Term 2 Week 3 Monday 9th May
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,
Welcome to week 3. Firstly, best wishes to all our Mothers who celebrated Mother's Day on the weekend. It was great to celebrate on Friday here at school.
This week our Grade 3 and Grade 5 students will be participating in NAPLAN assessments. It is important to remember that these are just one test and one day and something that we need to do.
Work is continuing on our 'shed' with new downpipes being installed over the weekend. Let's hope that the rain stays away until this work is completed.
The next lot of RATs have been sent home today. A reminder that parents are encouraged to test children twice a week.
Have a great week, Stacey
Mother's Day Breakfast
A big thank you to everyone who was able to come along to our Mother's Day Breakfast on Friday. It was very heartwarming to see so many of our families enjoying breakfast with their children and chatting with our people.
Thanks to our staff who organised and prepared the breakfast. A special thanks to Lachie Barr who came along to cook the bbq.
2022 Online Raffle
The St Colman's Online Raffle is on again this year. After such a successful fundraiser last year, we have decided to keep the same format. Prizes are the same as last year and tickets are $25 and there will be 600 available for sale. Raffle will be drawn on 20th June.
First Prize: $3000 voucher at Scotts Betta Home Living
Second Prize: $1000 Neighborhood Benefits Card from Acciona
Third Prize $500 voucher at Bates IGA Supermarket.
A letter and four ticket flyers have been sent home today with your children. Please try to sell at least eight tickets to yourself or to others. Our aim is to sell all 600 tickets.
Covid Reminders
A reminder that all students who travel on buses are still required to wear masks.
Children who are close contacts are permitted to come to school as long as they have a negative RAT result. Adults and children who are in Grade 3-6 who are close contacts are also required to wear a mask at school.
It is still a requirement that if your child tests positive for Covid-19 that you inform the school.
NAPLAN
The annual NAPLAN tests will be conducted from May 10. This year they will be held online in the areas of Reading, Writing, Spelling, Grammar and Punctuation and Maths.
Tuesday 10th- Writing
Thursday 12th- Reading
Friday 13th- Conventions of language (spelling and grammar)
Monday 16th- Maths
Each year 3 and 5 child will receive the following flyer. If you have any questions regarding NAPLAN please contact Stacey.
Girls Winter Uniform
The new winter skirts are ready for collection. If you did not order a skirt, there are a few spares available in each size. Anyone who would prefer to order navy pants for their daughter can do so by contacting Jane. They will be in a similar style to the navy shorts.
Footy Tipping Competition 2022
Round 8 certainly provided some interesting results with the elusive 9/9 still evading us all. Well done to the Camplin Family who were our top tippers with 8/9. 9 tippers scored 7 including archiedale11, Joshj, Geoff91, Bommerz, Ticketyboo66, Bridget Van, tommydale, Brianna09 and SeedyVan.
Jenn Finn is still leading the way overall on 52, followed by tommydale, Stacey Atkins and then Tickeyboo66.
Circle of Security-Learning Opportunity
This 8 week parenting program, supported by Catholic Care Victoria, is an excellent opportunity.
If we have enough parents from St. Thomas’s and St. Colman’s it will run here during the afternoon from 1-3 pm commencing May 21. At the moment we do not have enough families to run this so please get in touch if you are interested. There is no cost.
Please find below details of other opportunities that might suit families as they are held via zoom.
If you are interested, please contact Stacey at school or via email principal@scmortlake.catholic.edu.au
Key Dates for the Diary
Term 2
12th May- SAC Meeting, 7pm
23rd May- School Closure: Literacy focus
Tuesday 24th May, combined HCSN dinner
27th May- HCSN Network Day
9th June-SAC Meeting, 7pm
13th June- Public Holiday
Term 3
1st August- School Closure: Literacy Pedagogy
8th September- School Closure: Liturgy (Religious Education)
TBC: First Aid closure day to update CPR and other First Aid requirements.
Our Schoolzine calendar is now operational so there's numerous dates available on the app.
Parish Bulletin
Mass is celebrated at St Colman's every Sunday at 9am. All welcome.
COVID Reminders
Vaccination
Triple vaccination status will continue to be a requirement for all staff onsite with students and will be required for any volunteers and visiting workers. This will include:
- Parents assisting in classrooms.
- Visiting medical and allied health professionals.
- Visiting speakers, presenters and performers.
- Student teachers.
Parents visiting the school to attend school events (ie sports, performances, classroom visits) will not be required to declare their vaccination status.
Rapid Antigen Tests
Staff and students are invited to continue RATs twice a week. Staff or students who have previously had a positive COVID test are not required to test for 12 weeks after their initial positive result.
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.
In the event that school receives notification that a staff member or student was infectious while onsite:
- All staff must use a rapid antigen test if they have symptoms.
- All students must use a rapid antigen test if they have symptoms.
- Where a positive case is recorded from a staff member or student who has been on site, the school community will be notified. Personal information will not be released in this communication.
If a staff member or student tests positive with a rapid antigen test but does not have symptoms or has not been in contact with a positive case, a PCR test is recommended. If a subsequent PCR shows a negative result the staff member or student can return to school.
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.
Masks
Masks are no longer required to be worn by students, staff or visitors. However the wearing of masks continues to be a recommended practice which will still be required in certain circumstances including bus travel or a period of high levels of prolonged transmission.
Any staff of students who are identified as close contacts must wear a mask indoors.
RAT tests will be sent home tomorrow. If you do not wish to receive these please make contact with the school.