Newsletter Thursday 18^th August 2022

We the staff of St Patrick’s acknowledge the traditional owners, the Kulin nations, of the land on which we learn and play.

We pay respects to the Aboriginal Elders, past and present, who are our teachers.

We thank them for taking care of children and country for countless generations.

Good afternoon Parents/carers and guardians,

Welcome to another week! This week marks the end of week 6 and we have 4 weeks remaining for this term. How incredibly quick this year is flying!

Today the grade 6s enjoyed a wonderful Reflection Day as they prepare for the sacrament of Confirmation. Thanks to Noleen Chalmers, our RE Leader and our Grade 6 staff, Tresa Andrews, David Daly and Belinda Couch for leading the students through this day of reflection and prayer. This is a very special moment in the students’ lives and I ask you to join with me in praying for them.

Last week I met with one of the senior engineers working on the Pakenham Level Crossing Removal project. In this newsletter you will find a link for you to click on and access all the information you need to know about road closures and the new stations being built in the Pakenham and Pakenham East area. The students of St Patrick’s will have access to this information through their STEM lessons and hopefully some planned visits so they can also gain a greater understanding of how our community is changing.

levelcrossings.vic.gov.au

or call 1800 105 105

Our Covid cases have remained low which a good sign, however, we still have students suffering other symptoms of cold and flu. We watch the weather closely when making decisions as to whether or not it is suitable for the students to play outside. Whilst the fresh air is very important and a little bit of cold does not hurt, we still need to be mindful of the last 2 years and the lockdowns that have seen our bodies immune systems certainly taking a hit and we are not willing to jeopardise the health of our students and staff.

Stay warm and stay safe!

Take care and God Bless

Meg

Staff update

I am pleased to announce that Ms Katherine Mirabella has been appointed as the replacement teacher in grade 4GD on Thursday and Friday’s for the remainder of the school year. Katherine has been replacing for Mrs Patricia Gibson who went on Maternity Leave in May of last term and therefore she is very familiar with the students and the grade 4 curriculum. Please join me in welcoming her to our St Patrick’s community.

School Uniform Reminders

I would like to remind families please about the importance of wearing our school uniform with pride. I have noticed in the last few weeks that some students are not wearing the correct items and therefore this brings down the presentation of how we present as a school. If your child/ren does not have the correct uniform to wear for a particular day, they must have a note to explain this and this note is to be handed to the teacher. I will be asking staff to follow up if there are still issues.

Thank you for your understanding in this matter.

Child Safe Standards

On July 1^st, 2022, the Victorian Government has announced new Child Safe Standards. The eleven new standards will replace the original 7 and the principles underlying them. Each week in the newsletter, I will be placing a new standard in for parents, carers and guardians to look over. Please note that this is also a major focus for us at St Patrick’s and other DOSCEL schools.

What will be different?

Although similar to Victoria’s current Child Safe Standards, key changes include new requirements:

• to involve families and communities in organisations’ efforts to keep children and young people safe
• for a greater focus on safety for Aboriginal children and young people
• to manage the risk of child abuse in online environments
• in relation to governance, systems and processes to keep children and young people safe.

In complying with Child Safe Standard 5 an organisation must, at a minimum, ensure:

5.1    The organisation, including staff and volunteers, understands children and young people’s diverse circumstances, and provides support and responds to those who are vulnerable.

5.2    Children and young people have access to information, support and complaints processes in ways that are culturally safe, accessible and easy to understand.

5.3    The organisation pays particular attention to the needs of children and young people with disability, children and young people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, those who are unable to live at home, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex children and young people.

5.4    The organisation pays particular attention to the needs of Aboriginal children and young people and provides/promotes a culturally safe environment for them.

SunSmart policy

We have been a SunSmart school for over 15 years now and are proud of the message we continue to reinforce and model effective sun smart behaviours. Our policy states:

The sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation can’t be seen or felt. Whatever the weather, it’s important for people of all skin types to use sun protection whenever UV levels are three or higher.

Too much of the sun’s UV can cause sunburn, skin and eye damage and skin cancer. UV damage accumulated during childhood and adolescence is strongly associated with an increased risk of skin cancer in later life.

By teaching sensible sun protection habits from an early age and implementing sun protection measures, schools can play a significant role in reducing skin cancer risk.

Working closely with SunSmart Victoria and The Cancer Council, St Patrick’s will be requiring all students and staff to wear an appropriate hat from the 1^st of August until the 30^th of April.

TERM 3 school closure day-Last day of term Friday the 16^th September.

On this day, the staff of St Patrick’s will be participating in a RE Professional Development day that is focused on the Inquiry approach to Religion. What this means for our students is when teachers are preparing Religious Education lessons for the students, the scripture that is used, is chosen carefully in order to ensure that the messages coming through, are relevant to the issues facing our children in this modern world. It is about discussing how Jesus approached his life and his interactions with others and how we can apply this to our own lives and learn from the situation.

This year at St Patrick’s, I am pleased to announce that we will once again be introducing Open Days. Open Days are a great way to promote our wonderful school community and to ensure we continue to see our enrolments grow. If you have neighbours that are looking to enrol their children, please let them know about us. The Open Days allow for families to come in at any time during the day and to see the school in action.

Please contact the school office if you have a child that is due to begin school in 2023. If you would like to come for a tour, please contact the school office to make an appointment. Please let your friends and families know about us.

No Right Turn Sign-The Avenue carpark

For those parents using The Avenue car park for drop off and pick up, you will notice a new NO RIGHT TURN sign at the exit of the carpark. This means that traffic exiting The Avenue car park MUST TURN LEFT. Please ensure you are doing the right thing. You are role models for your children and disobeying road rules is not a message that should be relayed to them.

Preteens Youth Group Grades 4, 5 and 6 students-DIVINE-FAITH FORMATION PROGRAMME FOR CHILDREN

St Patrick’s and St Clare’s along with the Parish is setting up the Pre-teens youth group. See the flyer below for the dates and contact numbers if you are interested. This is an excellent opportunity to get to know new people and to have time to discuss your faith whilst having fun and sharing some food and soft drinks. SEE FLYER BELOW.

Notifying the School of an Absence-IMPORTANT

Due to the increase in students not being at school, the office is taking several hours each day to chase up each absent student. I ask all parents to either use PAM or to contact the office directly to let them know that your child/ren will not be at school that day. We have a legal responsibility to know where the students are every day.

Parents please also note, that you are not able to talk to the teacher’s directly when ringing through to the school office. The teachers are in with the students and therefore staff cannot attend to phone calls to parents. If you wish to pass on a message to a teacher, please email them or ring the school office and ask the office staff to pass on the message to the teacher. Thank you.

St Francis Xavier year 7 enrolments 2023-TALK AND TOUR WITH HEAD OF CAMPUS

Any parents wishing to begin the process of enrolling their child/ren for Year 7 at St Francis Xavier next year, may be interested in one of their Head of Campus Talk and Tour dates. Families can register on their website. See below for details.

St Francis Xavier will also be holding specific tours (with translators for Chin speakers and people from South Sudanese languages) for our community and dates will be sent to you when they are confirmed.

Head of Campus Talk & Tour Dates 9.30 to 11.00am

6 September, 11 October, 8 November.

COVIDSAFE MEASURES FOR SCHOOLS

Information for parents, guardians and carers

WATCH FOR SYMPTOMS

• If your child is unwell, even with mild COVID-19 symptoms, you must keep your child at home until their symptoms resolve and get your child tested with a PCR test (nose and throat swab) or complete a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT).
• If symptoms continue, your child should stay home and take another RAT or PCR test in 24 hours. If that test is also negative, your child may return to school if another diagnosis is confirmed (such as an underlying health condition or medication).

FACE MASKS

• Wearing a face mask can help protect you and those around you. Face masks stop droplets spreading when you talk, cough, sneeze and laugh, which lowers your chance of spreading or catching COVID-19.
• It is strongly recommended that face masks are worn indoors (noting that exceptions to the recommendation apply to circumstances when clear enunciation or visibility of the mouth is essential).
• Everyone aged eight (8) years or over must wear a face mask when travelling to and from school, on public transport, taxis or ride share vehicles, unless a lawful exemption applies. This includes when travelling to and from activities, school camps and excursions on school buses or via public transport.
• All students aged eight (8) years or older who are household or household-like close contacts attending a school will be required to wear a face mask indoors while at the school and while travelling to and from the school, unless an exception applies.
• Parents, guardians or carers who are COVID-19 positive who leave self-isolation to transport their child(ren) to or from school via a private vehicle must wear a face mask at all times and must adhere to other additional safety requirements.

VACCINATIONS

• As part of the COVID-19 vaccination roll-out, all students aged five (5) and over are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
• Staff and students are strongly encouraged to ensure they keep up-to-date with all recommended and available COVID-19 vaccinations as they are considered the best way to protect individuals, families and school communities from the spread of COVID-19.

TESTING

• RAT kits will continue to be provided to all staff and students at no charge. Schools will inform parents, guardians and carers on how these kits can be collected from the school.
• If a student has symptoms of COVID-19, they should undertake a PCR or RAT and must self-isolate until they receive a negative test result.

HOUSEHOLD AND HOUSEHOLD-LIKE CONTACTS

• Household and household-like contacts are no longer required to quarantine but are required to undertake the following additional safety measures in the seven (7) days that would have been their quarantine period:

* notify the school if returning during their seven (7)-day period;

* undertake daily rapid antigen testing five (5) times within the seven (7) days;

* wear a face mask indoors (if aged eight (8) and above) unless a lawful exemption applies;

* are not permitted to visit hospitals or care facilities unless an exemption applies.

• Household and household-like contacts are still permitted to participate in school activities, including camps and excursions, as long as they wear a mask when indoors (if aged eight (8) and above or have a valid exception) and complete five (5) rapid antigen tests within the seven (7)-day period that would have been their quarantine period.
• A household or household-like contact attending an off-site activity during this period must notify the school they are attending under these requirements.
• If a student, parent, guardian or carer cannot comply with the additional safety measures at any time, they must: o quarantine immediately for the remainder of their seven (7)-day household contact period

* get tested on Day one (1) (or as soon as possible) and on Day six (6) of their household contact period

* not attend school until a negative Day six (6) test result is received.

COVID-19 POSITIVE CASES

• If your child has no symptoms and there is a positive COVID-19 case in their household, class, year level or other grouping, your child can continue to attend school in line with Victorian Department of Health advice.
• Staff and students who receive a positive RAT result must register it on the COVID-19 Positive Rapid Antigen Test Self-Reporting Form available on the Coronavirus Victoria website https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/report as soon as possible.
• Staff and students who receive a positive RAT or PCR test result must tell their school as soon as possible, and follow Victorian Department of Health advice.

• Students who test positive to COVID-19 must isolate for seven (7) days and not attend school during that period.
• Students who have recovered from COVID-19, are not required to get tested or isolate if they are re-exposed to a positive COVID-19 case within four (4) weeks of ending their isolation period.
• After the four-week exemption period, students must follow the relevant testing and isolation advice depending on the type of COVID-19 contact they are.
• Schools will regularly communicate to parents, guardians and carers about the presence and impact of COVID-19 in their school community. Parents, guardians and carers should expect to be provided with details of any impacted grade, year level or other grouping.

VENTILATION

• The Victorian Government has provided air purifiers for all schools.
• Fresh air is the most effective form of ventilation to minimise the risk of transmission.
• Schools are required to increase fresh air flow into indoor spaces (including shared spaces, staff areas and thoroughfares) whenever possible.
• Using outdoor spaces will continue to be encouraged, where practicable.

ACTIVITIES

• COVID-19 will continue to be considered in all activity risk assessments. Guidance will be provided to schools on applying appropriate safeguards across a range of activities, including school camps and excursions.
• Parents, guardians and carers will be made aware of the risk of exposure and will need to provide their permission for their child’s participation in extra-curricular, out of school hours or off-site activities.

STUDENT COHORTING

• Schools may consider using cohort arrangements, staggered drop-off and pick-ups, break times, playground and canteen access if required.
• Depending on the school, cohort size and timetables, cohorts may be based on classes, years or stages.

VISITORS

• Visitors are required to comply with COVIDSafe measures, including physical distancing requirements and practise respiratory etiquette and good hand hygiene.
• Parents, guardians, carers and other adult visitors are no longer required to show evidence of a COVID-19 vaccine, including when performing work or volunteering at the school.

KEEPING SCHOOLS OPEN

• Parents, guardians and carers are asked to respect the rules at their child’s school to help keep the community safe.
• Schools will do everything they can to maintain continuity of face-to-face learning including the increased use of casual staff.
• Schools will continue to make localised staffing decisions to ensure appropriate supervision can be maintained.
• Schools will not be able to guarantee particular staff for any cohort and students may not have their regular teacher for a class.

LEARNING FROM HOME

• We will continue to monitor the situation and where face-to-face learning is not possible, learning from home options will be supported for short periods.
• Students who are required to isolate or quarantine will be provided with learning materials to support their continued learning. Schools are not expected to provide a full remote learning program in these circumstances.