COVID update

Thank you to families for picking up RAT tests last week and following recommended testing guidelines to keep everyone in our school community safe. Additional RAT kits for the following fortnight are now available for families to collect from outside the school office on Monday 7 and Tuesday 8 February after school. If you are not able to pick the testing kits up, they will be available from our school office.

Our school continues to follow all COVID safe practices to keep everyone safe. Parents/Guardians are encouraged to drop students off and pick them up on the asphalt area. We are limiting the number of adults onsite inside school buildings. 

School Fees

School Fee Statements have been sent out to families. Families need to indicate their preferred payment option. Please contact Laura in the school office if you have any queries. laura.bailey@scmoorabbin.catholic.edu.au 

Contact/ Student Medical Details

Families need to make sure any change of contact details or medical information about students has been updated on Operoo and that the school has been notified.

Program Support Group Meetings

Program support group meetings for students who receive additional learning support will take place in week 3 and 4 of these term. Parents Guardians who attend these meetings have been contacted by Carmel Donlon our Student Diversity Teacher to book a time.

Canteen

I am currently working with a new canteen provider and will notify you as soon as we are able to resume canteen lunches. We are planning to keep online lunch orders on Fridays. Thank you to Angelina ( Juliette and Mateo’s mum) for volunteering to sell icy poles on Fridays at lunchtime.

Curriculum Term Outlines

Teachers will be emailing parents/guardians curriculum term one outline this week. These documents have been created to inform parents/guardians of the learning that will take place throughout the term. Classroom teachers are the first point of contact for questions/queries about your child’s learning or wellbeing.

Advisory School Board

Our advisory school board meets each term. We are seeking two new members to our team this year. If you are interested please contact Toby our school advisory chair toby.sloan@gmail.com  or myself principal@scmoorabbin.catholic.edu.au

Role of the School Advisory Council 

Advisory in nature  

The School Advisory Council provides a forum for discussion and discernment, where the  parent/guardian voice and perspective are available to inform and support the decisions made by  the principal and parish priest for the good of school and parish where the wellbeing and outcomes  for students is paramount.  

It is important that School Advisory Council members understand that their primary role is to  provide support and advice on important school matters to support the principal in the context of  the MACS governance arrangements. School Advisory Councils do not have a legal identity and do  not become involved in the day-to-day management of the school. The School Advisory Council must act within the parameters of these Terms of Reference. 

The role of individual council members 

Qualities and skills of a council member 

Each Catholic school is different, but all schools share the mission of the Church. The council should  be composed of people who appreciate, value and share the educational mission and ethos of the  Catholic Church. When seeking council members it is important to reflect on the qualities and skills  of benefit to the council in carrying out its functions. Their capacity to contribute, their shared  understanding and their positivity is essential. 

The following is a list of some of the key qualities and skills for members of the School Advisory  Council:  

• commitment to the MACS Statement of Mission  
• commitment to Catholic education in the parish and school 
• commitment to the vision and mission of the parish and school  
• an understanding of the role of Custodian of Mission, principal and council members  
• willingness to ask questions and seek clarification  
• ability to think strategically  
• willingness to support the contributions of other council members  
• capacity to listen in an active and meaningful way  
• willingness to work cooperatively with others  
• commitment to maintaining confidentiality at all times

Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools- Terms of Reference- School Advisory Council

Sacraments 2022

I am meeting with Fr Jacob and parish staff next week to confirm the 2022 Sacramental dates. We will let families know dates and how to enrol your child, as soon as possible.

New Staff

We are delighted to welcome new staff to our school community this year. Please see below a little bit of information about our new staff members.

My name is Ciara and I’m very excited to be teaching grade one at St. Catherine’s this year! This will be my third year of teaching. In my spare time I like to exercise, go to the beach and spend time with my friends and family. I have three dogs called Tilly, RJ and Maggie. I look forward to getting to know everyone soon!

Hi families and friends of St Catherine’s, my name is Tess Carlisle and I am the Year2 teacher for 2022. In 2021 I graduated from my Master of Teaching (Primary & Secondary) degree. I look forward to a positive and productive year ahead. 

Hello- My name is Jenny Burnet and I am very excited to be joining the team at St Catherine's in 2022 as a Grade 3/4 teacher. What I love most about being part of St Catherine's is having the opportunity to make a positive impact on our young learners and helping them flourish in all facets of school life. Outside of school, I am passionate about fitness, horses, enjoying nature and spending time with friends and family.

What a great start to the new school year last week. A huge welcome to all of our new families joining our St Catherine’s community.  It was lovely to see all of the smiling faces as they headed towards the classrooms. The playground was a buzz with friends catching up and sharing stories about their holidays. 

Students can have mixed emotions at the beginning of a new school year or new term. It’s important to acknowledge these emotions and let them know that it’s ok to feel this way. Remind students that talking about how they are feeling is a great way for adults to help them get the support they might need each day at home and at school. 

Tuesday the 8th February is International Safer Internet Day. The theme for this year is #Play it Fair Online. Each class will acknowledge this important day with activities assisting the students to learn more about the importance of being safe, respectful and kind when working and playing online at school and at home.

Last Friday or today you will have received a copy of the St Catherine's F-6 Cybersafety Acceptable User Agreement for 2022. We would love each family to read through and discuss the statements on the agreement before signing.  Please return the form on Tuesday 8th February Safer Internet Day as a way to show our school community’s commitment to ensuring the safety of all, when using digital technology at school and at home.

The eSafety Commission have developed several Parent webinars that will be held each month throughout 2022.

We all want young people to be able to socialise, learn and have fun online safely. With so many new online platforms and an infinite amount of information available to teens, it's important Australian parents are informed about safe ways to use technology. eSafety Commission 2022

The webinar for February is: eSafety Parent Guide Helping kids thrive online

The presentation will cover:  

- How to talk to young people about online risks on different social media platforms and games.  

- How to help young people develop skills to protect themselves when they are online.  

- Where to go for help if things go wrong including eSafety and mental health support. 

Tuesday 8 February - 12.30 to 1.30 pm 

Thursday 10 February - 12.30 to 1.30 pm

Wednesday 23 February - 7.30 to 8.30 pm

To register open the following link: Parent Webinars

Take care and stay safe,

Maree