Dear families,

What a truly exciting time it has been this week as we welcomed many classes back to onsite learning! I must admit, when I first heard the Premier’s announcement about a staggered return, my thoughts immediately turned to what a logistical nightmare that would be. 

One week down, I feel that this has been a most beneficial start to the return. It has given the children a small trial of being back but has also allowed them to rest and recover before the full time return resumes in a short while.

I understand that as parents and carers, you carry with you very mixed emotions. On one hand, there is a palpable relief that our children are finally able to experience education in its intended form, but for many, there are concerns for the safety and wellbeing of your children, not just around the virus, but for their general wellbeing and how they will manage being back at school. All we can do is prepare as best we can and take on whatever comes as the strong community we are.

It’s great to see that nearly all our Year 5/6 students are able to wear masks. Such a small number of students with exemptions means that in the event of a positive case in the school, there will be a very quick turn around, minimising the number of days we would need to shut down.
There were a number of changes announced in the past few days outlining the process schools will take in the event of a positive COVID case. Given the current numbers and some of the freedoms that have been reintroduced, it is likely we will find ourselves in this scenario sooner rather than later. 

I can assure you that we are adhering to all measures required of us. This should hopefully ensure that any disruption to further onsite schooling is significantly minimised.

At this stage no further revisions have been made in regards to the return to onsite learning. As you would know, this can change at any time with little notice. We will inform you of any changes as they are confirmed through MACS (Catholic Education). It usually takes a few days between governmental announcements and official paperwork.

In case you missed it on Operoo, here is the outline of next week’s staggered return.

Please also note the following:

• Students may enter from any gate in the morning. These gates will be open between 8:30 and 8:45.
• Students coming to school after 8:45 will need to use the office entrance. Parents are currently unable to accompany children to classrooms
• The canteen is open everyday in Term 4 for Lunch Orders only
• Please note the dismissal times and specific gates for your children in the link above as some times are different due to the number of year levels onsite and the necessity to keep them separate

Staff News

Ms Gallagher

Yesterday afternoon Ms G gave birth to a beautiful, healthy baby boy, Oliver Milton. Ms G was told he'd be a big boy and the doctors were not wrong! He came into the world weighing 4.49kg.
Mum and bub are both doing well. 




2022 Update

Teachers

During our Prep Information session held via Zoom on Tuesday this week, we announced that Kathleen Smith and Mel Bubevich will be our Prep Teachers for next year. 
At this stage we have not yet finalised our teachers for the remaining year levels.

Uniforms

Our transition to a new offsite uniform provider is currently on hold. When we are finally able to have parents back onsite, we will hold some in-person forums to explore our options before finalising new uniforms. This will most likely occur early next year some time.
Rest assured that whenever the change commences, we will be allowing a 2-year window for families to transfer over to the new style, so you can be comfortable that any purchases you make now will not be in vain.

Have a wonderfully free weekend!

Blessings,

Sonia

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Take a look at this weeks Community News! We have a message from Emmanuel College, the Church bulletin, and tutoring information from Now We're Talking.
Emmanuel College News

Church Bulletin 

Now We're Talking - On site tutoring available 

Social Skills Group Program

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Earlier this year, one of our Prep students approached me with an idea for the playground. He asked for a giant chess set so students could play together during break times. He had seen a set during a family outing and thought it would make a great addition to the school playground.

I discussed with him the possibility of raising funds towards it this year. The year had other plans however and as such we have not been able to hold any fundraising events.

We took the plunge and bought the set anyway.

In a true demonstration of student voice and empowerment in action, this student’s persistence paid off and St Mary’s is now the proud owner of a giant chess set.

We have bought some outdoor furniture to house the pieces and will be putting in some rules around how to share this latest purchase.

Congratulations to this student for his articulate persuasion!

Mrs Riccardi

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Zali and Jack, our student wellbeing leaders, have been busy organising activties for Red Day for Child Safety which will be held on Friday 29th October. 
   Students are asked to wear a splash of RED on the day, whether it's to school (with their uniform) or to their online class meetings. Students will be involved in class discussions in the coming weeks about how they can be safe and how they can ensure the safety of others. Classes will contribute messages about being safe to a Google Slide presentation which we will share with the community. 

Come along to our live assesmblies (Mondays at 2.30pm) or take a look at our assembly slides shared via Seesaw.  Jack and Zali are giving a safety message each week that are great reminders for eveyone about the importance of keeping child safe.

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Although many other rules around COVID protocols have changed, it is still a requirement that students in Year 3 to 6 wear masks when indoors on school premises, unless a medical exemption applies.

Thanks to everyone who has been wearing their mask in the correct way.

 We understand that some children may feel uncomfortable and anxious about doing this so we have sourced this short story that can be read with them.

The story explains in simple terms the importance of doing so. 
Click here to access.

Lawful medical exemptions exist for the following only:

• A physical or mental health illness or condition, or disability, which makes wearing a face covering unsuitable

• Obstructed breathing (this does not generally include Asthma)

• A serious skin condition of the face

• An intellectual disability

• A mental health condition

• persons who have experienced trauma

 

If your child qualifies for an exemption, please contact Sonia to discuss this further. 

Students who are exempt may choose to consider wearing a face shield.

It is an expectation that for the safety of all staff and other students, that all students unless lawfully exempt, wear a mask when indoors onsite. 

Students who do not wear a mask will be asked, when and where practicable, to maintain distance from others when indoors.

It is highly recommended that students in Prep-2 wear face masks but this is currently not a requirement.

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Just a reminder that hats must be worn through until the end of April 2024.

Hats should be school legionnaire style or broad brimmed in keeping with our sun smart policy.

 Please ensure that your children have the correct hat to wear.....NO HAT, NO PLAY.

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A reminder that the Tuckshop is open everyday but only for lunch orders. Lunch orders should be placed in the class tub as children enter the classroom. 

   No over the counter purchases can be made at this stage.

  Click here to access our Tuck shop menu.

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Hello! My name is Belinda and I’ve joined the St.Mary’s Learning Support team. 

   I never imagined I’d end up living in Melbourne and working in a Primary school when I moved away from my home town of Orange in regional NSW (about 25 years ago now!)

 
 When I left there, I said goodbye to a childhood that shaped me and which I consider a great blessing. Nearly all my free time there was spent outside. There was lots of freedom and joy riding on home-made flying foxes, jumping off roofs into piles of Autumn leaves and running around paddocks. It mattered because it gave me loads of positivity and a zest for life! 

I went on to study at Uni in Sydney, and won my first job at the ABS, pursuing my interest in publication writing and research on social and population change. Later, I shifted gear and focussed more on state government policy in the Department of Premier & Cabinet in Melbourne.

 

Love, marriage and motherhood saw my priorities change. I quit my office job to focus on my family and community. I threw myself into being a full time mum and volunteering in community. My time out of the workforce gave me the opportunity to meet the most inspirational people: coaches, teachers, nurses, charity groups, landscape architects ... the people who just get their jobs done, working tirelessly to make the lives around them better and their community more beautiful. They made me realise that we can all make a difference just by turning up and being there for others. This realisation, along with the joy of working with children in my volunteer work, led me to where I am now.

 

I try to be balanced and live to a daily motto of:  “Something for family, something for community and something for myself”. So, between my work and raising three kids, I try to be kind to myself. Some of my loves are art, live music, the ballet, staying active, running with my GSP along the beach, gardening and cooking up feasts. I love to learn; no topic is off-limits!

 

I look forward to meeting more of the St Mary’s community. It’s a great place to be! 

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As parents are still unable to come onsite for prolonged visits, our uniform shop will be open for online orders only.  

  You can place an order by emailing the order form to stmarysaltonauniforms@gmail.com 

  Orders will be sent home with your child.

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Action for Happiness has procuded their calendar for October.  It focuses on being Optimistic.
  The Optimistic October calendar is full of ideas to help you set meaningful goals and find new perspectives on challenges you're facing.
Here's some more ideas about how you can get involved and make a difference:

• Take daily actions using our calendar and app
• Go deeper & learn more by joining a local group
• Spread the word on social media #OptimisticOctober

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