Newsletter: Term 3, Week 4
Calendar of Dates:
Principal's News:
Welcome Parents and Carers;
We have had four great weeks to begin Term 3 and our children and teachers are all working
incredibly hard each day in all areas of learning. Seeing and hearing the progress each child is
making is very rewarding and I am always impressed by the hard work children show to
achieve new skills and consolidate those already learnt. The preliminary NAPLAN report
shows that our year three and our year five students have produced very pleasing results in
the NAPLAN testing. Our school assemblies are running to a tight schedule and the
responses from students, parents and teachers have been very positive. Just a reminder that all
are welcome to our assemblies, they are not restricted to parents and family of a child in a
particular year.
Of course, it has been wonderful that we have been able to maintain our onsite learning and
whilst we have had some students and staff away due to COVID, for the most part, we have
been able to continue our learning programs without too much disruption. With this in mind,
I urge all families to keep up the good practices we have in place in regard to protecting
ourselves at home and at school. Our most recent government advice, in regard to mask
wearing is that, whilst not mandated, it is still recommended that students over 8 wear face
mask indoors and all students continue hand sanitizing when appropriate. RAT testing kits
will continue to be provided throughout term 3.
A Prayer for Ukraine
Whilst our daily news may not be as focussed on the war on Ukraine as it was when this
terrible trouble began it is important that we keep the people of Ukraine and those in Russia
in our hearts as they continue to struggle for peace.
Loving God, We pray for the people of Ukraine and those in Russia, for all those suffering or afraid, that you will be close to them and protect them.
We pray for world leaders, for compassion, strength and wisdom to guide their choices.
We pray for the world that in this time of crisis, we may reach out in solidarity to our brothers and sisters in need.
May we walk in your ways so that peace and justice become a reality for the people of Ukraine, Russia and for all the world.
Amen.
Book Week
Our celebrations of The Children's Book Council of Australia's (CBCA) Book Week is rapidly approaching. Indeed, it is now time for staff, students and parents to start getting your costumes organised.
In the lead up the Book Week festivities, our teachers have been reading the short listed books to their classes and working through activities highlighting themes and characters found in the books.
COVID-19 UPDATE
COVID UPDATE - Term 3
- The reinfection exclusion period has been reduced from 12 weeks to 28 days. People who have symptoms of COVID-19 within 28 days following their release from isolation do not need to test and isolate for 7 days.
- Face masks are no longer required to be worn in schools, early childhood centres or on public transport unless the person is a close contact.
- Primary school students do not need to wear a face mask.
- At this time we are encouraging visitors to our school to wear a mask.
- Students and staff may choose to wear a face mask whilst at school and will be supported in doing so.
- If your child is ill and it is not a result of COVID, then work will not be sent home. If your child is ill because of COVID and is well enough to complete work then please contact your child’s teacher who will supply work for you.
Confirmed cases
Should a student or member of staff test positive for COVID-19 they must:
- Isolate then return on the seventh day.
- Notify household close contacts of the need to observe close contact requirements when leaving their homes.
- Notify the school of their positive test results.
It is recommended RATs are used by students and staff only when symptomatic. RATs are also required to be used for five days if a student or staff member is in close contact with a confirmed case and is attending or working at a school.
It is not recommended that non-symptomatic students or staff continue to conduct RATs twice a week in mainstream schools and five days a week in specialist schools.
Close contacts
Household close contacts of a confirmed case are no longer required to isolate at home. For a close contact to leave home they must:
- Not be symptomatic (must remain at home if they are)
- Return a negative test each day before leaving home for the 7 days following their last contact with the confirmed case.
Thank you for your support and co-operation.
Working with Children’s Check
Are you thinking about helping out at school this year?
You must apply for a WWC Check before starting child-related work and passing the Check to continue this work. You are doing child-related work if:
- your work is paid or voluntary
- your work is connected to one or more of the occupational fields listed in the Act
- your work involves regular direct contact with children
- this work is not directly supervised by another person.
Some exemptions apply.
To assess your suitability to work with children, the Check examines your national criminal history and, where appropriate, professional disciplinary findings for relevant offences.
If you pass the Check, you will receive a WWC Check card enabling you to participate in child-related work for five years. During this time, your criminal and professional records will continue to be monitored.
If the Department of Justice believes that you should not pass the Check, you will have an opportunity to make a submission explaining why you think you should pass the Check. If you do not pass the Check after your submission has been considered, you may appeal the department’s decision through the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).
To apply, go to this website, http://www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au/
If you are a volunteer, there is no cost involved. Some parents have been contacted about their expired WWC. If this affects you, please get in touch with Karen in the office ASAP.
Transition to Primary School
The move from kindergarten to primary school is the start of big changes in a child’s life, development and education. We acknowledge how daunting this move can be and we try to make the move as seamless as possible. Our transition program is guided by the following practices:
- visits by children between early childhood services and schools
- visits by teachers to early childhood services
- exchanging information about a child’s learning and development
- an orientation day at the new school
- a ‘buddy’ system where older school children help Prep children to have a welcoming experience from the start of primary school.
Jess has been meeting with the kinder teachers over the last fortnight and we will soon commence an orientation program for the Creswick kinder students.
Enrolments for 2023
If you have a pre-schooler turning five before April 30th 2023, please get your “application for enrolment” form filled in and delivered to the school office as soon as possible. This will help us with planning staffing and class groups for next year. If you know of families in the area thinking of enrolling at St Augustine’s, please encourage them to contact us to formalise enrolment procedures.