Welcome Back

A big welcome back to all our students and school families. The staff are excited to start the new school year. A very special welcome to our Foundation students and new families to our school. We are a welcoming community, so please feel free to ask any member of staff or parents if you have any queries or questions.

We have a number of events planned this term and will need to remain flexible due to Victorian Government COVID restrictions still in place for the beginning of the school year.

Catholic Education Melbourne now called Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) has instructed schools to maintain COVID safe behaviours similar to those in place at the end of the 2020 school year. Our school will maintain the following:

• Hand Hygiene
• Physical Distancing where possible
• Face masks for adults when social distancing is not possible
• Promote outdoor ventilation, to ensure airflow in buildings
• Maintain records of visitors to the school
• Limit the number of adults in indoor spaces and the amount of time onsite
• Follow Victorian Government and Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic School Guidelines

I remind parents that if you or your child is unwell, please do not come to school. Please follow the Victorian Government guidelines 

Parents and Friends Family Picnic

We currently have plans for our School Family Picnic to take place on Friday 12 February from 5:00- 8:00pm. We welcome families to bring along a picnic and socialise with school families. Currently the Victorian Government Guidelines have in place limits for outdoor gatherings. In the next few days parents will receive an Operoo asking you to RSVP to the Family Picnic, so as we can ensure we are following COVID safe behaviour.

Staff Contacts

Parents can locate staff email addresses on the school app or the side menu of the newsletter in the folder labelled staff contacts.

Your child’s teacher is the first point of contact for any matters pertaining to your child’s learning and wellbeing. If you have any concerns about issues of school matters, please feel free to contact me via email, phone, drop by the office or catch me before or after school on the asphalt. 

Important Dates

Our school calendar is also located on the side menu of the newsletter or can be found on the school app. Please note that at times dates of advertised events may change, so I encourage you to check this regularly.

Enrolment Agreement

With the change over from the Parish Priest as the employer of the school to the new Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne Schools (MACS), a new enrolment agreement form for parents to complete is now required. In the next few days parents will receive a hard copy of this form. Please return to the office as soon as possible. The form includes agreement to the following 

• the parent code of conduct
• photo permission 
• school policies and procedures
• 2021 school fee structure
• terms of enrolment

Thank you

Thank you to the families that cared for and watered our gardens during the Christmas holidays. Our Veggies and plants are looking very happy and healthy.

Before and After School- COVID safe 

Just a reminder to families that students are supervised in the morning before school from 8:40am. Classrooms open at 8:45am and school begins at 9:00am. After school teachers will bring students out to the asphalt area for parents to collect their child. Parents are permitted onto the asphalt area. New COVID safe guidelines request parents to limit time on school grounds and especially inside buildings. Schools have been advised to inform parents to wear a mask inside buildings and sign in to the office if they are on the premises for more than 15 minutes. Students are not permitted to play on the playground before or after school. We kindly request that families say a quick hello to friends and leave the school grounds promptly. Thank you for your support.

Canteen

Our school canteen this year will operate on a Friday ( beginning next Friday 5 February) for online orders only. Orders will arrive at school just before the first play break at 10:50am. Students will be asked to eat hot food items at this time and a snack later in the day. 

Parents and Friends are seeking any parent volunteers who may be interested in organising over the counter sales on nominated day. This may include selling icpoles, or small treats. Please contact Karen Glancy on stcathsparentsandfriends@gmail.com

2021 School Fees

2021 School Fee information was sent home to families last year in the eldest in the family child’s report.

All families must return this form, indicating how they would like to pay school fees this year.  Please scan and email back to office@scmoorabbin.catholic.edu.au, place in our school letter box, or hand into the school office.

If you require another copy of this information please come by the school office or call Laura or Paula on 9555 7200.

Medical and Personal Information

If any medical information or personal information for your family has changed ( phone numbers, address etc) please contact the office to give updated information. Thank you.

School Uniform

All students need to now be wearing the correct summer school uniform. This includes hats and sunglasses. School sunglasses are available to purchase from the school office or students may wear sunglasses bought from home. Our new foundation students were provided with school sunglasses last week. Please see the parent handbook or school uniform tile on the school app or newsletter.

Program Support Group Meetings- PSG

Parents attend term meetings with school staff if their child has qualified for additional learning support. Term 1 meeting will take place on Monday 8, Tuesday 9 and Wednesday 10 February. Information regarding booking details from Carmel Donlon, our Student Diversity Teacher, will be emailed to parents today. 

Welcome back, I hope everyone had a restful and happy holiday with time to catch up with family and friends. The buzz as the students entered the classrooms, ready to start a new year was wonderful. 

Our school will start the chat about online safety to celebrate Safer Internet Day on Tuesday 9 February 2021. Safer Internet Day is an opportunity to raise awareness about the safe and positive use of digital technology. It is also a good time to explore the role we can all play in creating a better online community. The beginning of the school year is a great time to revisit how we can all be safer online. 

This global campaign is celebrated by millions of people in 170 countries across the world. Help us make every day a Safer Internet Day! Some recent statistics from the eSafety commissioner highlights the ever changing world on the internet. Did you know? Only 46% of Australian parents report they feel confident about dealing with the online risks their children face and 95% want more information about online safety. To ensure you are up to date with the recent facts and programs available, I would encourage parents to visit the eSafety’s parent page https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents  or register for the free webinar; eSafety’s guide to cyberbullying and online drama  https://www.esafety.gov.au/about-us/events/safer-internet-day-2021/family-and-friends

The eSafety website also has three links on internet safety designed for kids. On the 9th February you might like to start the chat in your house by taking a look at these slides as a family.

https://www.esafety.gov.au/kids/be-an-esafe-kid

https://www.esafety.gov.au/kids/i-want-help-with

https://www.esafety.gov.au/kids/how-esafety-can-help

Dear Parents,

Welcome to 2021. This year I will be the Religious Education Leader at St Catherine’s. 

My role will involve:

• Supporting staff to plan and teach the Religious Education Curriculum
• Plan and lead prayer services throughout the year
• Liaise with the Parish Staff to organise school masses
• Liaise with Parish Staff to deliver the Sacramental Program (Reconciliation- Eucharist- Confirmation)

Prayer to Begin the New School Year

God Our Father

We know that you love us as your created loved ones

Today we pray for your blessing as we begin a new school year

Open our minds to all possibilities that this year holds

Open our eyes to the wonder of each new day

Open our hearts to the love of your spirit

May your hand be with us keeping us from hurt and harm

We ask this through Christ Our Lord

Amen

2021 Sacramental Program

Due to Covid Restrictions in 2020 it was not possible to administer the Sacraments of Reconciliation (Year 3 Students) and Eucharist (Year 4 Students) in 2020. Easing of restrictions at the end of 2020 did allow the School and Parish to organise for the Year 6 students to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation in December. 

Proposed dates for each Sacrament are listed below. Please note relevant dates in your calendars. More detailed information will be sent to relevant families later in the term. Please note that dates may change if Covid Restrictions are changed throughout the year.

Reconciliation- Proposed 2021 dates

Year 3 & 4 students will be eligible to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation in 2021

• Wednesday 3rd March- Reconciliation Reflection Day for students at school
• Wednesday 10th March- 7pm Reconciliation Family Workshop- parent and child attends
• Sunday 18th April- 10.30am Parish Mass- Presentation of Candidates at Mass- family attends
• Sunday 25th April- 10.00am (before Parish Mass) Celebrating Reconciliation
• Sunday 16th May- 10.00am (before Parish Mass) Celebrating Reconciliation
• Sunday 20th June- 10.00am (before Parish Mass) Celebrating Reconciliation

* Online Bookings for Reconciliation will be open after the Family Workshop

Eucharist- Proposed 2021 dates

Year 4 & 5 students will be eligible to receive the Sacrament of Eucharist in 2021

• Wednesday 2nd June-  Eucharist Reflection Day for students at school
• Wednesday 21st July- 7pm Eucharist Family Workshop
• Sunday 7th August- 8.30am Parish Mass-Presentation of Candidates at Mass
• Sunday 8th August- 10.30am Parish Mass- Presentation of Candidates at Mass
• Sunday 15th August- 10.30am Parish Mass- Celebrating Eucharist
• Sunday 19th September- 10.30am Parish Mass- Celebrating Eucharist
• Sunday 17th October- 10.30am Parish Mass- Celebrating Eucharist

* Online Bookings for Eucharist will be open after the Family Workshop

Confirmation- Proposed 2021 dates

Year 6 students will be eligible to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation in 2021

• Wednesday 26th May- Confirmation Reflection Day for students at school
• Date To Be Confirmed - Confirmation Family Workshop
• Saturday 22nd May- 8.30am Parish Mass-Presentation of Candidates at Mass
• Sunday 23rd May- 10.30am Parish Mass- Presentation of Candidates at Mass
• Sunday 6th June- 10.30am Parish Mass- Celebration of Confirmation- All Year 6 students

Term 1 Parish Mass Attendance

Easing Covid Restrictions has meant that we have been able to plan for students and staff to attend the 10.00am Parish Mass.

3rd February- Years 1-6

17th February- Year’s 1-6 Ash Wednesday

3rd March- Year 3/4 students

17th March- Year 1/2 students

24th March- Year 5/6 and Foundation

Parents are welcome to attend as long as Covid Safe Practices are followed.

Shrove Tuesday-Pancake Tuesday 16 February

Each year on Shrove Tuesday the staff cook pancakes for our school community. Pancakes will be available from time from 8:20am in our courtyard. As you arrive at school please feel free to  grab a pancake.

Please contact me by phone or email if you have any questions or require clarification.

Carmel Donlon- Religious Education Leader

Email: carmel.donlon@scmoorabbin.catholic.edu.au

Dear Families and Friends,

On behalf of the P&F, I would like to welcome you all to the 2021 academic year. An especially warm welcome goes to those families who are new to the school.

We have planned a number of events to bring our community together this year. It was lovely that so many people were able to stay and have a drink and a chat on the first morning of school.

The Family Picnic on Friday the 12^th February is the next opportunity for families to spend time together, we look forward to having time to reconnect as a community after a challenging 2020. Please RSVP to the picnic via Operoo so we can ensure we meet the COVID-19 guidelines.

We are reinstating a committee/group of St Catherine’s Parents and Friends this year after a number of years without one and I warmly welcome you to join.  To ensure the entire community is represented and supported by the P&F we would like each class to be represented by at least one person, please contact me to express your interest or talk about how you might be involved or come along to the meeting.

The first P&F meeting for the year on Tuesday the 23^rd February at 7.30pm, dates/times for future meetings will be decided by availability of group members. An invitation will be sent via Operoo including details of the venue during the week.

stcathsparentsandfriends@gmail.com

Karen Glancy