Dear Parents

It has been wonderful to have the children back onsite with us this week.  They have quickly settled into a solid working routine back at school.  Thanks to all parents for your cooperation with the rules and procedures we have to have in place. 

At the time of writing this newsletter we are still awaiting an updated list of what activities can, and cannot, proceed.  At this stage we are planning for all scheduled activities to go ahead in Term 3 and the staff are working hard to reschedule activities that have been impacted by this most recent lockdown.

I remind parents that the following procedures are in place for the safety of all;

• Masks are required to be worn by parents at all times when in the school.
• Parents wishing to come into the grounds to drop off or collect their children must scan the QR code on the way in and wait out the front of the classroom. Please do not enter the rooms and social distance whilst waiting.  You must limit your visit to less than 15 minutes, gates open at 3pm at the end of the day.
• Parents waiting for children in the pick-up lines need to ensure that their children know which carpark to go to.
• If you do park your car you must walk over and collect your child. Please do not call for your children to walk across to your car unaccompanied. 
• Meetings with staff are by appointment only. Any parent that is going to be in the school for more than 15 minutes needs to sign on and complete the COVID form at the Office.
• Please communicate with staff via phone or email.
• The Office is open if required, however, please observe the density limits (maximum of 6 people). It is preferable to phone or email if possible rather than come to the Office.
• All extra cleaning and hand hygiene that was in place is still being adhered to.
• Please do not send food items to share with others when it is your child’s birthday as they cannot be handed out.
• If your child is sick, or displaying symptoms, please keep them at home. Children that present as sick or displaying symptoms at school will be sent home and ask to gain a medical clearance or negative COVID test before they return to school.
• Bubble taps are operational at school.
• An ample amount of sports equipment will be provided at school so we ask that students do not bring equipment from home.

Casual Clothes Day – Last Day of Term Next Friday

Students can wear casual clothes next Friday, the 25^th, if they bring a gold coin donation for the Parents and Friends Committee to put towards their fundraising efforts.  A reminder that school concludes at 2.10pm on this day.

Assembly

Due to restrictions Assembly will take place in an online format until the end of the term.  The login on for this weeks Assembly is  meet.google.com/jmy-pwrt-iaz. Please note that there will not be an assembly next week.

Mrs Shiny Antony Long Service Leave

Mrs Shiny Antony (Grade 5 SA) will be on Long Service Leave for the first three weeks of Term 3.  Due to this her Family Learning Conversations (previously Parent Teacher Interviews) will be held next Tuesday, 22^nd and Wednesday, 23^rd.  Bookings are online for these families.  Please log on to our normal School Booking site,  www.schoolinterviews.com.au  and use the code uvphx to book an appointment for your child.

Shiny’s grade will be taught by Ms Shivonne Stewart whilst she is away.  Shivonne has done a lot of CRT at St Pat’s and is very familiar with the students.  She is working closely with Shiny to make the transition as smooth as possible.

Reports / Family Learning Conversations

Reports will be distributed to families next Friday, the 25^th of June.  Family Learning Conversations (previously Parent / Teacher Interviews) will take place on Tuesday the 20^th and Wednesday the 21^st of July (Week 3 Term 3).   Booking information will be sent to families at the start of next term.

Sacraments

As mentioned last week the Parish are waiting on restrictions to further ease before they plan the new Eucharist dates.  Parents will be informed as soon as possible.

Term Three School Closure Day

Please note that the Term Three School Closure Day is Monday the 12^th of July which is the first day of Term Three.  Staff will be participating in a Learning Adjustment Day with Trinity and Don Bosco Primary Schools.

Important Dates for Your Diary

• Friday 25^th June – Term Two concludes 2.10pm / Reports distributed.
• Monday 12^th July – School Closure Day (staff attending Learning Adjustment PD at Trinity PS).
• Wednesday 14^th Thursday 15^th Friday 16^th – Grade 4 Camp CYC Phillip Island
• Tuesday 21^st / Wednesday 22^nd July – Family Learning Conversations
• Wednesday 4^th Thursday 5^th Friday 6^th August – Grade 5 Camp Sovereign Hill Ballarat

Regards,

Simon

Are You Accessing the Parent Access Module (PAM)?

Over the last six months as a staff we have completed the background work to move onto the SIMON Management System for St Pat’s.  The benefit of this system is eventually we will be able to house all of our student information, assessment data, reporting data and staff information all within the one system. 

A major component in deciding to move to SIMON was also our intent to be able to streamline our mode of communication to parents.  Eventually all communication will come to families through an app called ‘SIMON Everywhere’ which will be a parent one stop shop for all school communication.  However, to get to this point we first need all families to be on PAM.  If you are not yet on PAM you need to search for an email from noreply@stppakenham.catholic.edu.au (please check your junk and spam folders), which contains a link to set up a password, or contact the School Office for assistance or click on the following link to access PAM.  Use your email as the user name and choose 'forget password' to recieve a link to create a password.  

Link to PAM 

Please make the effort to join PAM so we can get to our goal of using the efficient SIMON Everywhere App for communication.  I thank you for your cooperation here.  Please call the Office if you have any further questions.

SIMON -  a Learning Management Software solution for schools.

St Patrick’s Primary school is now using SIMON in the classroom to keep track of your child’s progress and learning as well as attendance.  SIMON will also be used for School Reports and Student Wellbeing.

Access PAM via this link   Link to PAM 

PAM, SIMON’s Parent Access Module

PAM (Parent Access Module) is our new Parent to School communication platform.   PAM will provide real time access to keep parents updated with their children’s progress, important dates and messages. Relevant resources – calendar events, student reports, parent notified absences, absence data and sick bay notes will all be accessed via PAM.

Parents will be able to easily book Parent Teacher interviews through PAM, and access teacher email addresses. 

Parents would have received an email from noreply@stppakenham.catholic.edu.au on Friday 5th March that contains instructions and a link for them to click on.  Please check your JUNK or SPAM mailbox if you do not receive this email.  PAM accounts are linked via your email address that we have in our systems.  If you have recently changed your email or you can not find the email sent on Friday please call or email us on office@stppakenham.cathlic.edu.au

Click on the 'forget password' link to set your password and then verify your email address.  (Email addresses must be verified for PAM to work properly).  Once your email is verified, your email can be used as the username for your account.

Once you have successfully logged in, you can save PAM to your homescreen on your device.

If you have any issues or need help with PAM please contact the school via email, office@stppakenham.catholic.edu.au

Parent Notified Absences via PAM

Once you have PAM set up and saved to your home screen you can easily send in Parent Notified absences.   Please use this platform going forward as this automatically syncs with the class roll.   This will fix the issues of receiving SMS notifications even though you had already notified the school. 

Operoo is still our main platform for communication!  All correspondence will continue to go via the Operoo email platform.  In most cases it will be in Operoo that you will first be notified of any upcoming excursions or events.  Most of these events must first be approved before they appear on any calendar.  

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 child's hayfever letters including symptoms specific to your child!

If you have any problems using Operoo, please call into the school office preferably on a Monday, Thursday or Friday and we will be able to help you.  

SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM 2021

Sacrament Dates for 2021

First Holy Communion - Grade 4 and Grade 5 Students

Communion Masses - Every Saturday and Sunday in May - Booking details have been sent out via Operoo. 

Confirmation - Grade 6 Students

22nd July - Parent Workshop

31st July - 1st August - Enrolment Masses

7th and 8th August - Formation Masses

14th and 15th August - Formation Masses

20th and 21st August - Confirmation Masses

Reconciliation - Grade 3 Students

14th October - Parent Workshop

20th and 21st October - Reconciliation 

Parent Notified Absences via PAM

Once you have PAM set up and saved to your home screen you can easily send in Parent Notified absences.   Please use this platform going forward as this automatically syncs with the class roll.   This will fix the issues of receiving SMS notifications even though you had already notified the school. 

Click on the link below to access PAM.

 Link to PAM 

Please remember to update your contact details and any relevant medical details for your child.  

This can be either done via Operoo or contacting the school office. 

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.  

Paddy's Kitchen's purpose is to make a difference in people's lives, by providing a fresh, nutritious meal in a friendly environment.  Paddy's Kitchen serves every 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month from St Patrick's Pakenham, Parish hall.  Dinner at 6pm 

www.stpatrickspakenham.com.au/paddys-kitchen