Term 3 Week 8 Monday 29th August

Acknowledgement of Country

St Colman’s acknowledges the Girai wurung people as the traditional owners of the land on which our school stands and we respectfully recognise elders both past and present.

Our Prayer this Week

From the Principal

Dear Families,

Thank you to everyone who supported our dress up day last Thursday. It was fantastic to see so many people support our parade. I know it means a lot to the children and the staff. 

This week we welcome Rosie to our Grade 2/3 classroom. We are looking forward to getting to know her and her family.

Our next event is the Father's Day Breakfast. Don't forget to let us know if you're coming and to send in a photo. Don't be shy. 

There is lots of news and information in this newsletter, so please take time to read it carefully. 

Kind regards, 

Stacey

Farm Update

The Sheep are Back!

Thanks to Jo and Angelo for loaning some of their sheep to our little farm. We welcome 4 ewes and 3 lambs - Megsy, Polly, Cinderella and her twins. Tinkerbell and her lamb.  If you are at the farm, please make sure that the gates stay closed. 

Care of the Chooks

Thank you to those families who have volunteered to look after the chooks. We are always looking for more people to check on them of a weekend and during school holidays. 

This involves: 

* collecting eggs

* feeding them, including topping up feed and providing any food scraps that you might have. 

* checking water

If you're able to help please let me know. 

Head Lice

Please be aware that there has been a case of head lice in the school. Parents and carers are asked to check their children's hair and to treat if necessary. Thanks for your help. 

Working with Children Checks

Did you know that you are required to have a Working with Children Check to volunteer at school?

If you already have a WWCC and would like to provide us with a copy, head into the office and we'll make a copy to put on file for future activies. 

Meals on Wheels

A big thank you to those people who are able to volunteer for Meals on Wheels. A couple of reminders are listed below. 

Book Week Celebrations

What an impressive case of characters at our Book Week celebrations on Monday. Thank you to everyone who was able to join us for the parade and who supported our school by buying or donating a book. 

Thanks to Mrs Shandell Moloney for reading the winning picture book. The children also enjoyed working in their colour groups for some fun, book week activities based on some of the nominated books.

A big thank you to Miss Stape, whose passion for books really ensures the success of this event. 

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The Best Book Borrower

Congratulations to Nat who won the Best Book Borrower award. This award is given to the Grade 5 student who has borrowed the most books during their time at St Colman's. Well done Nat! 

Colouring Competition

The standard of the colouring competition was outstanding. This was a 'blind' judging, with the names being on the back of the students work.  Congratulations to Jack, Steff, Ivy, Billie, Indi, Sadie and Piper.

3/4 Hooptime

Our 3/4 students spent the day in Terang at Hooptime on Friday. From the first game to the last, they improved out of sight and had a blast playing! Thanks to Pippa and Mason, from Mercy Regional College, who helped umpire on the day, we couldn't have done it without them. 

Thanks to Brianna and Miss Maddie Tegelhuter for coaching the teams and to Paul for driving the bus. 

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to Leo P and Billie who both celebrate their birthday this week. We hope you have a great day! 

SAC Report

Please find linked a report from our most recent School Adivisory Council meeting. 

Responsible Kids

Thanks to Clare Jehu, our school counsellor, for providing this article on Responsbile Kids. Some families will find this helpful. 

Insight SRC Survey

Insight SRC is conducting a  survey on behalf of St Colman's and the Catholic Education Office Ballarat. It is designed to assist schools in gaining an understanding of parents perceptions of their children’s experience of school. The results will benefit everyone within the school by providing valuable information about the ways in which the school can use staff, student and parent input to plan programs and activities to improve your childs experience at school.
A number of parents will be randomly selected to participate in this survey. The success of this important project is dependent on parents’ involvement. Letters will be sent home with students today.

Staff and older students will also participate in this process. 

School Wide Positive Behaviour

At St Colman's, we use the School Wide Positive Behaviour approach to teach appropriate behaviours. 

This week we are focusing on respect and giving respect to everyone. This includes following the 5 Ls, listening, looking, lips locked, legs still and hands in laps. This is a quick reminder to children about how to give respect to someone (an adult or fellow student) when they are speaking. 

You may have seen this matrix throughout the school. It is what we use to remind us about appropriate behaviours and what happens when these behaviours are not met. This ensures consistency across the schoool. 

Meals on Wheels volunteers needed

St Colman's is rostered on for Meals on Wheels this week. We still need a volunteer for Wednesday so please contact the school if you are able to help.

2023 Intentions

It's hard to believe, but planning for 2023 is underway. If your family has a new Prep to enrol or you know that your circumstances will be changing next year, please contact the school as soon as possible to let us know. 

If your circumstances have not changed then no action is required. 

Father's Day Breakfast

Our Father's Day Breakfast will be taking place on Friday 2nd September for all our dads and special men. If your dad can't make it, mums are welcome to come along too. 

Share your pics: We're hoping to have a visual display of our dads, so please email a picture of dads and their children to principal@scmortlake.catholic.edu.au or text the school mobile on 0490 539 167.

Stick around: Classrooms will be open and there will be some sporting equipment out if you'd like to stick around and experience some of what happens at St Colman's. 

Bring your travel mug: feel free to bring along your mug and help yourself to an extra cuppa to take away if that's your thing. 

Please RSVP: this helps us to get the catering right. 

Holiday Fun

Free opportunity

Key Dates for the Diary

Term 3

2nd September- Father's Day Breakfast

8th September- School Closure: Liturgy (Religious Education) 

9th September- Enrolments Close

12th September- MRC Discovery Day 

16th September- Last day of term , 2.15pm finish

Our Lady of Mercy Parish News

MRC Care Raffle

COVID Reminders

A few reminders:

* Masks are highly encouraged but not mandated.  They are required on the bus. 

* Positive cases must isolate for 7 days and report these cases to school.

* Positive cases do not need to test again for 4 weeks. 

* RATs are still available and are to be used when someone has Covid symptoms. 

* Close contacts can attend school if they test negative on a RAT each school day. Close contacts must wear a mask indoors. 

Rapid Antigen Tests.

The Victorian Government is continuing to provide Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) in Term 3 and again in Term 4 to schools. Household contacts are required to test negative using a rapid antigen test on at least 5 out of 7 if they are attending or working at a school onsite.

Schools will be able to provide these RATs to parents/carers, staff or students on request, as the previous settings that required weekly or daily testing of students and staff have ceased. 

Staff and students are only required to test for COVID when symptomatic or if they are a close contact of a confirmed case. Individuals who have tested positive are not required to test for 4 weeks (note this has been 12 weeks during last term). If you require RATs please contact the school. 

Face Masks.

We have been asked to remind staff, students and families that the current advice from the Victorian government is that it is recommended face masks are worn in indoor settings (except for close contacts, who must wear a mask indoors unless an exception applies). Everyone including students aged 8 years and above must wear a face mask when travelling on public transport, taxis or ride share vehicles.

COVID-19 reporting to the school community.

Principals must notify staff and the school community through a daily email (where applicable) when a student(s) or staff member(s) have returned a positive COVID-19 test result and had attended the school.

The following still apply:

Managing a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 

As soon as a staff member or student becomes aware of being a suspected case - that is symptomatic (fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, loss of smell or taste):

• The suspected case is required to leave the school site, or be isolated on-site until they are able to leave.
• The suspected case is required to be tested with a rapid antigen test (if at home). A positive test result must be reported to the Department of Health.
• Positive cases must be isolated for 7 days.
• Positive cases can exit isolation after 7 days without testing. 

Close Contacts

A close contact (a person who has spent more than four hours with someone who has COVID 19 inside a house, accommodation or care facility) is no longer required to isolate as long as they follow the additional safety measures:

• Notify the school if returning within the 7 day period.
• Undertake RAT testing on school days within the 7 day period (unless the 12 week exemption applies)
• Wear a mask indoors if an adult or a student Yr 3-6.
• Not visit hospitals or care facilities.
• Avoid contact with people at higher risk of infection.
• If symptomatic take a RAT or PCR test.