Filter Content
- Prayer
- From the Principal
- Student Wellbeing
- Hub News
- Schoolzine App
- How to report a Student Absence
- Sports News - Cross Country Friday 24 March
- PFA News
- National Ride 2 School Day Friday 22 March
- School Photo Day - Monday 20 March 2023
- Kid’s Safety Club
- Prep 2024 Enrolment Information
- PFA - Easter raffle
- Wellbeing Library Resources
- Upcoming Important Dates on the Parent Calendar
- Community News
- Secondary College Open Days
- Basketball Skills Day
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.
Dear Parents and Carers
This week is Catholic Education Week 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 which will be attended by some of our Term 1 Year 6 Leaders.
Families are encouraged this week to pray together and continue to find ways of being Beacons of Hope to others.
Beacons of Hope Project : Solar Buddy
Our Year 5 and Year 6 students are taking part in the Solar Buddy Initiative. Solar Buddy is an Australian impact organisation uniting a global community to illuminate the futures of children living in energy poverty. The Solar Buddy Program inspires and empowers school students to become global citizens through an immersive learning experience, dedicated to educating and empowering future leaders skilled in sustainable technologies and versed in equity issues.
Students have worked with a partner to make a JuniorBuddy light.
Each and every JuniorBuddy light:
- Allows the child receiving the light to study 78% longer, improving their educational outcomes
- Reduces exposure to toxic and dangerous fumes from kerosene lamps which has the potential to increase overall health of women and children by up to 60%, preventing deadly diseases and health problems caused by indoor air pollution like pneumonia, lung cancer, heart diseases, severe burns and tuberculosis.
- Reduces a family’s average weekly expenditure on kerosene by 80%, improving the family’s financial security and safety
- Offsets 1.28 tonnes of CO2 over 10 years, the equivalent to growing 21.3 tree seedlings over the same period
- Just one JuniorBuddy light positively impacts the health of a family of 5!
Students in Year5 and 6 will also be writing letters to accompany their JuniorBuddy light. We are very proud of their efforts in becoming global citizens and humanitarians!
Mental Health in Schools Program (MHISP):
Our school is included in the 2023 phase of the state wide roll out of the Mental Health in Primary Schools (MHIPS) program. The Victorian Department of Education (DE) is funding all government and low-fee non-government primary schools to employ a mental health and wellbeing leader (MHWL) as part of the MHIPS program. The role of the MHWL is to build the capacity of the whole school to support student mental health and wellbeing. The program is being delivered by Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI) and Melbourne Graduate School of Education (MGSE) at the University of Melbourne in partnership with DE. Marnie Hallam is the teacher we have employed and brings much expertise to this role. We are very grateful to have further support in this Mental health and Wellbeing space which continuesto be a strength and priority at Our Lady Star of the Sea.
Wellbeing Library
Please find a link 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.
NAPLAN
This year Naplan begins on Wednesday March 15th for Year 3 and Year 5 and is spaced over the fortnight.
All Year 3 and Year 5 students will require:
- the ipad that they use at school - fully charged
- headphones / earphones
Please refer to your child’s Hub news for the Naplan timetable.
Please also see the attached document for further information. Naplan Information Sheet
Crazy Hair Day:
What a wonderful fundraising event we held for crazy hair day. Your generosity of spirit is greatly appreciated. The money raised totalled $1760 in cash donations and $3268 to Shave for a Cure. Many thanks to Mr Zac, Daniel and Remy for ensuring the day was a success and we hope the funds raised go forward in some small way to supporting Willow and her family through this challenging time. Willow continues to be in our thoughts and prayers as she bravely undergoes continued treatment.
2023 Action Plan: Our professional learning continues. Recently , Michael Minus followed up the great learning he brought to our staff last year in the Mathematics area. He has been in our school working with all teachers as they build their capacity in the area of Mathematics supporting differentiation and success for all. Your children benefited from Michael by modelling lessons and then facilitating each team’s planning in the Mathematics space. It is wonderful to be able to continue to work through our strategic plan and fulfil another action to support our Dialogue goal: To build staff knowledge and capacity in the area of Mathematics.
School Arrival Time: A gentle reminder that arrival for students at school is from 8.30 am. On the rare occasion a student arrives at school between the times of 8:15 and 8:30 they should proceed directly to the library via the front entry for supervision. After 8:30 there is supervision on the yard and students may enter their classrooms to drop off their school bags.
If your child needs to be at school earlier than 8:15, we have a wonderful before school care program Kelly Club available. Please contact the office if you need help connecting with them.
Wishing you all a hope filled fortnight ahead.
Kerryn
Child Safety and Wellbeing
Our School Vision
Inspired by Mary and guided by our faith in her son, Jesus, we aspire to be a respectful, nurturing and engaging learning community.
“I have come so that you may have life and have it to the full” John 10:10
Child Safe Standards
- 1. Culturally safe environments – Organisations establish a culturally safe environment in which the diverse and unique identities and experiences of Aboriginal children and young people are respected and valued.
- 2. Leadership, governance and culture – Child safety and wellbeing is embedded in organisational leadership, governance and culture.
- 3. Child and student empowerment – Children and young people are empowered about their rights, participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously.
- 4. Family engagement – Families and communities are informed, and involved in promoting child safety and wellbeing.
- 5. Diversity and equity – Equity is upheld and diverse needs respected in policy and practice.
- 6. Suitable staff and volunteers – People working with children and young people are suitable and supported to reflect child safety and wellbeing values in practice.
- 7. Complaints processes – Processes for complaints and concerns are child focused.
- 8. Child safety knowledge, skills and awareness – Staff and volunteers are equipped with the knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children and young people safe through ongoing education and training.
- 9. Child safety in physical and online environments – Physical and online environments promote safety and wellbeing while minimising the opportunity for children and young people to be harmed.
- 10. Review of child safety practices – Implementation of the Child Safe Standards is regularly reviewed and improved.
- 11. Implementation of child safety practices – Policies and procedures document how the organisation is safe for children and young people.
Child Safety and Wellbeing
At Our Lady Star of the Sea School, we hold the care, safety and wellbeing of children and young people as a central and fundamental responsibility of our school. Our commitment is drawn from and inherent to the teaching and mission of Jesus Christ, with love, justice and the sanctity of each human person at the heart of the gospel (CECV Commitment Statement to Child Safety).
All students enrolled at Our Lady Star of the Sea School have the right to feel safe and be safe. The safety and wellbeing of children in our care will always be our first priority and we do not and will not tolerate child abuse. We aim to create a child-safe and child-friendly environment where children are free to enjoy life to the full without any concern for their safety.
Our commitment to our students
- We commit to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people enrolled in our school.
- We commit to providing children and young people with positive and nurturing experiences.
- We commit to listening to children and young people, and empowering them by ensuring that they understand their rights (including to safety, information and participation), and by taking their views seriously and addressing any concerns that they raise with us.
- We commit to taking action to ensure that children and young people are protected from abuse or harm.
- We commit to ensuring that the needs of all children and young people enrolled in our school are met, including those who are most vulnerable.
- We commit to recognising the importance of friendships and to encouraging support from peers, to help children and students feel safe and less isolated.
- We commit to developing a culture that facilitates and provides opportunities for children and student participation, and that strengthens the confidence and engagement of children and students by being responsive to their input.
- We commit to teaching children and young people the necessary skills and knowledge to understand and maintain their personal safety and wellbeing.
- We commit to seeking input and feedback from students regarding the creation of a safe school environment.
Our commitment to parents, guardians and carers
- We commit to communicating honestly and openly with parents, guardians and carers about the wellbeing and safety of their children.
- We commit to engaging with, and listening to, the views of parents, guardians and carers about our child safety and wellbeing practice, policies and procedures.
- We commit to transparency in our decision-making with parents, guardians and carers where it will not compromise the safety of children or young people.
- We commit to open engagement and communication with parents, guardians and carers about our child safe approach and our operations and governance related to child safety and wellbeing.
- We commit to ensuring that relevant information relating to child safety and wellbeing is accessible to parents, guardians and carers.
- We commit to acknowledging the cultural diversity of students and families, and being sensitive to how this may impact on student safety issues.
- We commit to continuously reviewing and improving our systems to protect children from abuse.
Responsibilities and organisational arrangements
Everyone employed or volunteering at Our Lady Star of the Sea School has a responsibility to understand the important and specific role they play individually and collectively to ensure a child safe culture in which the wellbeing and safety of all students is at the forefront of all they do and every decision they make (CECV Commitment Statement to Child Safety).
Policy Updates to support the new Victorian Child Safe Standards and Ministerial Order No. 1359
To build on the existing child safety policies and practices, Our Lady Star of the Sea, assisted by Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) have updated the following policies which are published on our School Website.
- Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy
- Child Safety Code of Conduct
- Engaging Families in Child Safety Policy
- Protect : Identifying and Responding to Abuse - Reporting Obligations
GET THE APP ......
Report a student absence using the Parent Access Module (PAM).
Access the PAM login page by clicking on the following link: http://pam.staroceangrove.catholic.edu.au. Your username is the email address you have provided to school.
Click on Parent Notified Absences button
Click on + Add Future Absence
Add Absence details, enter the following information: student, reason, absence period, absence date, notes if required.
For new families please sign up to PAM (Parent Access Module) by clicking the link here: http://pam.staroceangrove.catholic.edu.au This will take you to the PAM login page. Click on the 'Forgot Password?' link and follow the prompts. You will be asked to enter your email address, then you will need to access the link sent to your email address. You can then create a password and this, along with your email address will be your login to PAM.
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
Easter Raffle
Raffle tickets have been sent home. 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 4 April
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 6 April.
Hot Cross Bun Fundraiser
Hot Cross Bun orders will be dropped off at school on Tuesday 4 April.
They will need to be collected from our Staffroom from 2:30pm or by students at the end of the day.
Thank you for your support with our Term 1 fundraising.
Travelsmart News
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.
This week the Kid’s Safety Club identified some tripping hazards in our playgrounds. We organised some soft fall mulch to be delivered and we spread it with the help of Miss Bella’s class. We think we did a great job!
Enrolment brochure created by our Year 6 Digital Leaders
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.
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.
Term 4 2024
Thursday 21 November: Yr 5 Parish Mass/Year 1 MOPA Excursion
Friday 22 November: Yr 5BC assembly
Thursday 28 November: Yr 3 Parish Mass
Friday 29 November: Staff Professional Learning Day - Student Free Day
Staff Planning Day for 2025
Tuesday 3 December: School Concert 5:30pm-7:30pm
Wednesday 4 December: Prep orientation
Thursday 5 December: Prep orientation
Tuesday 10 December: Whole school orientation/Prep orientation
Wednesday 11 December: Future leaders days 2025
Friday 6 December: Diversity Day 2pm assembly
Tuesday 10 December: Whole school orientation day 9.15am - 11am
Wednesday 12 December: Yr 6 end of year excursion
Friday 13 December: Yr 6EB assembly/End of year Mass
Monday 16 December: Whole school Beach Day (students are welcome to bring plastic shovels and buckets. Ensure they remember to bring sunscreen and hats).
Wednesday 18 December: Yr 6 Graduation Assembly/Last day of school Students finish at 1pm
Term1 2025
Tuesday 28 January: Staff return
Wednesday 29 January: Staff professional Learning day
Thursday 30 January: Students return
Please note: Please refer to the Parent Calendar for all dates
