Coronavirus

Please be reassured that our school is following the advice of Catholic Education Victoria in relation to the COVID-19 virus. (Please also see Important Information on COVID-19 from Michael Juliff in this newsletter) The Federated schools in the Holy Trinity Parish are taking very seriously the health and wellbeing of our students, staff and parents. Staff are provided with all the latest updates from Catholic Education Melbourne. Last week staff discussed with students the importance of hygiene and instructed students on the correct hand washing, cough/sneezing techniques. Posters have been placed in classrooms and student toilets as a visual reminder. I have attached a copy of these if you would like to use them at home. We have been discouraging handshaking and close contact.

We will continue to keep you informed. At the time of writing this newsletter (Monday morning 16 March) we are continuing our normal programing at school. Please keep checking emails regularly, as information can change.

The following events for this week have been cancelled:

• Foundation and Year 1 excursion
• Year 3 Reconciliation Family workshop
• Playgroup

The following events at school will take place: Of course if you or your child is unwell, please do not attend.

• Year 5-6 Learning assembly- Wednesday 18 March @ 2:45pm in the learning hub
• School Reviewer visiting St Catherine’s- Thursday 19 & Friday 20 March
• Parent/Student/ Teacher Meetings- Monday 23 & Tuesday 24 March @ 3:45-6:30pm
• Last day of term for students -Wednesday 25 March

Congratulations and Good Luck

Congratulations to Cate James who has accepted an administration position at Kilbreda College Mentone. We will be sad to see Cate leave our school community and wish her all the best for the future. Cate will begin her new role at the beginning of term 2. Cate has worked at St Catherine’s for four years and has been a welcoming and friendly face to all in our school community. She has supported staff, students and parents in many ways, managing all aspects of administration and finance of the school. Thank you Cate for all you have contributed to our school.

Parent Student Teacher Meetings -Term 1 2020

Dear Parents 

Bookings are now open for term 1 Parent Student Teacher Meetings

Please click on the link below to book a meeting time.

Meetings will take place on

Monday 23 March- 3:45-6:30pm

Tuesday 24 March-3:45-6:30pm

It is important for each family to make an appointment with their child’s teacher. Students are encouraged to attend meetings.

The following link is a booking guide for parents

https://scmoorabbin.schoolzineplus.com/sk-booking-guide

Click on the link

https://scmoorabbin.schoolzineplus.com/view-session/4

Once you click on the link, please select a teacher.

Select the date from the drop down menu or click on the calendar icon.  Select the time.

Bey Blades

While bringing toys to school is not encouraged the staff have made some exceptions in the last few weeks in relation to bey blades. Bey blades is a game that many of our students have been playing at recess and lunchtime. The staff have been quite impressed at the skills many students have been using when interacting with each other while playing with bey blades.  Students have engaged in cooperative play, negotiating, following rules, problem solving and using positive strategies to manage conflict. Teachers are monitoring students closely and as long as positive play continues will allow bey blades at school.

Students have been given the following information:

• Play must be safe and fun for all
• No trading of bey blades
• Quite play with bey blades in the courtyard
• Only bring one or two beyblades to school
• School is not responsible if Bey Blades are lost, taken or broken

Some junior students are bringing soft toys to school and playing imaginative games at recess and lunchtime.

Any items that students bring to school are the responsibility of the student. Staff encourage students to not bring precious or special items to school in case they are lost, taken or broken.

The staff have been actively providing a variety of equipment for students to access at playtimes. Sporting equipment and items for sand play are always available. Recently on some occasions we have provided colouring sheets and books in the courtyard. In term 2 we will open our learning hub on some days to provide inside play activities for students.

School Review

This week we welcome Gilbert Keisler, our reviewer who will be spending time in our school on Thursday and Friday. Gilbert will be talking with staff, students and some parents, to gain insights into our school community. Gilbert will support our leadership team with feedback on areas of strength and areas of improvement. The feedback report provided will assist with setting goals for our next cycle of school improvement.

Lent

LET US PRAY:

Lord, thank you for the mercy you show me every day. Grant me the wisdom and the strength to show the same mercy to those I encounter.

ACTION:

I will make an effort to show mercy to those around me, just as God shows me mercy.

Lynda O'Donnell

Principal

We are living in unprecedented times with the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) impacting our lives. The well-being of the children and staff in our three schools is paramount and we are receiving information and updates on a daily basis for The Departments of Health and Education as well as the Catholic Education Commission of Victoria (CECV). I would like to acknowledged the wonderful leadership that Michael Hanney, Catherine Tammeslid and Lynda O’Donnell are providing in their school communities.

The Federated Leadership Team had an extraordinary meeting Friday to discuss and plan for:

• Possible Closure of Schools – If this eventuates we are preparing ways in which we will provide some continuous learning for our students should we be instructed by the Chief Health Officer or the Department of Education or the Catholic Education Commission of Victoria that we have to close. I had discussions with OSHClub on Friday and was advised that if schools close they will also close and they will not be able to offer a program.
• Considering all advice from CECV the St Peter’s trip to Canberra and St Paul’s camp to Phillip Island this week, will go ahead with thorough contingency plans in place.
• Our advice, before the Prime Minister announced it Friday afternoon, was that large Public gatherings, that can be postponed, we should be postponed. A letter went out Friday informing Year 3 parents that the Reconciliation Family Night scheduled for Wednesday night has been postponed.
• Parent Teacher Interviews are planned for St Catherine's this term and St Peter’s early next - we will continue to monitor and make a decision closer to the date whether these will go ahead and in what format.
• The Federated Conference for all staff in our three schools was planned for the last two days of this term – this has been postponed until next year. The planned closure days for the end of this term will go ahead with staff remaining on site to work.
• Teachers are continuing to reinforce with their students safe hygiene practises.

On Friday afternoon we received advice from the Catholic Education Commission of Victoria (CECV) as to the protocols and actions that are required if a student or staff member has

- A confirmed case of COVID-19

- Or is a close contact of a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the past 14 days.

'Close contact' is defined by the Department Health and Human Services (DI-IHS) as someone who has had at least 15 minutes of face-to-face contact with a confirmed case, or shared a closed space with someone for more than two hours with a confirmed case.

We are ready to enact these if the circumstance  eventuates.

This information changes day by day (if not hour to hour) so will continue to keep you informed of any developments.

It is important to talk to your children to provide them with information that is not alarmist or hystercial. 

It is important to talk to your children to provide them with information that is not alarmist or hysterical. This obviously depends on their age and level of understanding  – here is a link to a Kid-friendly comic about COVID-19. It is an amercian comic but it may be useful.

There are 10 very practical ways to reduce the risk of COVID19 that DHHS has helpfully outlined in a simple poster. Click here to download poster.

Of these 10 steps, three stand out as being very practical (and easy) to implement.

1) The importance of - and using the correct hand washing technique.

2) No shaking hands is an easy - and effective - way to slow transmission. 

3) The importance of good cough/sneeze hygiene.  Coughing/sneezing into your elbow or a tissue (not covering your cough with your hands), getting rid of the tissue into a bin, and washing/sanitizing hands immediately after each cough/sneeze. 

Michael Juliff

Interschool Chess Competition

Congratulations to the 15 students from Year 1 to Year 6 that participated in the Interschool Chess Competition at St Catherine's  on Wednesday, 12th March. The students played 7 games against different opponents.  We came 2nd overall. The children all received a certificate. Niicholas Stamatakos received a medal for coming 3rd overall. Linus Hupfeld, Nicholas Stamatakos, Benjamin Castrillon and Nathan Anesideis received a medal for being the top scorers at St Catherine’s.

We are looking forward to entering our team in competitions during Terms 2 and 3. The team will meet regularly to practise their skills and learn from each other.

St Catherine’s Term 1  Chess Competition Team

Charlee Ingliss

Nathan Anesidis

Benjamin Castrillon

Nicholas Stamatakos

Alexander D’Silva

Toby Bartleman

Alec Karavias

Liana Yalda

Archie Lucas

Miki Nowak

Cooper Currie

Albie Hupfeld

Linus Hupfeld

Jensen Walters

Cohen Walters

Carmel Donlon- Coordinating Leader

cdonlon@scmoorabbin.catholic.edu 

I hope the four friendship facts from our previous newsletter article about Friendology has been helpful when discussing friendships with your children. As the students are working through the Friendology lessons our aim is to assist them with the skills, language and self- confidence they need to be better friends and to help develop healthier friendships.

1. No friendship/relationship is perfect. This helps students understand that conflict is a normal part of a friendship.
2. Every friendship is different. This helps students understand that no two friendships are the same; what works with one friend might not work with another friend.
3. Trust & respect are the two most important qualities of a friendship. Students learn the various ways trust and respect are shown in a friendship, the importance of honouring their differences, and how healthy friendships rely on this as the foundation.
4. Friendships change…and that’s okay! Students recognize that friendships are always changing because they are always changing.

The next stage of the program introduces the “Friend-o- meter.” The Friend-o-meter is a visual tool that assists the students to identify, if they think their friendship is a healthy friendship or an unhealthy friendship. The students are encouraged to ask themselves “Is this friendship good for me?” “Am I being treated with respect?”  They use the Friend-o-meter to gauge where their friendship is sitting on the scale. It is important for the students to remember that no friendship is perfect. At this point in time, if they feel they are in an unhealthy friendship they are guided through the steps on the “Friend-o-cycle.” The students learn from this cycle the normal cycle of healthy friendships.

The Friend-o-cycle uses the same colours as the Friend-o-meter so the students can see they are working towards moving back towards a healthy friendship.  The students refer to the issue, conflict or problem that has occurred as a “Friendship Fire.” With a friendship centering on trust and respect, students learn that Friendship Fires can be put out through an open, honest conversation. They learn, step-by-step, how to Talk-it-Out so they can move beyond the conflict and let it go with a goal of keeping friendships in the healthy zone of the Friend-o-meter. During the lessons, students have an opportunity to learn the skills needed to manage conflict and to put these skills into practice through acting out common scenarios.

Next term I will continue to outline the processes introduced through the Friendology program. I would encourage families to discuss the Friend-o-meter and have the students to share what they have learnt so far this term.

Wishing you all a very Happy Easter and safe holiday break,

Kind regards,

Maree

Term 1, 2020

Hello and welcome to the first board report for 2020.

For those parents new to our school this year the School Board is an advisory board to the Parish Priest and Principal.

The broad aims of the School Board are to:
• act as an advisory body to the parish priest and principal, on matters concerning education in the school and parish
• act as a forum for discussion on matters concerning education in the parish and parish school
• provide a link between the parish priest, principals, parents, teachers and parishioners in relation to the provision of Catholic education in the parish community
• promote community development by fostering strong relationships between parish and school.

The School Board is made up of the Parish Priest, Co-Ordinating Principal, School Principal, a staff representative and elected parents and parishioners. 

Hopefully many of you will have seen the School Board noticeboard that has been created in the school foyer in the office. This noticeboard provides details of which parents are currently serving on the school board, their children involved in the school and an email address for the school board. If there is anything you would like the school board to know, review or discuss please feel free to approach any member of the board at any time however if you prefer you can also email the board on schoolboard@scmoorabbin.catholic.edu.au. The email address for the school board is also provided on the noticeboard.

On Monday, 2 March we held our term 1 board meeting, the first for the new year. The key agenda items discussed were:

1. Changes to the Catholic Education Governance Model – As was established last year, and will remain to be a key discussion topic of our board throughout 2020, the Catholic Archdiocese is currently in the process of amending the current governance model of schools in Victoria. There has been no reportable change in this process since the end of last year. As a board we will continue to stay across this and will report back to the parent body when further information becomes available.
2. St Catherine’s Playgroup – This initiative driven by Lynda O’Donnell, our school principal has now started and is being utilised by some families within the school community. The school is looking to extend this offering to other families of the external community. A great way for St Catherine’s to live its catholic values and embrace the wider community as well as provide visibility of our school to potential new families and future attendees. If you would like to partake in this activity please speak with the school office or Lynda directly.
3. Child Safety – Of paramount importance within our school community is child safety and the ongoing wellbeing of our children. This is a topic tabled at every board meeting. Last year you may remember that we were involved in piloting the Australian Safe Kids and Young People (ASK-YP) Survey with students and evaluating the benefits for participating schools. The project is intended to inform the review and continuous improvement of child safety cultures across the whole system.

The data we received last year was valuable but in isolation it is limited so we are pleased that the pilot schools will have the opportunity to be involved again this term. We will keep you informed as to when and of the results when we receive them.

4. Friendology – We discussed this new program that has been widely launched into the school this year. It has been extremely well received by the children and has started to become a key underlying principle of how our children interact with each other and how they manage their relationships. I can speak first hand at seeing the positive outcomes that this program has been having on the children and look forward to seeing further growth in this area. To ensure parents remain across this initiative and more importantly understand its place in our school, it has been recommended by the board that the school increase visibility of this through additional communication and touch points for the parents. Please keep an eye out.
5. School Review 2020 – This will be taking place mid to end March. I will report on the outcomes of this as they are made available to us later in the year.
6. Coronavirus – as a current widely discussed topic within the media and the community as a whole we took the opportunity to add this to our agenda for review. It is always important to stay across these events as they occur in our lives. There have been no new updates from the department of education on this and all indicators remain constant. One thing I would urge, which should always be the case but is well worth mentioning in this forum at this time, is to remember the importance of hygiene. Our school are rigorously enforcing strong hygiene habits amongst the children and remain vigilant in this area, which is great to see. This will remain a focus.
7. P & F – I would like to take this opportunity to thank Karen Glancy who has kindly taken up the reins of P&F Coordinator. This year marks a key milestone as Karen is also a serving member of the school board. Establishing a strong link between the school board and the P&F function of our school has been a pet project of mine since taking on the chair role last year and to see this now occur is extremely satisfying. Certainly, in my time at St Catherine’s I have not seen this link established between the two functions and I not only welcome this move but keenly watch to see the great outcomes that will come from a greater level of transparency, communication and engagement between the two functions.

Lastly, and again, please do not hesitate to touch base with one of our school board members if you would like to discuss anything or make anything known. It is our responsibility to represent the parent body within the St Catherine’s school and we are only too happy to do so.

Many thanks for taking the time to read this board report and I look forward to speaking with you around the school grounds.

Darren Forner

Chair – St Catherine’s School Board