St. Mary's eNews

Term 4 Week 6


Principal's Message 12 November 2021

Dear families,


This has been a most difficult week for so many in our community.


The excitement of returning to school last Wednesday was quickly surpassed by angst as we were notified of our first positive COVID case.

 

It has been understandably most difficult for the large number of families whose children were asked to enter isolation for up to 14 days following exposure. It has also been a trying time for the children who have tested positive and for their families. I am relieved to report that the children are recovering well.


I am hoping and praying that we have come out of the worst of it with the last notification having been received late last Friday night/Saturday morning.


There has been much publicised around the Victorian Government’s introduction of Rapid Antigen Testing being made available to schools from this Monday. As frustrating as it is to hear, we have not as yet been notified through official channels of this rollout. Unfortunately, Government initiatives have a long tradition of slow and painful implementation. To give you an example, we are still waiting for our promised supply of air purification devices after the announcement on 22 September 2021.

I can only assure you that we will let you know as soon as we are notified. We want to be able to have our children out of isolation the minute they are able to.


I know that there are many families who feel trepidation towards having their child return to school for many legitimate reasons. I can understand these concerns given the disruption that going into isolation has brought so many of you.  

As previously reported, we are unable to offer remote learning to students once their Day 14 has passed.  It is untenable for teachers to offer both an online and onsite learning model.  Under the guidelines we adhere to, the provision of online learning is only to be offered to students who have been told they need to isolate. Once the isolation period is deemed to be over and students have received a negative test result, online learning ceases as it is expected that these students will return to school. 


Earlier this week, I invited nurses from the Infection Control Department at the Department of Health to come to St Mary’s to audit our COVIDSafe practices.  They visited all the classrooms and communal areas, looked at our COVIDSafe Plan and offered helpful hints to enhance our current practices.  They were happy with the procedures St Mary’s has in place and were only able to offer a few very minor suggestions such as hand washing signs near sinks, and the removal of bin lids to prevent these being high touch areas.  It was reassuring to hear that what was suggested to us has been common to most of the areas they have visited and that we are doing a good job of trying to keep everyone in the school safe.


There are many students waiting for their Day 13 to arrive. I have been notified that the Mason Street testing site has closed down.  

Altona North Respiratory Clinic (Part of the Altona North Medical Group) in Blackshaws Rd is taking bookings for testing either online or by calling 9393 3977. The Respiratory Clinic has doctors onsite and they see patients with symptoms, unlike many local practices.


I want to thank you for your support during these exceptionally trying times. 



Plans for 2022 are well under way. If your family won’t be returning to St Mary’s in 2022, please contact us as soon as possible.



In mixed community news this week, we share the lovely news that Ms Niamh Bannon gave birth to a healthy baby girl, Ciara Dolores on 2 November.  Congratulations to Niamh and Brett!

We also keep Lucy, our parish secretary, in our prayers this week, after Lucy’s husband passed away last weekend.



We are looking forward to having most of our students return to onsite learning by the end of next week.


Let’s pray that we can get a good run of onsite learning.



Regards and best wishes,

Sonia



World Teacher's Day 2021

This Wednesday the 3rd of November, not only did we welcome our whole student body back onsite, but we also celebrated World Teacher's Day. Originally planned for October 29th, we held off celebrations until we could have most of our wonderful staff back onsite also. This day offers us the chance each year to celebrate the bright future of teaching and for communities to thank Australia’s teachers. You may have seen the #BrightFuture hashtag on your socials over the past week or so as teachers and communities celebrated and acknowledged this day around the country.

Here at St. Mary's, we would like to take a moment to say that we could not be more appreciative of the effort of all our teaching staff, this year above all others. Our staff have shown extraordinary adaptability, resilience, bravery, and strength over the many lockdowns and in the many ways in which they have presented learning this year and we could not be prouder. Our staff have consistently put the needs of their students first and so as a small token of our appreciation, a celebratory morning tea was organised for Wednesday. As you can see below, this included some handmade sweets in our school colours no less for staff to take and enjoy.









New Ways November

This month Action for Happiness are exploring new ways forward. Getting absorbed in a new activity is a great way to boost your wellbeing. Trying out new things also brings challenge and fulfilment - and can help us make new friends too! The New Ways November calendar is full of ideas to help you try new things or take new approaches to things you do already.
Click here for a pdf version.

Why not share it with a friend?

You can also use the app to receive the daily calendar actions and join a supportive community putting these into practice.

Learning Diversity: User B

In Term 3, Lisa Said and I were lucky enough to be trained to administer a number of educational assessments . This training is  known as User B training.  Early in 2022, Matt Taylor will also participate in this course.


These assessments can only be administered if the person giving the test has completed the extensive training. Teachers can refer students who they think would benefit from being assessed. These assessments are designed to identify the strengths and weaknesses of a student. Once identified, strategies can be designed to support the student at school or it may be necessary to refer this child for additional assessments by another trained professional such as a Speech Therapist or Psychologist.

Parents will be notified and asked for their permission before any test is administered by Lisa, Matt or myself. 


Below are the tests we were trained in and a brief description of their purpose.


RAVENS 2

  • Nonverbal cognitive screener
  • Estimates general cognitive ability, giftedness and intellectual disability
  • Useful to determine the need for more comprehensive testing


PPVT (Peabody Picture Vocab test)

  • Measures receptive vocabulary acquisition
  • Can detect vocab impairments which could be a sign of a  Language Disorder
  • Identifies appropriate interventions
  • Identifies students at risk for reading difficulty


WIIAT-111

  • Identifies the academic strengths and weaknesses of a student
  • Informs decisions regarding eligibility for educational services, educational placement, or diagnosis of a specific learning disability
  • Designs instructional objectives and plans interventions
  • 20 subtests - Listening Comprehension/ Written Expression/Reading/Maths

KEY MATHS 3

  • Diagnostic Assessment  to comprehensively assess students’ maths skills, from early rote counting ability through to factoring polynomials
  • Basic concepts, Operations and Applications
  • Content range from Pre-K to Year 9

We are so lucky to have access to these assessment tools and feel that they will greatly benefit our students as they will be able to give us a more comprehensive picture of a student's educational strengths and needs.

Cathy Sims

Learning Diversity Leader



Book Fair

Get ready for this year's much anticipated Book Fair! 

Please read for an update on how the Book Fair will run this year
 
Book Fair (Tuesday 23/11 - Wednesday 1/12):
Unfortunately, the current restrictions still in place mean that next week's Book Fair will not be open before and after school. 
However, children will still have a walk-through tour with their class, where they can write a Wish List. An additional Wish List will also be sent home. 
To purchase books, please send your child's Wish List back to school with either cash or a receipt number, if paid online.
The Book Fair will be "open" for orders from Tuesday the 23rd of November, to Wednesday the 1st of December. 
Thanking you for your ongoing support,
Beryl (Book Club) and Milly (Library)


 Every purchase made at the Book Fair earns resources for our school, so come and take a look! 
 


Introducing ~

I feel very lucky to be working at St Mary’s Altona, so early on in my career. I absolutely love being a teacher, especially in this community. Back in 2019, I was a student teacher on placement with Ms Densmore and Prep D. 

I was so drawn to the community - the students, their families and especially the supportive staff that I learnt from.   On this placement, I experienced St Mary’s infamous “Footy Fun Day” and I felt right at home in my red, white and blue!! Go the dogs!!


I was thrilled to be welcomed as a graduate teacher and teach my very first class, 1/2B of 2020. Never in a million years did I think that I would begin my career enduring the complexities of remote learning. I would call it a once in a lifetime experience, but we are on a fourth in a lifetime experience now (and counting...).


Before graduating with a Masters in Primary Teaching, I completed a Bachelor of Health Sciences and majored in Anatomy and Physiology. My heart and passion has always been in teaching but I enjoyed my bachelors, in particular my pharmacology and cardiovascular subjects. I used to keep up my knowledge in this area after my studies, but I’ve really clocked out since covid.


I love travelling and sightseeing. My nationality is Macedonian, so I of course love travelling to the ‘motherland’ and visiting my hundreds of family members -aunties, uncles and cousins, cousins, cousins. I have also loved travelling to other destinations including Barcelona, Rome, London and Hawaii. 


I love the ocean, it is ‘my calm’, so you may see me walking to Altona beach at lunch time or afterschool from time to time… especially during report writing season! Report writing season also calls for lots of desserts, and as my students would know I LOVE donuts! I can never say no to dessert.



The Australian Mathematics Competition

In early August, 69 of our Years 3-6 students participated in the Australian Mathematics Competition (AMC), an annual competition held by the Australian Mathematics Trust. The Year 3-4 students sat the test onsite while the 5-6 students sat the test online after we went into lockdown. 

The AMC offers five papers: Middle Primary (Years 3–4), Upper Primary (Years 5–6), Junior (Years 7– 8), Intermediate (Years 9–10), and Senior (Years 11–12). It has 25 multiple-choice questions and five questions that need whole number answers. Students may attempt as many questions as they wish. The earlier problems may use more familiar mathematics while the later problems are more difficult and intended to challenge, needing more sophisticated problem-solving skills.

We were incredibly pleased with just how many of our students took up the offer to participate given it was our first foray into the competition and are already looking forward to competing again next year. Particularly encouraging was that 54% of our participants were female, earning 12 of the 22 Credit certificates. On Monday, at assembly, we took some time out to aknolwedge each participant and to recognise some special achievements. Over 36% of all participants this year were awarded a Credit certificate or higher and we could not be prouder of every student who competed.

We would again like to congratulate Aidan, Roland and Miller for their Distinction awards after placing in the top 6%, 12% and 19% respectively of the state in their age groups. A special certificate was also awarded to Aidan for achieving our highest standardised score this year. Well done Aidan and good luck for next year's competion from all at St Mary's.

We're counting on you to compete again next year.

Ronnie Tucker, Lisa Said & Matthew Taylor

                                            



Community News

Take a look at this weeks Community News! Please read our reminder from the Canteen. We also have a message from Emmanuel College, the Church bulletin, some info from Hobsons Bay Library regarding their upcoming scheduled programs, and tutoring information from Now We're Talking.

A reminder that prices have been altered at the Tuck Shop, so please double check when ordering that you are providing the correct amount. You can find the current price list here



Church Bulletin

Emmanuel College News

Hobsons Bay Library Programs

Now We're Talking - On site tutoring available 

Social Skills Group Program

Community News

Take a look at this weeks Community News! Please read our reminder from the Canteen. Check out the new Softball program info. We also have a message from OSHC Camp Aus, Emmanuel College, the Church bulletin, Hobsons Bay Library's upcoming scheduled programs, & Early Secondary Info Sessions.

A reminder that prices have been altered at the Tuck Shop, so please double check when ordering that you are providing the correct amount. You can find the current price list here



Softball Batter Up Program 

- The Hawks Fastpitch Softball Club affiliated with Werribee Softball Association will be running a Softball Batter Up Program for 4-8 year old’s starting on Saturday 20 November for 5 weeks from 9.30am – 10.30am. The program will be delivered with COVID safety measures in place. Click the link for more information!

Church Bulletin

2022 Early Secondary Information Sessions

Camp Australia OSHC Talent Week 

Emmanuel College News

Hobsons Bay Library Programs

Now We're Talking - On site tutoring available 

Social Skills Group Program

Safety messages from around the classes

In the lead up to Red Day for Child Safety, our classes had discussions about being safe and keeping safe.  They put together this slide presentation with loads of great messages about putting safety first.  Click here to take a look and their wonderful work. Include it in your discussions at home.