Newsletter Thursday 8th September 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 week 9! A somewhat quieter one for the school but still plenty of learning going on. This week our Foundation, Year 1 and Year 2 students have been having gymnastics during their sport classes. Our PSG meetings have also continued this week which are always a great support for our students and parents.

I have spent time in the past two weeks meeting with my staff for their Annual Review Meetings as we begin to look towards planning for 2023! It is hard to believe that we are putting 2022 behind us as we prepare for what the new year will bring.

This week we have had a slight rise in COVID cases amongst some staff and students. This is an important reminder that we cannot become lax in our responsibilities towards good hygiene. The school continues to have an extra clean every day to help with this process.

Last week our senior students attended District Athletics and St Patrick’s came sixth out of the eight schools there. What I believe is the most successful part of this day was our students’ behaviour. The teachers were so thrilled with the responsible way the students interacted with the other students and showed respect for all on the day. Some of these students are going onto the Cardinia Divisional Aths Carnival. Good Luck Voiet, Matteo, Lincoln, Marcus and Lewis.

This Friday, the year 6s are off to the Lightning Premiership which will be held at three different venues around the Pakenham and Beaconsfield areas.

Just a reminder that next week is our last week of the school term. The students last day is Thursday the 15^th September at 3.10pm. Friday the 16^th is Professional Learning Day for the teachers and there is more information about this below.

Take care and God Bless

Meg

School Toilets-Important

Just a reminder that NO adults-parents/carers or guardians are to be using the school toilets. This has enormous implications on child safety and any adults caught going into the toilet will be spoken to. Please do not put staff in this difficult position. Thank you for your understanding in this matter.

Notification of Service Rd Closure near the Church car Park-Please see attached

146 Princes Hwy, Pakenham

Tomorrow, there will be major disruption to the Service Rd outside of St Patrick’s PS. This work will affect both the drop off and collection of students. There is a flyer attached below for more information.

2023 Classroom placements

We are in the process of planning for 2023. If a parent/carer or guardian has a particular concern or question around their child/ren’s classroom placement for 2023, this will ONLY be accepted in writing to the principal@stppakenham.catholic.edu.au

The deadline for this communication is Friday the 7^th October 2022.

PLEASE NOTE: This does not mean your child/ren will be granted the particular request. Creating classes is a long and complex process for the staff and all decisions are based on the learning and wellbeing of ALL our students.

Child Safety Week video message

To promote Child Safety Week taking place from 4 September – 11 September, Diocese of Sale Catholic Education Ltd (DOSCEL) has produced a video with a message from Most Reverend Greg Bennet, Bishop of Sale and Ms Maria Kirkwood, Director of Catholic Education, Diocese of Sale.The video showcases the many art entries received from young people to the Diocesan Child Safety Week Art Competition.

The video can be shared or downloaded from ClickView by copying and pasting thefollowing link using a Chrome or Firefox browser

https://clickv.ie/w/Og9t.

Bunnings BBQ

The Parents and Friends will be hosting a Bunnings BBQ on Saturday the 19^th November from 9-4 pm. They will be looking for parents to help man the stand for a 2-hour block at a time. Please think about supporting this wonderful initiative and help to bring more recognition to our wonderful school.

Christmas Concert

I am pleased to announce that St Patrick’s will be bringing the Christmas Concert back. This will be held on Thursday the 1^st December and each grade will be performing. There will be more information to come so please keep the date free.

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 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 8 an organisation must, at a minimum, ensure:

8.1    Staff and volunteers are trained and supported to effectively implement the organisation’s Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy.

8.2    Staff and volunteers receive training and information to recognise indicators of child harm including harm caused by other children and young people.

8.3    Staff and volunteers receive training and information to respond effectively to issues of child safety and wellbeing and support colleagues who disclose harm.

8.4       Staff and volunteers receive training and information on how to build culturally safe environments for children and young people.

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.

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 teachers directly when ringing through to the school office. The teachers are in with the students and therefore staff cannot attend to phone calls from 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.

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.