Dear Parents and Carers

Welcome to Week 7 of the term. I hope you all managed to enjoy the beautiful weather and the extra day of the long weekend. I was fortunate to be with my large, extended family at my nephew’s wedding in Moama. Such a special time where we could all be together in the one place, sharing a time of great joy and love. We truly were blessed to enjoy the amazing environment on the great Murray River amongst a picturesque Australian backdrop. These moments are so important to celebrate and be grateful for. 

This week is Catholic Education Week and the theme this year is “The Way of the Gospel.” The mission of the gospel is at the heart of our work as Catholic educators, bringing our school communities to a deeper relationship with Jesus.

A patron saint of Australia, Mary MacKillop, wanted all to enjoy God’s promise to have ‘life to the full’. Mary knew that to enjoy ‘life to the full’, to reach the fullness of our humanity, you need to know God and be educated. Mary spent her life working to give all children, especially the poor, this opportunity.

Catholic Education Week 2022 – The Way of the Gospel

Catholic Education Week is an opportunity for all Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Melbourne to celebrate their Catholic identity, the pivotal role they play within their community and the strength of the sector as a time to celebrate the education Catholic schools, like Our Lady Star of the Sea, offers to families and to the community. Catholic schools pride themselves on creating environments where students have opportunities to excel academically, spiritually and socially.

We take great pride at Our Lady Star of the Sea and as a Catholic School, to make connections with faith and life. We ensure in our everyday actions we are living out the values and being faithful to our vision as we facilitate our students' learning and make a difference in the world. This year’s Catholic Education Week theme, The Way of the Gospel, captures that missionary role of our schools.

Our School Review: We have completed our 3 days with the School Reviewer. It was an affirming time where we were able to reflect on our practices and enjoy our successes over the last 4 years. Thank you to the students, staff and parents that were part of the focus groups to gather further information. Also, to all our families that have taken the time to fill out surveys over the last four years and/or volunteered time or attended events. All this adds to our community spirit which is an enormous strength of our school and in turn improves your children's academic and social and emotional outcomes. We now await our report with recommendations to be included in our School Improvement Plan for the next 4 years. These will be shared with our School Leadership team on April 7. We will then share with our staff and families following this.

Minor Capital works: We continue to provide opportunities for our students to learn outdoors and have added some outdoor desks to some of the classrooms so children have the option of engaging in their learning whilst being in the vicinity of the classroom. There are more works to come and we will share photos as they are complete. These will include more shade sails, an extension and improvement of the giant sandpit, an outdoor area off Prep with a chicken coop and outdoor furniture, external doors and deck on the south side of green hub and some new paths.

Communication regarding student absences:  In the event of an absence from school, please ensure that you email your child’s classroom teacher on the day, if possible before the start of a school day as roll marking takes place by 9:15am. Also if you know of any early departures on any given day, please email this also before the day so that we can have your child ready at the office. Email is our preferred way of notifying teachers of an absence however we do understand there are times you may forget and therefore need to call.

Wishing you all a happy and healthy fortnight ahead.

Kerryn

On Friday 18 March 2022, Our Lady Star of the Sea is participating in the National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence (NDA). The NDA is Australia’s key bullying prevention initiative, connecting schools and communities to find workable solutions to prevent bullying. 

The theme for the 2022 NDA is Kindness Culture. Our Lady Star of the Sea will demonstrate Kindness Culture by promoting inclusiveness, respect and community belonging for all students.  This will be included through our in class 'Circle Time'. Students are asked to add a touch of orange (eg. ribbon, socks) on the day.

Planning for a safe and supportive school community requires a whole-school community approach. Whole-school responses to bullying prevention build positive and supportive school environments by incorporating strategies for intervention at all levels, inclusive of students, teachers, parents and carers.

Three key characteristics outlined in the national definition of bullying distinguish bullying behaviours from other forms of peer aggression behaviours which do not constitute bullying. The key characteristics of bullying include:

1. power imbalance
2. deliberate intent to cause harm, and 
3. ongoing and repeated behaviour.

While the following behaviours of peer aggression do not constitute bullying, these behaviours may still be serious and require intervention at home and at school:

• arguments and disagreements (where there is no power imbalance)
• single acts of social rejection or meanness, or
• isolated incidents of aggression, intimidation or violence.
  
  

It is important for our entire school community, including our staff, parents, carers and students to have a clear understanding of the definition of bullying to be able to distinguish these behaviours from peer aggression, and correctly identify and respond to incidents of bullying.

The full national definition can be read here.

Knowing the types of bullying behaviour can also help you identify if the incident is bullying, or peer aggression. While neither of these behaviours are tolerated at Our Lady Star of the Sea, they do require different management strategies, and the first step for responding is to correctly identify the behaviour.

If you have concerns that your child is being bullied, please contact the classroom teacher in the first instance. You will be referred to the Principal if a satisfactory outcome is not achieved. 

You can read the Our Lady Star of the Sea Anti-bullying policy to learn

 more about our school’s process for managing incidents of bullying.

For more information, please visit the Bullying. No Way! website for additional resources.

Paul Anderson

Student Wellbeing Leader

Term 1 Week 7 - Red Hub News (Prep)

Term 1 Week 7 - Green Hub News (Year 1)

Term 1 Week 7 - Blue Hub News (Year 2)

Term 1 Week 7 - Yellow Hub News (Year 3)

Term 1 Week 7 - Purple Hub News (Year 4 )

Term 1 Week 7 - Purple Hub News (Year 5)

Term 1 Week 7 - Orange Hub News (Year 6)

Project Compassion is the main appeal for Caritas Australia and has been supported by Our Lady Star of the Sea for many years. Our support throughout this season of Lent helps to change the lives of some of the most vulnerable people living in poverty. Please access this page if you would like to see some of the stories of those that Caritas has supported. Students are asked to give generously throughout Lent by making small sacrifices and donating coins using the Project Compassion boxes in each classroom. 

Caritas Australia is also working directly with Caritas Ukraine at the moment. 

‘We are one of the few NGOs in Australia with a direct partner on the ground in Ukraine, and therefore are doing all we can to contribute to the urgent needs of people in Ukraine.Caritas Australia has committed to supporting partner Caritas Ukraine with their humanitarian response.” They are implementing: 

• Safe collection centres with information, referral services (medical, legal etc), free meals, water, hygiene supplies and psychological care for families as they flee to safer territories,
• Transportation services to help displaced families move through conflict zones safely and reach friends, family and services providers,
• Child evacuation and protection for children residing in group homes and state care, as well as specialised psychological and recreational support once relocated,
• Collective emergency shelters with regular meals and hygiene facilities for families with no other accommodation options,
• Child friendly spaces with sports, recreational activities and psychological care to support children and youth who have experienced trauma from the conflict, 
• Case management and psychosocial support to families in need. 

If you are wondering how to best support Ukraine through Caritas; 

• We are accepting funds through our Ukraine Crisis Appeal, to provide support and learn more, visit https://www.caritas.org.au/donate/emergency-appeals/ukraine/
• We encourage supporters to donate to their preference between the Ukraine Crisis appeal and Project Compassion. 
• All funds raised through the Ukraine Crisis Appeal go towards Caritas Ukraine for immediate humanitarian response in Ukraine, and to support displaced people in neighbouring countries in coming weeks. The Ukraine Crisis Appeal is separate to Project Compassion.

As a community, we will be giving a portion of the funds raised this year through Project Compassion to Ukraine. Every little bit helps! 

Rebecca Nancarrow

Religious Education Leader 

Earth Fest isn’t far away and we are in need of help. Please click on this volunteer LINK  and find a spot that suits you or talk to your hub teachers.

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:

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

Families are asked to donate as follows

Year 3-6: Easter eggs

Prep - Year 2: Bags/ baskets

Please send tickets and eggs in no later than Tuesday 26 March

If tickets could be separated and folded upon return,

we would be forever grateful.

Let’s all do our best and try not using snap lock bags/plastic.

Raffle to be drawn the last day of term Thursday 28 March.

The Conveyance Allowance is a form of government financial assistance to help families in rural and regional Victoria with the cost of transporting their children to their nearest appropriate school/campus.  The allowance is available to eligible students  providing the eligibility criteria is met.

Students attending a government or non-government school must:

• attend their nearest government or non-government school/campus appropriate to their year level at which admission is permissible.
• be enrolled at a school/campus outside Melbourne’s metropolitan conveyance boundary.
• reside 4.8km or more by the shortest practicable route from that school/campus attended.
• be of school age (5 to 18 years old at time of application) and reside in Victoria.

Click here to access the Student Conveyance Allowance Form for Private Car Travellers This form must be returned to the school office no later than Friday 8 March 2023.

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

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.