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Child Protection Sunday Prayer (Sunday13 September 2020)
Lord, You asked that little children be allowed to come to you;
for it is such as these that the Reign of God belongs.
You entrust them to the care and protection of our communities
of faith.
Guide us as we strive to ensure that our Catholic
communities provide a safe environment for each child.
We pray especially for all those who have been harmed in their
childhood.
Give them courage in facing the past and lead them
to your healing protection.
Amen.
Dear Parents and Carers
Next Sunday is Child Protection Sunday and today’s prayer asks us to ensure our catholic communities and indeed, all communities are safe and remain safe for our most precious gift, our children. We pray for those individuals and families who have or still continue to suffer.
I trust all the dads, grandfathers and significant others had a wonderful day Sunday in the glorious spring sunshine with your amazing children.
Given Sunday’s announcement by the government, I’m sure you can feel the end of Learning from Home much closer now. As you are aware, all our students are returning to onsite learning on Monday 12 October. As a staff, we are very excited about having all our students back on site in Term 4. We also again cannot thank you enough for your continued support and dedication to supporting your child’s learning at home when, at times, it would have been very challenging. We thank you for working in partnership with us in such a positive, respectful way. As a staff we feel truly blessed.
Wellbeing: It is R U OK Day on Thursday 10 September and to mark this day we ask that we all wear a touch of yellow. On Friday the teachers have prepared a Wellbeing matrix for Year Prep - Year 6 with some fun, engaging activities that are good for everyone’s wellbeing. Look out also for a special staff video.
New student wellbeing resources: As shared via an update yesterday, SchoolTV has generously shared a special report video with the CECV as part of its Coronavirus series.
In this presentation, Riding the Corona Coaster, Dr Michael Carr-Gregg explores how the uncertainty of not knowing what will happen next may impact students, families and staff in school communities. He examines increasing concerns regarding mental health issues such as anxiety, depression and substance abuse among young people, and emphasises the importance of promoting help-seeking behaviour and reducing stress levels at home. Dr Carr-Gregg provides tips for parents/carers on looking after their wellbeing during this challenging time.
Students for 2021: We are currently working through our consultative process regarding classroom structures for 2021. If your child, or children, are not returning to Our Lady Star of the Sea in 2021 please email principal@staroceangrove.catholic.edu.au as soon as you know.
Health Care Card: If you are a holder of a current Health Care Card and have not registered your details with our school office I encourage you to do so. Our funding from the government is calculated depending on the number of families who have a Health Care Card. The more Health Card Holders a school has the more government funding is available to the school.
Camp, Sport and Excursion Fund: Families holding a valid means-tested concession card or temporary foster parents are eligible to apply. A Special Consideration category also exists. We have been advised that eligibility for the CSEF has been extended to Monday 5 October. If you have not lodged an application for 2020 and feel you may be eligible please complete the CSEF Application Form 2020 and return it ot the school office by Monday 5 October. For further information regarding CSEF, including eligibilty click here.
Annual Review Meetings 2020: At this time of the year all staff take the opportunity to reflect in a formal way on how they have brought our vision to life and on their goals. It is an opportunity to celebrate their achievements over the last 12 months. They have also developed future professional learning goals. I would like to take this opportunity to celebrate all our staff and the amazing work they do for our students. The passion and dedication of each staff member is truly valued.
Outdoor Learning Centre: As you are aware we received a $6000 grant from Libby Coker’s community grants to go towards an outdoor learning space for this year. We have had concept plans drawn up and have received a planning permit. We are now waiting on final drawings and a building permit. Depending on the timing we are at least looking to have the barbecue area completed this year. Along with the grant money we will also be using some PFA money, including Earth Fest money raised in 2019, and school funds. Some of you may recall this area was going to be built in Rhonda Boyd’s honour as a parting gift from the PFA. This was a dream of Rhonda’s and a gift from the PFA to the community in Rhonda’s name.
Here are some concept drawings.
Crossing people: A huge thankyou and recognition of our crossing people or lollipop people, who continue to keep our students and families safe. We have been able to acknowledge their work particularly through these challenging times with cards and letters. Here are some cards that were written by our Prep children.
Warm wishes to you all for the final fortnight of this term
Kerryn
R U OK? seeks to create a world where we’re all connected. We’re never too young to look out for one another and meaningfully connect. An important part of the R U OK? message is to emphasise the value of close connections and strong relationships. Being able to meaningfully support someone and strengthening peer-to-peer support skills should begin in the early years of a child’s life through teaching them to look after themselves and their peers.
Children cannot be expected to fix someone’s problems, nor know the best way to help and support. However they can be encouraged to listen to what their friend is saying, let them know they care and tell a teacher, school counsellor or trusted adult if they are worried about their friend. By promoting an environment of positive peer support and accessing support channels via an adult, children can learn that asking, ‘Are you OK?’ is a key life skill.
R U OK? Day is this Thursday, September 10th.
The R U OK? message of the value of close, meaningful relationships is celebrated through our Wellbeing Screen Free Activities planned for this Friday. We hope families enjoy working together on the planned activities. Students are encouraged to wear a touch of yellow to celebrate the day.
If you feel like something’s not quite the same with someone you know – there’s something going on in their life or you notice a change in what they’re saying or doing - trust that gut instinct and take the time to ask them “Are you OK?” If someone says they’re not OK, make time to listen, encourage action and check in. That conversation could change, or even save, their life.
Student Wellbeing Leader
New building update by Nate Wombwell Yr 2
Many thanks to Nate for brining this idea forward and ensuring we can all keep up to date with the building progress.
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
Please ensure that your child is wearing the correct school uniform items, specifically the correct shoes and socks.
Over the next fortnight, depending on the weather, the children are able to wear either their winter or summer uniform however they must wear their school hat.
The Summer Uniform requirements are:
Summer Uniform
- Grey school shorts, short or long sleeved dark green polo with white embroidered school logo and white edge on collar, grey ankle length socks.
OR
- Green and white checked dress with Peter Pan collar, white socks.
OR
- Green school shorts, green long or short sleeve polo with embroidered school logo, white ankle length socks.
- Green windcheater or cardigan with embroidered school logo and white piping.
- School hat with school logo.
- Black traditional school shoes or boots. Black skate or sport shoes are not acceptable with the summer uniform.
- Green or white hair trims.
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
Staff Return: Wednesday 27 January
Term 1 Students return: Thursday 28 January - Thursday 1 April
Easter - Friday 2 April - Monday 5 April
Term 2 Monday 19 April - Friday 25 June
Term 3 Monday 12 July - Friday 17 September
Term 4 Monday 4 October - Thursday 16 December
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
We hope you and your loved ones are well and keeping safe.
Please find attached this week’s bulletin and prayers.
As always, you are warmly welcome to join us online for our live streaming Mass at 11:00am on Sunday: https://holytrinityqueenscliff.org.au/mass-times/live-streamed-masses-videos/ and click on the YouTube Channel button … or you can watch later as you wish.
To clarify, the above link will take you to our website. Click on the YouTube button and you will be taken to our YouTube channel. Please remember to Subscribe to our channel. YouTube is a free service.
With every blessing,
Daniella, Deb, and Fr Darien
2020 Term 4 Regional Parenting Events
MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER ONLINE WEEKEND
If you are spending time together, but feel the distance between you …
THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND A WEEKEND IMPROVING YOUR COMMUNICATION IN THE COMFORT OF YOUR OWN HOME
This VIRTUAL Weekend gives couples the chance to sleep in their own beds and check-in on kids or animals during meal times.
Come and learn how to keep/rekindle the passion in your relationship and how to keep your love growing!
The weekend we offer is based around Catholic values but couples of all faiths are welcome.
Next weekend is on 9-11th October 2020.
Information/Bookings: Phone Mercy & James 0409 183 676 or
Email: vicbookings@wwme.org.au Website: wwme.org.au
Bellarine Catchment Network
Last weekend, we launched our Wetland Wonder Competition to celebrate National Threatened Species Day on Monday the 7th of September. We are inviting all kids aged 6-12 to complete the wetland colour in page (the one that was in the Ramsar wetland module) or create a model of a wetland or wetland species. Models can be made using any materials from cakes, paper, leaves, fabric, clay or even papier-mâché. As many of the Coastcarers have already completed the colouring in, with permission, I can submit this as an entry for you! You can also create a model and submit that before the due date. A main prize will be awarded to the winning entry but smaller prizes will be given to 3 runners up per category. Learn more about it here: http://www.environmentbellarine.org.au/cb_pages/wetland_wonder_competition.php
Prizes include; a Caring For Our Bays poster and bin sticker pack, a shorebird pack from the City of Greater Geelong, a copy of the Estuary Protectors game from the Barwon Estuary Project, family passes into the Marine and Freshwater Discovery Centre and Ramsar wetland Connie’s Cards from the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority (CCMA).
Please let me know if you want to submit the colouring in that your child has already done – all I need is your permission!
Naomi Wells
Communications and Engagement Coordinator
Bellarine Catchment Network
Email: naomi@bcn.org.au | Mob: 0411 161 705
Bellarine Community Health (BCH) Dental are continuing to support your child’s dental health needs during COVID-19 restrictions. Although the Dental Outreach Program is on hold at schools, BCH can still provide the same level of care and service for your child at their Dental Clinic – 2 Nelson Road, Point Lonsdale.
At the moment it is understandable that having a face to face appointment may be concerning for some clients. As a health organisation we are monitoring the situation closely and making decisions on a daily basis, while doing everything reasonably possible to ensure that the working environment is safe for staff, clients, volunteers and anyone else who may come into a BCH building.
During these unprecedented times we understand that tooth brushing and diet can be forgotten about as there are a lot of changes during this time at home.
Dental decay is the most prevalent disease in Australian children and is commonly left unchecked. It can significantly impact development and learning, affecting sleep, ability to eat and social inclusion. Prevention and early dental checks are a proven way to develop good habits for a lifetime of healthy teeth.
We offer FREE Dental Care to children under 13 years. Children aged 13 to 17 may be also be eligible for FREE dental through the Child Dental Benefits Schedule or if they or their parents have a health care card.
The dental team at BCH have also undertaken extensive training to meet the needs of people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other patients. This customised approach to dental care supports all patients to feel comfortable and relaxed during their check-ups or treatments.
BCH Dental provides general and emergency dental care for public and private patients. Private health funds are supported for immediate claim (check with your fund provider). Contact the team on (03) 5258 0828 to schedule an appointment.