". Her message was clear. "We are the now" of keeping Jesus' Gospel alive in all we do with our heads, hearts and hands in reaching out to all people in need.

LENT: This week sees us enter the Lenten season with Shrove Tuesday today and Ash Wednesday tomorrow. Lent is the season in which we prepare for the mystery of Easter. It is a special time of forty days in which we joyfully embrace a conversion of heart.  During this Lenten period, we are asked to take time to pray, to fast and to give and do for others. Lent is also an opportunity, in time, to develop our own character strengths and acknowledge our Catholic values. Firstly, we must identify our strengths, and secondly, we must be given an opportunity to develop other character strengths, or Catholic values, that may not necessarily be on top of our list. Throughout any given day, we can pray for others and give and do for others so everyone gets what they need, whether it be basic life needs like food and water or basic needs of love, acceptance, respect, honesty, forgiveness, love, tolerance or justice. If you are interested to further reflect on and consider what Lent means for Catholics, I recommend this link to you. LENT

Success of our Bushfire Action: Coming together in faith, hope and love was evident through our recent action with our bushfire appeal. Thank you for all your support with the wonderful and creative ideas the children were dressed as in people who help in the community. There were a variety of costumes. Thankyou also for your generous donations with $1680.70 raised. $500 will go to the wildlife in Mallacoota  and the rest to St Brendan’s in Lakes Entrance to buy vouchers for the students to attend the local cinema and mini golf.

ECSI Survey:  Our school is participating in the 2020 Enhancing Catholic School Identity Survey (ECSI) during the period 17 February- 27 March. Our school is expected to participate in this survey in the year before our school review process, being 2021. The data generated from the ECSI survey will assist us in better understanding how our Catholic Identity is expressed in work and practice here at Our Lady Star of the Sea school. The Catholic University in Leuven, was commissioned by the Catholic Education Commission of Victoria Ltd (CECV) to design a process and tools, based on sound research, to accomplish the goal of understanding our current Catholic identity and where the school community might like to see it in the future.

The online survey gathers responses from students in Years 5 and 6, all staff, and parents. You are asked to complete the survey online. It may take you up to an hour to do so. Some questions may seem challenging so please try not to get caught up in the wording, simply respond intuitively. The survey is only available through the project website. Keeping a record of your individual User Code and Password will allow you to complete the survey over two or more sessions.When you complete the survey you will receive a certificate of participation. Please send that certificate through and we will add your name to the raffle for a family movie voucher.

Your responses to this survey are anonymous. If you have any questions, please contact me through the school office. I thank you for your consideration of this request and for your anticipated participation.

Click here for the letter with details of how to complete. Click here  for instructions for Survey Completion for Parents.

Working Bees

Many. many thanks  to the following families who attended the Working Bee: Jarrod Knights, Zara Knights, Steve Walsh, Tenealle Walsh, Tyson Walsh, Beau Walsh,Carly Norquay, Luke Due, Sam Due, Lewis Due, Natalie Skahill, Rory Quinn, Dan Dickinson, Milly Dickinson, Freddy Dickinson, George Dickinson, Gerard Donovan, Isabella Donovan, Nate Donovan, Alannah Mills, Adele Mills, Brent Dean, Xavier Dean, Liam Dean, Archie Dean, Ricky Mullen, Oliver Mullen, Michael Dunn, Mitchell Dunn, Tammy Arandez, Mark Monahan, Xavier Monahan, Jenny Turner, Jasmine Turner, Lani Turner, India Turner, Sam Ellis, Olivia Ellis, Jackson Ellis, Alex Mifsud, David Mifsud, Ella Mifsud, Bethany Mifsud, Shane Madden, Flynn Madden, Connie Smith, Evie Smith, Farley Smith, James Dalton, Chantelle Dalton, Matilda Dalton, Elsie Dalton, Edward Dalton, Leah Cole, Isaac Gerrings, Jemma Geerings, Ashlee Giuffrida, Jordan Wiltshire, Erin Reid, Nigal Reid, Fletcher Reid, Nicole Wood, Matt Wood, Spencer Wood, August Wood, Harris Wood, Alison Van Uijtert, Jonah Van Uijtert , Willem Van Uijtert, Rachel Flanders, Andrew Flanders, Isabella Flanders, Sebastian Flanders, Rupert Flanders, Anthony Dowling, Letitia Dowling, Ella Dowling, April Dowling, Grant Burgoyne,  Lauren Burgoyne,  Braxton Burgoyne, Jamison Burgoyne, Mark McLean, Grace McLean, Ruby McLean, Mark Hardwick, Amy Hardwick, Arthur Hardwick,  Polly Hardwick, Sylvie Hardwick, Paul Anderson, Michelle Richards, Claire Toomey, Kellie Struth, Charlie Prout, Tobie Prout, Ruby Prout,  Chris Dickeson, Eli Dickeson, Eleanor Bishop, Louis Hambleton, Vincent Hambleton, Jo Mansell, Harvey Mansell, Jethro Mansell, Brooke Kerr, Isla Kerr, Carly O’Neill, Andrea Bernazzoli, Raimend Bernazzoli, Evelyn Bernazzoli, marnie Flynn, Dougie Flynn, Adrienne Currie, Jesse Currie, Allegra Currie, Kylie Morgan, Matilda Morgan, Xavier Cadorel, Fiona Cadorel, Ella Cadorel, Nina Cadorel, Melissa Kissane, Bailey Kissane, Briony Darcy, Leon Eyck, Natalia Eyck, Riley Eyck, Nicole Maier and Georgia Maier. We enjoyed a sausage and drink at the end and did some great preparation for when our sheds will be dismantled in the coming weeks.

An integral aspect of school life at Our Lady Star of the Sea is forging partnerships with parents. One aspect of this, which is critical to the care of the school grounds, is the commitment from parents to join in with the organised working bees and mowing roster. Thank you to the parents and teachers who made the effort to attend our beginning of the year working bee and our recent one on Sunday. We have found both to be well attended. The following dates (Sunday 24 May, Sunday 9 August and Sunday 25 October) are the proposed working bee dates for the remainder of this year and I strongly urge you to pencil into your calendar at least one of these dates if you haven’t attended already. It is a great oportunity with your children to model the importance of volunteering to support the community you belong to and also make more positive connections within the community. Mark Monahan, a school Board Member coordinates the working bees and with support from other parents the mowing roster . He  appreciates all support given.  If you are able to support in anyway and wish to contact Mark please do so through his email account: markmonahan1234@gmail.com

Earth Fest: A reminder earth Fest is coming up on Friday 20 March. Here is the link to the volunteer roster and please refer to the information in hub news.

Uniform Policy  Parents are well supported with uniform supply through Bellarine Uniforms, the school recycling uniform shop and the Parent Facebook recycling uniform page. Thankyou for your support in ensuring all students are in their correct uniform. A gentle reminder all socks need to be plain with no labels.

Berry Street: 

Road Safety

Our Lady Star of the Sea School is committed to providing a safe community for all our members. To assist your child to develop road safety skills and be safe, we once again remind you to use the supervised crossing on John Dory Drive.

Children need to develop vital road crossing skills for when they become mature pedestrians. For these skills to develop, children need experience crossing roads with parents and carers.  Research suggests that it is important for children to hold an adult’s hand when crossing the road up to the age of 10 years.

Also, children need to learn to make use of supervised crossings.  When parents use a supervised crossing with their children, they model the safest way of crossing a road, increasing the chance that their children will also look for the safest option as a  mature pedestrian. Parents who do not use the supervised crossing at the front of our school and cross the road with their children from behind the bus are placing themselves and their children a great risk of being hit by a vehicle. They also miss the opportunity to help their children develop vital road crossing skills. 

Our Lady Star of the Sea School is committed to providing a safe community for all our members. To assist your child to develop road safety skills and be safe, we once again remind you to use the supervised crossing on John Dory Drive.

Children need to develop vital road crossing skills for when they become mature pedestrians. For these skills to develop, children need experience crossing roads with parents and carers.  Research suggests that it is important for children to hold an adult’s hand when crossing the road up to the age of 10 years.

Also, children need to learn to make use of supervised crossings.  When parents use a supervised crossing with their children, they modelthe safest way of crossing a road, increasing the chance that their children willalso look for the safest option as a  mature pedestrian. Parents who do not use the supervisedcrossing at the front of our school and cross the road with their children from behind the bus are placing themselves and their children a great risk of being hit by a vehicle. They also miss the opportunity to help their children develop vital road crossing skills.  

Term 1 Week 5 - Green Hub News

Term 1 Week 5 - Red Hub News

Term 1 Week 5 - Blue Hub News

Term 1 Week 5 - Purple Hub News

Term 1 Week 5 - Yellow Hub News

The Kid’s Safety Club met this week and we are responsible for helping to identify and fix anything that might be dangerous in the school or our play spaces. We help check our play equipment and make sure that everything is working and safe. If we find anything that is not working we let our teachers know and they organise for it to be fixed or replaced. We also promote safety in our school and we participate in a number of safety days including Bike Safety, Walking safely to school, promoting Sun Safety and Cybersafety. 

The Travelsmart Group met this week and it is our responsibility to try and promote healthy travel to school. We conduct surveys fortnightly to determine how many students from each class are travelling to school walking, riding or scooting. The class with the most students travelling actively wins the Golden Sneaker Award. We also organise Walktober with the same goals in mind where we compete against other schools. During the year, we will also be a part of Walk to School day and Ride to School day. Let's have a great year and get active! 

Each fortnight we award the Golden Sneaker to the class who has the most active travellers. This week the winner was 4CO. 

If you have a child due to start school in 2025 we ask that Applications for Enrolment are lodged before the end of Term 1. As applications are received by the school, you will be contacted to make a time for you and your Prep 2025 child to meet with Kerryn. To access forms and further information click here.

Open Time and School Tours

The school will be open for student led tours on Tuesday 26 March between 9.15am and 10.30am. Parents and children welcome. No bookings are required. 

Information Session for Parents

Parents are invited to an information session on Tuesday 26 March at 6.30pm – 7.30pm. 

The Pick Up zone allows for 2 minute parking between 8-9am and 3-4pm. This means in this area, you must not park there continuously for longer than the period allowed. You can also not move more than 3 metres from your vehicle. If you stay longer or leave your vehicle you can be issued with a penalty.
 
City of Greater Geelong have advised the school that they have received reports of vehicles parked for longer than 2 minutes in this zone. By-laws officers will be patrolling the local area to ensure parking rules are being followed.
 

INFORMATION FOR PARENTS

Every Victorian child should have access to the world of learning opportunities that exist beyond the classroom. The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) helps ensure that no student will miss out on the opportunity to join their classmates for important, educational and fun activities. It is part of making Victoria the Education State and the Government’s commitment to breaking the link between a student’s background and their outcomes.

School camps provide children with inspiring experiences in the great outdoors. Excursions encourage a deeper understanding of how the world works while sports teach teamwork, discipline and leadership.  All are a part of a healthy curriculum.

CSEF is provided by the Victorian Government to assist eligible families to cover the costs of school trips, camps and sporting activities.

If you hold a valid means-tested concession card or are a temporary foster parent, you may be eligible for CSEF. A special consideration category also exists for asylum seeker and refugee families. The allowance is paid to the school to use towards expenses relating to camps, excursions or sporting activities for the benefit of your child.

 The annual CSEF amount per student is:

• $150 for primary school students

HOW TO APPLY

New applicants should Click here for CSEF Application Form  or contact the school office to obtain a CSEF application form. 

If you applied for CSEF  last year, you do not need to complete an application form this year unless there has been a change in your family circumstances. 

You only need to complete an application form if any of the following changes have occurred:

• new student enrolments; your child has started or changed schools this year.
• changed family circumstances; such as a change of custody, change of name, concession card number, or new siblings commencing this year.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information about CSEF visit:
https://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/programs/Pages/csef.aspx

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

Term 1 Kelly Sports - After School Sports Program Prep - Year 4

Chess for Schools Program - Friday Lunchtimes

Term 1 Code Camp - After School Sports Program Year 2 - Year 6

Seminar: Parenting children who worry too much

Ocean Grove Cobras Junior Football 2020 Gala Day Flyer

Please visit the Ocean Grove Cobras Facebook page for the link to registration, summary of training schedules and all the latest Cobra News regarding Season 2020.

MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER WEEKEND

Invest in your most precious asset......Your Marriage!

Married couples, come and learn how to keep/rekindle the passion in your relationship and how to keep your love growing!

The weekend is based around Catholic values but couples of all faiths are welcome.

Next weekend is on   17–19 April 2020 in Melbourne

Other weekends on 17-19 July and 13-15 November 2020

 Starts 7pm on Friday. Ends 5pm Sunday. Accommodation and all meals provided.

Information/Bookings: Phone Mercy & James 0409 183 676 or

Email: vicbookings@wwme.org.au  Website: wwme.org.au