Dear Parents and Carers

Last week we began the Season of Lent. Lent is a time we are called to become more loving. Traditionally Lent is a 40 Day period to examine and renew our spiritual life. It is a time of prayer, service and fasting. These are the 3 Pillars of Lent.

Prayer: During Lent, we pray for others in need. We also use this time to talk to God about what is happening in our lives and world. Some things we could do: Pray for the sick and needy. Pray for those who are suffering in our community or world. Sit quietly and be with God. Thank God for our blessings. Participate in Masses and liturgies leading up to Easter.

Fasting: During Lent we give up something to show that we are thinking of the sacrifice made by Jesus. We may also decide to share our time with people in need, or do things we don’t normally do. Some things we could do, Fasting from spending money on things we want and dominating to a charity. Fasting from things that separate us from God and others.

Almsgiving/Service: During Lent, we show our love for others by helping. We might choose to donate money to projects or charities in our community. We might choose to donate our time in the service of others. Some things we could do: Donate clothes, shoes, books, food to people in need. Show an act of kindness to a family member each day. Cook a meal for someone who needs it. 

In all our efforts we are guided by the Catholic Social teachings. 

Junior House Leaders: Congratulations to all the Year 2 students for their House Leader applications. Please see below the allocated positions of leadership and some beautiful photos.  

Prayers for Willow and Crazy Hair Day: During Friday’s assembly, Remy Bonde, a Year 3 student, bravely spoke about her sister Willow’s recent leukemia diagnosis. Willow is one of our Prep students. Click here for Remy’s speech on Friday and the link to donate to cancer research if you would like to. We ask that as a learning community, we keep Willow, Remy, Deb and Jordan Bonde in our thoughts and prayers for a successful treatment and a return to school in Term 3 all going well.

On Friday 10 March we will be having a Crazy Hair Day with a gold coin donation to support the family during this time. We ask that  your child(ren) comes to school with sprayed coloured hair or a crazy hair style in support of Willow and her sister Remy. 

2023 Annual Action Plan and Professional Learning: Please see below our 2023 Annual Action Plan which stems from our 4 year School Improvement Plan.This was developed last year after our School Review which happens every 4 years. 

We continue to consider what it is we are wishing to improve or get better at.

We have 3 Priority Areas which are Identity, Dialogue and Agency. 

You will notice some actions which have a focus on Coaching, building teacher capacity in Mathematics, increasing voice and agency in our student's learning and Indigenous Perspectives. All this while we embrace the theme Beacons of Hope.

Last week, all our leadership team and Literacy and Mathematics Leaders participated in a very beneficial three day coaching course. After being identified  from our Review as a high performing school, using coaching as a  strategy with staff is our next step. This action is part of our “Identity: The Star Way” priority. Coaching is recognised as having a huge impact on teacher capacity and ultimately student outcomes as it picks up on the reality of our context and action focused. Our school has a supportive organisational structure with our hubs including  extra human resource to enable opportunity for coaching.  We look forward to seeing the benefits. 

Our recent Staff Professional Learning day picked up on and action from our Agency priority. The goal being to build agency by giving all learners the tools to make choice and take action in their learning. We had a wonderful day engaging in professional learning in metacognitive and reflective practices to enable staff to make them visible in the learning process to deepen student learning. This included the importance of explicitly teaching all students the dispositions they require for learning and life. For those interested this article helps explain the importance of dispositions to your child’s learning and life. Click here also for the dispositions and an explanation. This document may help you in your learning conversations with your child as they learn about them across the school Prep - Year 6. Jeni Wilson will be returning in Term 2 to continue to build staff capacity in this space which ultimately improves outcomes for your children.

Alongside this, all teachers have developed personal goals for professional learning and a professional learning hub goal. As we strive for improvement, Nationally and internationally, there is unequivocal evidence that the quality of teaching is most significant in school factor affecting student outcomes. Effective teachers can be a source of inspiration and, equally importantly, provide a dependable and consistent influence on young people as they make choices about further education, work and life. We thank all our teachers and leadership staff for striving to achieve these goals set and working collaboratively for the benefit of all students.

Mural update and Art Show: Our school mural is progressing well. Here are some progress photos.

We are also thrilled to be having an Art show this year. We have pencilled in Thursday 9 November  4-7pm. The PFA will support Rachael and other staff members with this night. If you have any talent or suggestions in this space please come along to the PFA meetings which are held in Week 2 and Week 8 of each term in the staff room.

Bike Safety and Bike Shelters: It is wonderful to see all the active travellers in our school which as a travel smart school we strongly encourage. We ask that you have further conversations with your children about travelling safely and particularly be mindful of traffic at the aquatic centre entrance. It is important in these conversations that you reiterate to your child that you may be able to see the car but the car will not always be able to see you and extra care needs to be taken. We also have some good news regarding the bike shelter. We have a date locked in for installation which will begin next month. 

Absences: In the event of absence from school, please ensure that you email your child’s classroom teacher by 9am. Please also email the day before if your child is being collected early for an appointment so the teacher can have them ready at the office for you. You can now also put in your child’s absence on PAM. A new initiative in 2023 and beginning this week, if your child has not arrived at school by 9.30 and you haven’t let us know, an SMS will be sent alerting you to this. This is part of our Child Safe Practices.

Wishing you all a hope filled fortnight ahead.

Kerryn

Term 1 Week 5 - Green Hub News

Term 1 Week 5 - Red Hub 1 News

Term 1 Week 5 - Blue Hub 2 News

Term 1 Week 5 - Yellow 3 Hub News

Term1 Week 5 - Purple Hub 4 News

Term 1 Week 5 - Purple Hub 5 News

Term 1 Week 5 - Orange Hub News

Division Swimming Trials took place at BASC on Wednesday 15 February. Congratulations to the following students who will be attending the next stage at Kardinia Aquatic Centre on Tuesday 14 March: Finn Briggs, Ned McNamara, Oliver Warren, Patrick Wolfe, Allegra Aquilina, Lillia Casamento, Olive Wearmouth, Willow Stephenson, Lillian Spolding, Matilda Kerr, Max Bonacci, Billy Levis, Joshua Maud, Bodhi Bennett, Amelia Harrington, Winni Ward, Willow Annand, Nicholas Wright, Lachlan Fay, Max Micallef, Rueben Sheridan, Harry Miller, William Wolfe, Scarlett Aquilina, Grace Miller, Isla Briggs, Winni Crapp, Polly Hardwick, Lily Robinson, Innes Pasque. 

District Tennis took place on Thursday 16 February. Congratulations to the following students who participated in the event: Kashmir Signh, Flynn Madden, Miller Pasque, Harry Creak, Stella Graham, Willow Stephenson & Mackenzie Wurfel. All participants showed fantastic sportsmanship and should be very proud of their efforts.

A special congratulations to Stella Graham who came second on the day and will be competing in the Division Championships on Thursday 30 March.

Just a reminder that Whole School Cross Country is on 24 March. 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

Catholic Education Week 2023

This year, Catholic Education Week will be celebrated from Sunday 12 March to Sunday 19 March.

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 local community and the strength of the sector.

Theme: Forming lives of faith, hope and love in the light of Christ

Forming lives – Catholic education seeks to provide the young with the best kind of education possible, one that fosters a formation of the whole person that is deeply and enduringly humanising.

Faith, hope and love – Catholic education forms individuals with more than just skills, but with the virtues to live life as transformative agents in our communities. By cultivating a maturing of faith and the intellectual life through the modelling of good relationships, Catholic students are prepared for living fruitfully in the world.

In the light of Jesus Christ – Christ is our inspiration, the very life of our purpose as Catholic educators. Everything we do is illuminated by this.

Events during Catholic Education Week will include a Mass for St Patrick at St Patrick’s Cathedral Melbourne attended by some of our Term 1 Year 6 Leaders.

Families are encouraged this week to pray together and may like to use this prayer;

A Prayer for our Catholic School

Almighty God,

You sent forth your Son Jesus as a beacon of hope for all people.

As a Teacher, He has given us the best example of the importance of education. As disciples, we look to Him for inspiration and strength.

Thank you for the many people who have dedicated their lives in service to Catholic schools.

Thank you for all the teachers and staff who sustain Our Lady Star of the Sea. 

Thank you for our parents who support and witness the importance of Catholic education. 

Thank you for our friends at school who work hard to be inclusive and learn about Jesus’ message.

Bless Our Lady Star of the Sea and the many people who make it a wonderful place.

May our school be a home for all those who seek to grow in faith, hope and love in the light of Christ.

In your name, we pray. Amen.

Thank you to all families who have made a contribution to their school fees. As a courtesy reminder, if you have elected to pay in full for 2023, this payment was due on Friday 24 February. 

The first Monthly and Quarterly payments were due on 14 February.

If you are yet to set up, and would like to set up Direct Debit, the referred method of payment, please fill in the Direct Debit form and return it to the school office or by email to slane@staroceangrove.catholic.edu.au

If you require further clarification please email slane@staroceangrove.catholic.edu.au or phone the office on 52554308.

GET THE APP ...... 

 

School Photos 2023 - Our Lady Star of the Sea Primary School

Annual school photos including sibling photos will be taken by Arthur Reed Photos on Monday 20 March 2023.

There is no need to return any forms or money to school.

Unique image codes will be issued to all students on/after 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 2023 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 2023 images are online to view before making your purchase. 

A reminder to all visitors, including parents, to come in to the school via Reception. If you have something to drop off your child or a message to pass on, these can be left with office staff, or once signed in you may be able to go to your child's hub. 

Each year the Australian Government requires schools to collect certain information about their school community. One of these collections is the Student residential Address collection. Further information can be accessed here. 

Please find a link here to our current library of books related to wellbeing and parenting topics that you may be interested in borrowing from the school. There is a link for each book that provides you with some more information if required. If you would like to borrow one of the books, please email Marnie Hallam at mhallam@staroceangrove.catholic.edu.au with your name, the book you would like to borrow and your child's grade. It will then be sent home with your child if it is available. More titles will be listed as they become available.

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.  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. The class with the most active travellers this week was 6LG. 

Thanks, Travelsmart leaders.

Travelsmart News

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.

Enrolment brochure created by our Year 6 Digital Leaders 

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

Saint Ignatius College would like to invite your school community to our 'SICG Easter Egg Hunt' on Sunday April 2nd at 10.30am. 

With 2 separate sections 'the Little Tackers Section' 0-5 years, and the 'General Hunt Area' 5 years +, there is bound to be fun for the whole family.

Tickets are available via the below link, with families encouraged to select which section they will be participating in on the day. (Link in bio).

https://www.trybooking.com/CGDWH

Saint Ignatius College Geelong would like to thank the Parents and Friends Association for this 'eggsellent' new event.

The Great Barwon River Duck Race

Grovedale Family Play Day