Term 4 Week 11 Monday 11th December 2023 -
- The Second Week of Advent
- From the Principal
- Key dates for the Diary
- Staffing Announcement
- End of Year Celebration
- Semester 2 Reports
- Transition to 2024
- Student Leadership at St Colman's in 2024
- COMMUNITY CAROLS
- Advance Notice: Welcome Picnic
- School Fees Reminder
- Free Eye Screener
- Playgroup at St Colman's
- Lunch Orders
- St. Colman's Enrolments
- Birthday Wishes
- Our Lady of Mercy Parish Christmas Mass Times
- St. Colman's School is a Child Safe Community
- Out of School Care
- COMMUNITY NEWS
- AngliCare Energy Assistance
- NCCD
- Covid Information
The Second Week of Advent
From the Principal
Dear St Colman's community,
Welcome to Week 11!
And here we are, heading into the last week of the 2023 school year! They say that time
flies when you’re having fun, so we must be having a wow of a time - the year has just
flown by!
We look forward to celebrating the wonderful year we have enjoyed at Mass tomorrow night starting at 5.30pm. The students are asked to wear their school uniform and sit with their families.
We have so much to be grateful for, especially the precious children we are so lucky to
spend each day with. The children at St Colman's have continued to amaze me with their endless energy and enthusiasm. Moreover, they regularly show that they are kind and caring little humans and consistently demonstrate our school's core values of Care, Learn, Welcome and Faith.
I would like to pass on my personal thanks to the wonderful community of St Colman's for your ongoing support and for making me feel so welcome during my first year at your school. Your encouragement, collaboration, and dedication to our shared mission have made this year both fulfilling and memorable.
I would also like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all of our staff for their unwavering commitment to nurturing and inspiring every child at St Colman’s. Their passion and tireless efforts in shaping young minds and spirits contributes immensely to the growth and success of our educational community. I thank them for the invaluable work they do every day.
A special thanks to you, the parents who have contributed in ways small, large and unimaginable! Thank you for the partnership between home and school, which is so important. We appreciate all that you do each and every day for our school and our children!
Together, we've achieved so many wonderful things this year and I am truly blessed to be part of such a supportive and engaged community, and I look forward to many more years of growth and success together.
I wish you all a very happy, safe and restful Christmas and holiday season.
Kind regards,
Janet
Key dates for the Diary
Term 4
Monday December 11th- Senior Room Fun Day @ Mortlake Pool
Tuesday December 12th- Whole school transition"Move up Day"
- End of Year Mass and family BBQ @ 5:30pm
Wednesday December 13th- Aberlea visit and carols
Friday Decemebr 15th- Last day for students (normal finish time)
-Community Christmas Carols from 6pm
Monday December 18th- Last day for staff
2024
Monday 29th January: Staff return to school
Tuesday 30th January: Staff attend Structured Literacy Professional Learning (Pupil free day)
Wednesday 31st January: All students (including our Foundations) commence 2024 school year.
Thursday 8th February: 5pm - Opening School Picnic and Outdoor Concert
Staffing Announcement
Our Art teacher, Stephanie Kennedy, has made the decision to retire at the end of this school year.
Steph says..."These past fifteen years at St Colman's have brought me much joy, laughter and pride. However, it is time for my next chapter in life. I intend to spend my time exploring my own personal creativity in the arts, to travel and relax with my family."
We wish Steph all the very best as she enjoys her well-deserved retirement and we will formally thank and farewell her tomorrow night at our end of year Mass.
We also farewell Grace Nicolas from our school community. Grace has work as our School Chaplain this year and the kindness and empathy she showed all of our students has been greatly appreciated. We wish Grace all the best as she moves back to Melbourne to complete her studies.
We are in the process of finding replacements for both of these positions.
End of Year Celebration
Tomorrow night, December 12th, starting at 5:30pm, we will be celebrating the end of the 2023 school year with a Mass and family BBQ.
We will begin our final community celebration with Mass at our St Colman’s Parish Church. After Mass concludes, we will hold our Year 6 graduation, awards presentations and give thanks and farewell some members of our school community.
Children are to wear their school uniform and can add a 'touch of Christmas' (a handband, a Santa hat) for the Christmas songs at the end of the presentations.
After all this concludes we will make our way back to the school grounds for a BBQ. Basic meat and salad will be provided. BYO drinks and special dietary needs.
Semester 2 Reports
Teaching staff have been working hard to provide accurate reports for each child that reflect their learning during the second half of the year.
These reports will be released via PAM today. If you have any issues accessing these reports please contact the office. There are no formal parent/teacher conversations scheduled for this term, but if you would like to speak to your child's teacher please feel free to make contact with them.
Transition to 2024
Tomorrow, Tuesday December 12th, our students will participate in Move Up Day as they transition into their new class for 2024. All students, including our new Foundation students, will spend the day with the teacher and peers that they will be learning alongside next year.
Student Leadership at St Colman's in 2024
Last week, our students presented their applications for various Student Leadership roles in the form of delivering speeches to the staff and students of our school. I was incredibly impressed with the amount of thought and time the children put into preparing these applications and they presented their speeches with great confidence. We congratulate the following students who will hold the following leadership positions in 2024 and know that they will all make fabulous representatives of the St Colman’s student body.
School Captain | Ivy Wardlaw |
School Captain | Mason Dale |
Social Justice Leader | Alex Lehmann |
Gold House Captain | Phoebe Draffen |
Blue House Captain | Xavier Camplin |
Red House Captain | Will Cameron |
Senior Room SRC Reps | Charlotte Allen |
Middle Room SRC Reps | Zoe Frances |
Archie Dale | |
Junior Room SRC Reps | Patrick Greig |
Layla Furness-Tuffnell |
As so many of our students put their hearts and souls into their application, I know there will be some very disappointed children today. We ask you to remind them to be proud of their efforts and to be happy for their peers who were successful.
COMMUNITY CAROLS
St Colman's is excited to be part of our community Christmas Carols night being held on December 15th at 6pm.
All of our students have been practicing two Christmas Carols, Jingle Bell Rock and An Aussie Jingle Bells, that they will perform.
If you are attending, please ensure your child is wearing something "Christmassy".
Advance Notice: Welcome Picnic
Our first school community event of the year will be held on Thursday 8th February starting at 5pm.
Highly regarded Melbourne-based dance company STOMP Dance Co, will come to our school each day for a week and teach our students four- to-five dance routines. The week of dancing will culminate on Thursday night with an outdoor concert that will showcase all they have learnt during the week.
More details will come out early next year, this is just a 'save the date' for what should be a fun night for our kids and their families.
School Fees Reminder
Just a reminder that as we are nearly at the end of our school year ALL SCHOOL FEES ARE NOW OVERDUE. Our governing body is looking at our fee collection and will be asking questions about any fees that haven't either been paid, have a payment plan or signed paperwork, very soon.
It is a requirement by DOBCEL that all school fees are paid by the end of the year. If you haven't set up a payment plan yet or signed paperwork stating how you intend to pay, JANET WILL BE REACHING OUT TO YOU BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR TO ASSIST WITH DEVELOPING A PAYMENT PLAN.
If you need any assistance or have any questions please contact Janet or Jane (Monday or Thursdays 9-3), or send an email to admin@scmortlake.catholic.edu.au
Free Eye Screener
A unique opportunity exists for students in our area to take advantage of a free screening for an eye condition known as Irlen Syndrome. This condition, which is a visual processing condition, can greatly affect a person's ability to process visual information and therefore can impact upon their learning and behaviour.
See further details below, including how you can take advantage of this opportunity.
Playgroup at St Colman's
Our fortnightly Playgroup has finished for this year. We look forward to welcoming back our local pre-schoolers every second Friday in 2024.
The ongoing commitment to this project will require support from other members of the school community. If you are willing to help out by going on a roster to help organise Little Colman’s, please contact either the school or Lily.
WE WILL NEED TO PURCHASE SOME GAMES AND EQUIPMENT FOR OUR PLAYGROUP. HOWEVER, WE WONDERED IF YOU HAD ANY OLD TOYS AND GAMES THAT YOUR CHILDREN HAVE GROWN OUT OF AND THAT YOU NO LONGER NEED. IF SO, WE WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE THE DONATION OF ANY PRE-SCHOOL TOYS AND GAMES, INDOOR OR OUTDOOR, THAT ARE IN EXCELLENT USED CONDITION.
Lunch Orders
LUNCH ORDERS are only available twice a week on Monday and Friday.
Menu and price list below
St. Colman's Enrolments
Birthday Wishes
Happy Birthday to our students Hayley who is celebrating a birthday this week and to Zeke, Phoebe, Thoren and Bella who will be having a birthday during our holiday break.
Many blessings to you on your special day and throughout the year.
Our Lady of Mercy Parish Christmas Mass Times
St. Colman's School is a Child Safe Community
Child Safety Officers
Janet Cain and Rosie O'Connor are our Child Safety Officers.
Contact them on:
Phone: 55992285 or 0490539167
Email: jcain@scmortlake.catholic.edu.au or roconnor@scmortlake.catholic.edu.au
CYBER SAFETY
It’s almost Christmas! No doubt, your children will be busy making their Christmas lists for Santa and there could be a bit of technology on those lists! Not just the ones we immediately think of either; eg: gaming, tablets, phones, but also things like drones, robotic toys and more. This link from the E Safety Commisioner website will give you more information on the different tech that may be on those lists and provides great information about how to support your child to navigate the complex online world safely.
Out of School Care
A reminder that during 2023 we have access to Out of School Care, supplied by TheirCare, at Mortlake College. Registration is made via the TheirCare website. https://theircare.com.au/
Search for Mortlake College P-12
COMMUNITY NEWS
AngliCare Energy Assistance
As part of Anglicare Victoria’s FREE Energy Assistance Program, they provide assistance with energy bills to support Victorians to:
- Talk to their energy retailer and get help with debt
- Access extra financial support
- Check they are receiving eligible concessions on their bill
- Find and move to an affordable energy plan
- Understand bills and fix any possible errors
- Support your child's education with free internet at home
They can provide immediate assistance for clients who are struggling to pay for their gas or electricity bills to prevent disconnection to their property!
The follower two flyers provide further details.
NCCD
Please read the attached information sheet for parents regarding NCCD.
Covid Information
As we have had quite a few reported cases of Covid 19 within our community, it is timely to remind ourselves of COVID Safe arrangements. We will be encouraging greater vigilance with our hand washing procedures at school.
Although there are no mandated isolation arrangements, the following is strongly recommended:
It is strongly recommended that students:
● Who test positive for COVID-19 should stay home and isolate for five days.
● Should not attend school after five days if still symptomatic.
● Who are symptomatic but have not tested positive should not attend school.
Where students become symptomatic at school, they should:
● Be collected by their parents/carers.
● Undergo testing for COVID-19.
It is strongly recommended that staff:
● Who test positive for COVID-19 should stay home and isolate for five days.
● Should not attend school after five days if still symptomatic.
● Who are symptomatic but have not tested positive should not attend school.
If families require RAT kits, please contact the school office.
COVID-19 reporting requirements.
The Department of Health recommends that a person who tests positive for COVID-19 should inform those with whom they have recently been in contact, including their workplace, school and household.
Schools no longer have to alert their school community of positive cases, however we will continue to do this informally.
Face masks.
Staff and students who wish to wear a face mask should be supported to do so, and schools should continue to make face masks available for staff, students and visitors.
The Department of Health recommends that masks should be worn by a person who is a close contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 when leaving home.
Additionally, the department recommends that masks should be worn by a person who has COVID-19 for 10 days after a positive test when they need to leave home.