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- CSEF - CAMP, SPORT AND EXCURSION FUND
- Walk Safely to School Day
- Student Health - Gastroenteritis
- New Building Update
- Canteen Online Ordering
- Term 2 Tuesday after school - Kelly Club Autumn Sports Prep - Yr 6
- Community News
Dear Parents and Carers,
Next week sees us celebrating Family Week from 10-15 May. Pope Francis says ‘the family is a community of love where each of us learns to relate to others and to the world around us.’ He also reminds us that family matters and the importance of family in all our lives. Here at Our Lady Star of the Sea, we are blessed with our learning community and the positive engagement of families in their child’s learning and life. All our efforts are based on knowing the child and the family and supporting the family to engage in their child’s school-based learning. By partnering with the school, families equally choose to commit to the highest standards possible for their child, and for every child in the school. This commitment is at the heart of the growth and strength of a flourishing Catholic school community.
Families as Partners in Catholic School Communities is a MACS Horizons of Hope document beautifully worded to help us understand and reflect on how important this partnership is for your children, our students. Research tells us that Family engagement in learning contributes to children’s wellbeing, learning and life chances. As we partner with you, the sanctity of the family as primary educators of their child is honoured and we see our role and work with your child or children as a privilege and extension of your family.
There are many opportunities available for parents and this Thursday night is another example where we have invited you in for a special celebration for our mothers and carers.
Thank you also to the many parents who volunteer their time in many different ways such as classroom help, covering books, gardening, PFA, School Advisory Council, Mowing Roster. These wonderful, positive contributions also model for your children the importance of community whilst we continue to forge and build positive relationships. Your commitment to your children and indeed Our Lady Star of the Sea is truly valued.
There are also opportunities for our students and families to be involved in the parish and attend Masses with school and for families to attend Mass on a Saturday night or a Sunday.
Mums and Carers Night: This Thursday sees us celebrate our mums and carers. These special occasions are always a special time together and we look forward to seeing you all any time between 4.30 pm- 6 pm on Thursday 6 May. Some finger food will be provided, generously donated by Ty and Rachael Simon from Driftwood Cafe. Many thanks for their extremely generous contribution again. During this time, you will also be welcome to go to your child's hub and have a "photo booth" style photo, and choose from the following: read a book together, draw a picture, play a game, perhaps receive a shoulder massage and look at your child's work. We are hoping that some families may have photo booth props they can donate to the hub for the night. If so, please send the named props into your child’ hub and we will ensure they are returned the following day.
Disco Friday 28 May: There is much excitement building for our up and coming annual disco. We thank the Parents and Friends Association for all their great efforts in the organising of this and Hayley Bennet for creating this Try Booking form to make it easy to register and pay the $5 per child https://www.trybooking.com/BQWVP
Care Boxes for Veterans: Last year The Driftwood and some of their suppliers got together to give out Care Boxes for Veterans as they had to stay home on Anzac Day. They contained milk, bread, eggs, butter, sausages, curry, soup, lasagne, pasta sauce, cookies, wine etc. They gave out 35 boxes and had Rotarians help deliver them across The Peninsula.
This year they did it again and delivered 51 boxes! In addition to the above there was some fruit and vegetables, chocolate, bacon and a few other goodies.
Our students were invited to write a kind letter for every box to say thanks and show their appreciation for the sacrifices those that served have made for us. This was very well received. We even had veteran’s and families write back immediately so Monday morning some of the students had returned letters to open. This was such a heartwarming action that was greatly appreciated by all.
Letter from Isabelle H to Veteran and Letter from Veteran to Amelia
ANZAC Day Ceremony: Whilst we were unable to march as a school this year with the community we were able to lay a wreath on behalf of Our Lady Star of the Sea. Many thanks to Eva Azzopardi (Year 6 ) who represented the school at the Ocean Grove ANZAC ceremony.
Cross Country: A huge congratulations to all students who participated in the next stage of the Cross Country. A big thankyou to Lisa Grigg our Sports Leader for her organisation and supporting all Cross Country participants.
Naming of our Multi Purpose Hall Competition:
As you know, we are nearing the completion of our capital works building. We have 4 new Classrooms (Orange Hub) and a Multi Purpose Hall that has the capacity to hold 700 people.
As we have done in the past with naming our House Colours and creating our School Motto, "Setting the Right Course", we are inviting any members of our Learning Community to suggest a name for our new Multi Purpose Hall. You can discuss as a family and suggest as many possibilities as you like. Please suggest via this Google form
We will then shortlist with the Year 6 students and School Advisory Council and invite a consensual vote via a final Google form.
There will be a mystery prize for the winning family.
We are in exciting times and look forward to enjoying our new facilities sometime this term. We will confirm dates of handover as soon as we know.
Finally, Paul Anderson will be taking medical leave from Monday 10 May until the end of term. We extend our best wishes to Paul during this time and look forward to his return in Term 3. Andrew Rayson, with the support of Marianne Caddy will replace Paul in the role of Deputy Principal and wellbeing during this time.
Blessings for a glorious, autumnal fortnight ahead.
Kerryn Sells
Child Information Sharing and Family Violence Reforms
Information for parents and carers
Sharing information to support child wellbeing and safety
From 19 April 2021 (Term 2), all Victorian government and non-government schools and centre-based education and care services (e.g. long day care, kindergarten and outside school hours care) will be prescribed as Information Sharing Entities under the Victorian Government’s Child Information Sharing Scheme (CISS) and Family Violence Information Sharing Scheme (FVISS).
These information sharing schemes have expanded the ability of schools and services to collaborate and share relevant confidential information with other authorised Information Sharing Entities to promote the wellbeing and safety of children, and to assess and manage family violence risk. Information can only be shared under the schemes by organisations prescribed as Information Sharing Entities.
The information sharing schemes were introduced in response to Royal Commissions, coronial inquests and independent inquiries over the past decade that identified poor information sharing as a barrier to service collaboration with detrimental outcomes for children and families.
Phase 1 of implementation of the schemes commenced in September 2018 and included key services, such as Child Protection, Maternal and Child Health Services and Victoria Police. From 19 April 2021, as part of Phase 2, universal services such as education and health will be authorised to share information using the schemes.
The information sharing schemes complement and expand upon existing information sharing and child protection laws, and do not replace already existing authorisation to share information such as the Child Safe Standards, reporting to Child Protection or Victoria Police, the Reportable Conduct Scheme, and other privacy and information sharing laws.
Further information regarding these whole-of-government reforms can be found on the Victorian Government website: www.vic.gov.au/information-sharing-schemes-and-the-maram-framework.
We had a wonderful day at District Cross Country. The children were fabulous as usual, with lots of cheering and interest in all the races.
Out of 47 students that competed, we had 15 finish in the top 6, which means they will all go through to the Division Cross Country in May.
6 students finished top 3 in their age groups.
Overall we did an outstanding job!
Lisa Grigg
Sports Coordinator
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
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.
Click here to see the latest new building update by Nate Wombell Yr 3 MC.
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