Dear Parents,

Over the period of lockdown most children were probably spending more time on their devices as they were unable to leave the home.  I strongly encourage you as their parents to keep a close eye on what they are doing online as there are many risks associated with being in the cyber space.

We have recently become aware that outside of school hours many students have been participating in chat rooms amongst themselves, be it via games that they are playing or specific apps.  Some of the conversations happening here have been inappropriate and have required follow up at school as we have been made aware.   Again, I urge you to please keep a close watch on your child’s online activity.

End of the Year

As we head towards the end of the term we are slowly starting to get more of an indication of what is and isn’t possible in regards to end of year events and activities.  As a staff we have begun the process of planning what these will look like and when they are finalised we will forward the details onto parents. 

Online Assemblies

As mentioned in the newsletter last week we will be commencing online assemblies as of tomorrow afternoon.  Students will join from their classroom space with their teacher.   Parents will be most welcome to join us (on mute please!).  The Grade 6 Leaders will be running these assemblies.  This week’s assembly is at 2.15pm on the following link;

 
meet.google.com/qqa-epgf-iog

COVID Procedures

I remind parents that the following COVID safe procedures remain in place;

• No child is to be dropped at school before 8.40am. Parents are not to park but rather use the drop off lane. 
• As per last term when we were on-site we have a staggered afternoon collection. Families with a surname beginning with A - K need to collect their children at 2.55pm. Families with the surname beginning with L - Z collect their children at 3.10pm.  Again: we ask that you do not park and if you place your surname inside the front window it assists us enormously to hasten up collection.  
• If you are running late for whatever reason please park in the service road at the front of the school and call the Office from the front gate. Admin staff will then come out and meet your child and take them to their classroom.
• There will be no before school play and students will go straight to their classrooms.
• Birthdays – we are very happy to acknowledge and celebrate your child’s birthday with them in the classroom. However, due to COVID, children cannot bring chocolate, lollies etc. to share with others for their birthday.
• The children are not to bring sports equipment from home. It will be provided at school and sanitized regularly.
• Promoting age-appropriate hygiene practices for all students.
• Every child must have their own drink bottle, bubble taps are switched off.
• Reminding all students to wash their hands with soap and water or when this is not possible, use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser on arrival at school and regularly throughout the day.
• Reinforcing with students the following hygiene practices;
  • cough and/or sneeze into their elbows or a tissue,
  • place used tissues straight into the bin,
  • avoid touching eyes, noses or mouths,
  • not to share food or drink,
  • not to drink from water fountains or bubblers directly (they will be switched off).
• Extending school cleaning programs during the school day, including cleaning school playground equipment after use.
• Communication with teaching staff is via email, dojo or phone.
• The School Office is open by appointment only.
• Remote Learning work will not be provided for those parents that choose to keep their children at home.
• A critical aspect of the return to on-site learning will be a strict enforcement of the community requirements to maintain physical distancing especially at the start and finish of the school day.

For parents and guardians;

• Practise physical distancing and avoid long periods of time in close contact with other adults.
• Use the telephone, dojo or email to contact staff rather than visiting the school.
• Do not enter the school grounds.
• Adhere to the school’s pick and drop off requirements for students.
• Parents, guardians and carers will also be required to wear a face mask when attending the school, including when dropping off or picking up your child(ren) or if you are required to collect an unwell child(ren) from school, unless an exemption applies.
• If your child is experiencing signs or symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19), they must not attend the school until their symptoms resolve and appropriate medical advice is obtained. This includes those showing even mild symptoms of COVID-19. Medical clearance confirmation needs to be emailed to the Office prior to return.
• The symptoms to watch out for are fever, chills or sweats, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, runny nose, loss of sense of smell.

2021 Foundation (Prep) Enrolments

As mentioned last week the guidelines that we have to adhere to have changed for schools in the Cardinia Shire regarding Foundation Transition.  Because of this we have organised new transition dates for later in the term that will hopefully be able to go ahead.  The new dates for the transition are as follows;

• Wednesday 2^nd December – 9.30-11.30am
• Thursday 10^th December – 9.30 – 11.30am

We apologies to affected families for this inconvenience and thank you for your understanding. This unanticipated change was beyond our control.  

We continue to take 2021 Foundation enrolments.  If you need enrolment forms, or know of someone else who does, can you please request them at office@stppakenham.catholic.edu.au  Unfortunately, during this pandemic we cannot take tours or hold large gatherings, however we are holding meetings over the phone with those that inquire.

Noone (school uniform clothing company) have informed us that they are open for Foundation student fittings.  All enrolled families should have received an email from the School Office outlining how to book.

Camps and Excursions

Unfortunately, due to COVID, camps and excursions are cancelled again for Term Four. Many of the events and activities that were planned for the year did not eventuate.  Fil will be contacting families over the next few weeks regarding levies that have been paid and whether families would like a refund or credit.

Fees

Where a family holds a valid Health Care Card there is a concession applied to the school fee account. This year to qualify, the card had to be valid before 14th April, however, for this year only, this eligibility period has been extended until 5th October.

If you have recently become eligible for a Health Care Card, please contact Fil in the school office by email: fil@stppakenham.catholic.edu.au . You will need to provide a copy of your Health Care Card and fill in the attached CSEF Application that is included with this newsletter. 

Please also feel welcome to call Fil if your family circumstances have changed and you would like a confidential discussion regarding fees.

Regards,

Simon

If any families are struggling at this time and would like to reach out for a chat or support please contact Meg Escalante, our Wellbeing officer, via email on mescalante@stppakenham.catholic.edu.au.  You can also see the leaflet below from the Be You website which has contact numbers for you to call. 

Fact Sheets are accessible through the following seven themes:

Remembrance Day is commemorated every year on 11 November to mark the end of the war which took effect at eleven o'clock in the morning—the "eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month" of 1918. 

On this day we remember all those who have died in wars.

Prayer for Remembrance Day

 Let us pray for all who suffer as a result of conflict,

 and ask that God may give us peace:

 for the service men and women who have died in the violence of war

, each one remembered by and known to God;

 may God give peace.

God give peace.

For those who love them in death as in life,

 offering the distress of our grief and the sadness of our loss;

may God give peace.

God give peace.

 For all members of the armed forces who are in danger this day,

remembering family, friends and all who pray for their safe return;

may God give peace.

God give peace.

 For civilian women, children and men whose lives are disfigured by war or terror,

calling to mind in penitence the anger and hatreds of humanity;

may God give peace.

God give peace.

For peacemakers and peacekeepers, who seek to keep this world secure and free;

may God give peace.

God give peace.

For all who bear the burden and privilege of leadership, political, military and religious;

asking for gifts of wisdom and resolve in the search for reconciliation and peace;

may God give peace.

God give peace.

O God of truth and justice, we hold before you those whose memory we cherish, and those whose names we will never know.

Help us to lift our eyes above the torment of this broken world, and grant us the grace to pray for those who wish us harm.

As we honour the past, may we put our faith in your future; for you are the source of life and hope, now and for ever. Amen.

SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM 2020

Due to the continuing COVID restrictions, there will be no  celebration of the Sacraments in 2020. The children in grade 6 have been prepared for the Sacrament of Confirmation and will hopefully celebrate it next year. The children in grade 4 are being prepared for the sacrament of First Eucharist and will receive First Communion next year. The children in grade 3 are being prepared for the sacrament of Reconciliation and will receive it early next year.

Hopefully we will be able to accommodate the extra numbers in 2021.

This bike has been left in our bike shed.  If it belongs to you please contact the school office on 5943 9000 or email office@stppakenham.catholic.edu.au.

Have you installed the new SZapp?   

Skoolbag is no longer being used, install SZapp now! 

 Follow the installation guide below to install the new app on your smart devices.  

By now you would of realised that Care Monkey has changed there name to Operoo so all the correspondance you would have recived from the Care Monkey Administrator is now Operoo Administrator.   When you log in to Care Monkey you will be redirected to the Operoo webpage but please update your bookmarks and links as soon as you can.   The way the program looks and the way you use it hasn't changed.  

Please remember to update any details in Operoo, for example change of address or phone number,  this will send us a message that your details have changed and we are then able to update our database.

Don't forget to upload your childs hayfever managment plans including symptoms specific to your child!

Melbourne Metropolitan Stores open from 9am Wednesday 28 October 2020.  We look forward to welcoming you in-store.

Beaconsfield Store

Beaconsfield Hub - Shop 4 , 52-62 Old Princes Hwy ,

Beaconsfield Vic 3807

Contact Details

Phone: 03 9769 9093

Fax: 03 9769 5345

Email: beaconsfield@noone.com.au

Trading Hours

Monday to Friday 9.00am - 5.00pm
Saturday 9.00am - 1.00pm
Closed Sunday & Public Holidays

Click here for online shop