Filter Content
- Prayer
- From the Principal
- Hub News
- Sustainability News
- Sports News - Cross Country Friday 24 March
- Winter Uniform
- School Photo Day Information
- Travelsmart News - Ride to school day
- Canteen Online Ordering
- New Building Update
- Sustainability News
- Kid's Safety Club News
- 2025 Sibling Enrolments, Open Day time and school tours
- Student Health - Gastroenteritis
- Bellarine Community Health Dental Service
- CSEF - CAMP, SPORT AND EXCURSION FUND
- 2021 Catholic Secondary Open Days
- Term 2 Tuesday after school - Kelly Club Autumn Sports Prep - Yr 6
- Community News
Dear Lord
In the fading of the summer sun.
The shortening of days,
Cooling breeze
Swallow's flight
And moonlight rays
We see the creator's hand
In the browning of the leaves once green
Morning mists
Autumn chill
Fruit that falls frost's first kiss
We see the creator's hands
May we take a moment to notice the beauty of the change of season and be grateful to you God, our creator.
Amen
Dear Parents and Carers
Change is an ongoing concept that we all need to manage, at some stage or another. The evolving seasons of nature brings change, and at this time of the year the beauty of the autumn glory, a time to reflect and see all that is beautiful with the changing foliage of the trees, the crushing of the leaves under our feet, more walks on the beach and less swims in the sea. It is important to remember that change can take time to understand and manage and can provide opportunities too.
For education and those who work in schools, there is a never ending demand for change. Recently, as you are aware, we have had a change of governance and we are now governed by the Melbourne Archdiocese of Catholic Schools (MACS). Whilst we are still working through the transition process, some change which will be evident will be the updating of policies and procedures, as MACS ensures a uniform approach to governance across all 290 of the schools in the Melbourne Archdiocese of Melbourne. This is essential for all MACS schools as a condition of our registration with the VRQA. Of course different aspects of these policies will continue to reflect our school and our context. There will also still be our other policies in place that sit outside of the minimum requirements. As we make these changes we will share with you via the newsletter and add relevant policies to our school website. Here is the Pastoral Care Policy and Enrolment Policy.
Say no to bullying: Say yes to respectful relationships: On Friday we celebrated Say no to Bullying, Say yes to respectful relationships. We aspire in all that we do to have our students be respectful and compassionate people who care about others, especially those in need. We support our students to have the important skills and capacity to live in our world and care for our world along with each other. We encourage our students to make it a better place by who they are and what they do, acknowledging God, who loves them. We thank Year 2 BV for a wonderful assembly and the Respectful Relationships team led by Paul Anderson and Marnie Hallam on a wonderful Circle Time for the whole school.
Principal Conference:
Toward the end of Week 7 I attended the Geelong Primary Principal Network. Working together over two days we developed a shared understanding of the MACS Interim Strategic Plan so as to inform the development of our own Geelong Primary Principal Network Strategic Plan 2021 – 2023. The purpose of our Network Strategic Plan is to inform, shape and direct our work and enable us to implement strategic directions that will effect change and ensure continuous improvement. It provides an overarching understanding of the needs of the Network and other key stakeholders into the future and will be used to guide our network meetings and follow up activity.
Our Network creates a vibrant opportunity for us to grow in faith, learn together, invest in developing contemporary strategies to sustain and extend our learning communities and share best practice to drive improved learning outcomes for students and staff across our Network.
As a Network of principals, we are committed to:
- Being present
- Nurturing and sustaining quality relationships
- Professional learning and development.
Our three Strategic Themes are:
1.Leading in Faith: Nurturing our faith and spiritual formation is integral to carrying out our mission as leaders to positively impact the re-evangelisation of our Geelong Catholic School communities
2. Leading the development of self and others: Collaboratively focusing on growth, support and advocacy to enhance the wellbeing of principals
3.Leading improvement, innovation and change: Building our capacity to lead quality evidence-based, sustainable change by learning with and from each other leads to strengthening our own capacity to lead continuous improvement and innovation in Geelong Catholic Schools.
I look forward to sharing our Network progress with you and its impact on our work with your children.
COVID Update:
It is great to see life moving forward with a little more normality. We continue to abide by the government restrictions and procedures and have registered the following Tier 3 events using the COVIDSafe checklist: Cross Country, Prep Morning Tours and Prep 2022 Information Session. The registration of these events are published on our website. We thank you in advance for spectating from a distance if you plan to attend the Cross Country on Thursday and being vigilant with the social distancing. There will be no need to sign in for this event. Moving forward we will continue to register any events including the upcoming school athletics day on Wednesday 26 May. More details to come closer to the day.
Mother's/ Carers Day celebration: After careful consideration, we have decided to have a Mother's night rather than breakfast this year to endeavour to include more mums. This will be Thursday 6 May from 4.30-6 pm. More details to come.
Final Day of Term 2.30 pm finish: A reminder that our final day of term one is on Holy Thursday, Thursday 1 April. The finish time is 2.30 pm. Prior to the end of the day, we will be announcing the winners of the Easter raffle. Many thanks to Alison Van Uijtert and the PFA's organisation. Thank you also to you all, for your support towards the Easter raffle prizes and purchasing of tickets. The children are certainly very excited.
As we draw to the end of what has been a very successful term for our students where authentic, engaging and dynamic learning has occurred, I would like to express sincere gratitude to all in our learning community. Students, parents, carers and all staff. ‘Alone we can achieve so little, together we can achieve so much.’ (Helen Keller)
I would like to wish you all many blessings for the remainder of the term and trust you will share in the upcoming, joyful celebration of Easter.
Kerryn
Our whole school Cross Country will be held on Friday 24 March.
Middle and Senior students will start at 9.10am running a 1km loop around the Shell Road Sports Precinct. They will be involved until 11am.
Junior Students will begin at 9.15am and run laps inside the Shell Rd Oval. They will be involved for approximately 1 hour.
Middle and Senior students will run in age groups. The age groupings are based on the age they turn this year. Students will choose to run the competition distance of 2km (9/10 age group) or 3km (11 and 12/13 age group) or choose the shorter distance of 1km. The competition distance allows students to potentially progress through to the District Schools competition held in March.
Approximate times for each event is as follows:
|
Middle & Senior Students |
Junior Students |
|
|
9.15 |
11 Year Boys |
Yr 2 Boys and then Yr 2 Girls (2 Laps of the oval) |
|
9.25 |
11 Year Girls |
|
|
9.35 |
9/10 Year Boys |
Prep Boys and then Prep Girls ( 1 lap of the oval ) |
|
9.50 |
9/10 Year Girls |
|
|
10.10 |
12/13 Year Boys |
Yr 1 Boys and then Yr 1 Girls (2 Laps of the oval) |
|
10.30 |
12/13 Year Girls |
|
|
10.45 |
Finish |
|
If you are a school registered volunteer and would like to volunteer to support on the day please contact Sam Scott - sscott@staroceangrove.catholic.edu.au
If you haven't already registered as a school volunteer and you would like to be a Parent/Carer Volunteer, log on to Operoo and complete the Engaging Volunteers at Our Lady Star of the Sea School form. You will also need a current WWCC (Working with Childen Check). You can apply for a WWCC at www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au
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.
Unique image codes have been issued to all students on photo day so families can register online to view images when they become available in the webshop.
Registration is simple, just follow the 3 simple steps on your child’s personalised flyer once you receive it and remember to add the codes for all your children attending this school.
Even if you registered last year, it’s important that you do again this year using your child’s 2021 image code to link their images for the current year with your contact details.
When images are ready to view and in the webshop, all parents who have registered will be notified by SMS and email.
Once registered, please wait for notification that 2021 images are online to view before making your purchase.
All canteen orders are now to be ordered through the online platform hosted by School24. Parents must register online before purchasing. Go to OLSOTS_Reg_Guide.pdf to access the Registration Guide.
A few tips:
*All orders will need to be in by 9.00am of the day that you want the lunch order.
*You will only see what items are available to purchase on the day you are ordering for example you will only see pies & sausage rolls on a Wednesday.
*Once you send an item to your cart, options will come up for that item for example if you order a pie the tomato sauce option will pop up.
Payments are made with a credit card. You will not need to send an order with your child. They will receive their lunch to their classroom, as previously.
Kerry Street
Canteen Manager
Click here to see the latest new building update by Nate Wombell Yr 3 MC.
Could parents please remind their children that all bikes ridden to school need to be placed in or near the bike racks provided. The bike racks are now installed in the ground so everyone should be able to reach them. We also ask that no one touches other peoples bikes or moves their gears at recess or lunch time.
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.
Cases of Gastroenteritis have been reported to the school.
Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, fever, abdominal pain, headache and muscle aches, with more severe outcomes in the elderly and very young. Symptoms can take up to three days to develop and usually last between one or two days, sometimes longer.
Washing hands with soap and water is one of the most effective ways of preventing the spread of infection. Alcohol-based hand sanitisers are not effective against many common viruses that cause gastroenteritis.
Infants or children in childcare or school, as well as staff, who develop vomiting or diarrhoea should stay at home until at least 48 hours after their symptoms have stopped, since they will still be infectious.
Oral health therapists will be visiting Our Lady Star of the Sea Primary School on Tuesday 8 June 2021. 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
Click here for information about the service.
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 February.
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.
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
Flood appeals
Recent floods in northern New South Wales, Timor-Leste and Indonesia have caused widespread destruction and devastation in those areas.
Catholic agencies have rallied to support the people affected through flood appeals.
The Diocese of Lismore is running a flood appeal on its website to support communities on the north coast of New South Wales.
Donations can be made to relief funds for Indonesia and Timor-Leste through Caritas Australia’s Asia Emergency Appeal or the Australian Salesian Mission Overseas Aid Fund.
Click below link for further details:
Pink Day Ocean Grove Football & Netball Club
Click below link for further details: