Newsletter Week 7 Term 1 2021

“I came into this world, that those who do not see may see.”

John 9: 1- 41

(from the Gospel for the fourth Sunday of Lent, Year B)

Dear Parents and Carers

DIOCESAN SWIMMING TRIALS

Six children from St. Paul's travelled to the Corrimal Pool in Wollongong on Monday to compete in the Wollongong Diocesan Swimming Selection Trials. Our children performed extremely well and represented our community with great pride and dignity. Congratulations to all our swimmers who competed on the day. The results were:

Matthew Holmes - 1st 50 Freestyle (new diocesan record), 2nd 50 Backstroke, 1st 50 Butterfly new diocesan record), 2nd 50m Breaststroke, 1st Individual Medley (new diocesan record).

Henry Holmes - 2nd 50 Freestyle

Lucas Holmes - 7th 100 Freestyle, 4th 50 Freestyle, 5th 50 Backstroke, 3rd 50m Butterfly, 7th 50m Breaststroke, 7th Individual Medley

Dominic Bowen - 7th 50 Freestyle

Minna Bowen - 3rd 50 Butterfly

Ella Caseley - 8th 50 Breaststroke

Matthew and Henry have now qualified for the MacKillop Trials in Sydney on Monday 22nd March. We wish them all the very best at this particular event.

P&F MEETING and WORKING BEE- THANK YOU!

We held our P&F meeting on Tuesday evening. Brigadoon has now been officially cancelled for 2021. Brigadoon has been traditionally our P&F’s largest single fund raising event. We discussed alternative fund raising activities for the year. We also talked about the “fun raising” function of the P&F including the return of the much loved and sorely missed school disco for the children.

A big thank you to the families who came along to the working last Friday afternoon. We were able to spread all the soft fall on both the Adventure Playground and the Infants Playground as well as trimming hedges and gardens. The school certainly looks neat and tidy in the play areas. Thank you to the P&F for paying for the soft fall. Thank you to the Ecclestons, Wexlers, Khans, Cassars, Canhams, Grange, Wilson and Christian families who worked so hard for the benefit of our whole community. Your time and energy are deeply appreciated.

NAPLAN OMNIBUS TESTING - Thursday 25 March

We have been informed that on Thursday 25 March, our Year 3 and Year 5 children will participate in NAPLAN omnibus testing. NAPLAN is now an online test, with the exception of the Year 3 writing Assessment (which remains a pen and paper assessment). The purpose of the omnibus testing is to confirm the readiness of our local and national network readiness for NAPLAN. The children will complete a short literacy and numeracy style test. These brief assessment are not marked and no feedback is provided. Significantly, the children will have a real time experience of using the NAPLAN browser app that they will use for NAPLAN proper. 

In preparation for the omnibus test, children who have a school managed devices will have the NAPbrowser app installed and updated by the school. Children who have their own device will need to ensure that their iPad is updated with the latest IOS and have the latest version of the NAPbrowser downloaded and installed. All children in Year 3 and Year 5 will need headphones for both the omnibus test and for NAPLAN in May.

The omnibus test is a practice in using an online testing platform. If there are problems with our local network or with the network across Australia, they will be identified in time to be corrected before NAPLAN. NAPLAN will be conducted with Year 3 and Year 5 between 11 and 14 May commencing with writing. 

CROSS COUNTRY CHANGE OF DATE - NOW 31 March 2021

Due to the NAPLAN omnibus testing, we need to reschedule our cross country carnival to Wednesday 31 March. The cross country will be held at school. Parents and community members are welcome to attend. The children love to be cheered on and encouraged!

PERSONAL PLANNING (PP) MEETINGS- Thurs 11 March, Wed 17 March, Thurs 18 March

Today we began our first round of PP meetings and we will continue on Wednesday and Thursday next week. PP’s are negotiated with the families of children who require additional support at school to access the general curriculum on the same basis as other children. The school is required to identify children, provide evidence for this identification, design, implement, monitor and evaluate these interventions each semester. The family and child are included in this planning process. This is an important and practical way in which we can enact the partnership between home and school in the best interests of your child. We strongly suggest that you prioritise these meetings.

COVID-19 updated advice

The restrictions around COVID-19 management have been relaxed this week. In short we are now able to allow parents to drop off and pick up children as well as attend school events. 

Morning Assembly: we will continue with the morning arrangements that we have had in place for the last twelve months. There will be no morning assembly. Children will continue to line up in their designated spots, wash hands, go into class and pray the school prayer and get down to work. 

Morning Announcements: will continue at 10:50am whilst the children are eating inside. We will celebrate birthdays, make announcements and award the “secret spotter” uniform award.

Weekly School Assembly: we are pleased to welcome parents and community members to join us at our weekly school assembly at 2:15pm each Thursday. You will notice that all children are seated on chairs as part of the social distancing requirements that are still in place. We ask that parents sit at the back of the school hall. Children will return to class after assembly  to collect their bags. Normal afternoon dismissal procedures will be followed.

Click here for the  current COVID- 19 guidelines for Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Wollongong. 

INNES ROAD PICKUP- parent responsibilities

Our Innes Road pick up routine is designed to make pick up safe and easy for everyone. We ask that parents please come into the school ground via the IN gate, collect your child and exit via the OUT gate. The children will wait for you behind the yellow line. Once you are inside the school grounds, the supervising teachers will dismiss your child to you. Please do not stand outside the gates and call your child. It makes it difficult and potentially dangerous for everyone.

After collecting your child from inside the gates, we ask that you move off to your cars promptly thus clearing the way for other parents collecting their children. 

We have told the children that playing on the road side is dangerous and not to happen. We want all our children safe. We are asking for your cooperation in complying with this procedure in order to keep everyone safe.

Sport Uniforms- same  as last week

Sport uniforms are to be worn on the following days for each class:

Kindergarten – Wednesday & Friday

Year 1 – Friday

Year 2 – Friday

Year 3 – Wednesday & Friday

Year 4 - Wednesday & Friday

Year 5 - Wednesday & Friday

Year 6 - Wednesday & Friday

School Terms for 2021

Sacramental Program

Congratulations to the students and their families who made their First Reconciliation last weekend. First Communion classes are now underway.

Every year, countless people turn Lent into a demonstration of faith, love and generosity. You can be a part of this incredible community, who believe that there are simple actions we can all take to “be more” for our world.

You can make a donation to Project Compassion, start a fundraiser with your school, parish or community; give something up for Lent… there are many ways to put your compassion into action. You can donate money through the Project Compassion boxes located in the Church and school office. Whatever you choose to do, you’ll be contributing towards a more just and compassionate world.

Thank you

Catherine du Bois

Religious Education Coordinator

PB4L AFFIRMATIONS

A foundational principle of our school’s Positive Behaviour for Learning (PB4L) approach, is to teach the children our expectations and then affirm children for making positive, prosocial choices. We have a school wide reward system that the children absolutely love. Children are given an affirmation when their teacher “catches them making good choices and being good citizens of our school”. The affirmation, which is both a verbal affirmation and a sticker or stamp, is recorded on a colour chart which each child in the school has been given. 

When children have reached halfway on their sticker chart and again when it is filled, they come to visit Mr O’Brien. If a student has filled the card with stickers they receive their next coloured card. This milestone is recorded and entered into COMPASS. Parents will receive a notification that their child has achieved their Green award (forty affirmations), Blue award (eighty affirmations) or Gold award (one hundred and twenty affirmations). Once a child has reached gold level, they go back to green second level. You will see a number 2 sticker on the front of the sticker chart. The system continues with a larger certificate being issued at each milestone.

This is an opportunity to celebrate with your child that they have been doing their best with their learning and being a great member of the St Paul’s community. Please let the children know that you have got the message. Children are very proud of their achievements and particularly love receiving a “yahoo” from Mr O’Brien. Each morning, as part of the announcements, the children who have moved onto the next card are announced. This is a wonderful achievement for all our students. 

When your child reaches each milestone, your child will come home from school with the filled affirmation card as well as a certificate. We will send you a COMPASS notification of this milestone achievement. Please celebrate your child’s achievement at home just as we have celebrated your child at school.

All this information can be found on the Parent Portal under the drop down boxes. Take some time to have a look. There are many useful resources and links to other websites that offer great information for parents and caregivers.

https://sites.google.com/dow.catholic.edu.au/st-pauls-moss-vale/parent-support

Bulletin_March_14_4th_Sunday_of_Lent_2021.pdf

SCHOOL FEE ACCOUNTS 2021 - IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Dear Parents/Carers

We would like to advise you of the following important information in relation to school fees and the continuing rollout of new administrative systems across our schools. Currently all primary schools and two secondary schools, Corpus Christi Oak Flats and Holy Spirit Bellambi have been transferred to the package which includes Compass and Technology One. This has provided the Catholic Education Office with the ability to perform centralised functions relating to school fee accounts on behalf of these schools only. All other schools have commenced and will complete transition before the end of 2021.

WHAT CENTRALISATION OF FUNCTIONS MEANS FOR FAMILIES

The invoicing of school fees and the distribution of school fee statements each month is now a function carried out by the Catholic Education Office. Payment of fees, whether as an annual payment or payment by instalments is due on the date/s provided on your school fee statement.

Commencing in 2021, the issue of reminders for late payment via SMS and email will be introduced for schools on the new system. These reminders are automatically generated by the software based on the number of days a payment ii overdue. For those families that may have difficulty in paying their school fees, these reminders may cause some concern. This is not our intention.  Our intention is to manage the collection of school fee accounts with new technology and in so doing, alleviate some of the administrative work of our schools.

YOUR SCHOOL FEE ACCOUNT ENQUIRIES

Please note, despite the centralisation of various functions, your school/swill always be your point of contact for matters pertaining to fees. If you wish to discuss your school fee account, please contact your school office. The role of the Catholic Education Office is to action centralised tasks on behalf of schools.

IF YOU WISH TO PAY BY INSTALMENTS

Many families have already elected to pay their school fees by instalments. If you wish to avail yourself of this option please complete a Request to Pay by Instalment Form which is available on your school's website or at your school's office. On completion of the request either email it to instalments@dow.catholic.edu.au or submit at your school's office. Following receipt of the request, instalments will be generated on your account and a schedule of payments and due dates will be provided on your next school fee statement. Please note it is only necessary to complete this form once during the period of child/children's enrolment, unless you wish to amend your payment frequency.

DIFFICULTY WITH PAYMENT

If you are experiencing financial difficulty, we encourage you to contact the school in which your child/children are enrolled to discuss an arrangement that will assist you meet your commitments. This may include the completion of a Diocesan Application for Fee Concession which is available from the administration office of each school. Be reassured that your situation will be treated with strict confidentiality and respect for your circumstances.

For those families that received a COVID19 Fee Concession in 2020, you will have received an email in January, 2021 regarding the review of your account in February, 2021 and providing options for your 2021 school fees.

For further information regarding school fees, please access the Diocesan School Fee Management Policy and Frequently Asked Questions which is available on your school's website.

A cyclone brand hand trowel was found in the garden that was left by someone last Friday 5th March during our working bee. If you are missing a hand trowel please phone the office. 

The School Photographer

PHOTO DAY Tuesday 23rd March 2021

How to order:

Each student must hand in their own completed envelope which has their own UNIQUE CODE.

Sibling Envelopes are available at the school office.

Payment Methods:

Cash enclosed in envelope and bring to the school. NO CHANGE WILL BE GIVEN.

Online Credit Card Payments can be made via www.theschoolphotographer.com.au and follow the prompts. Make sure you write the receipt number on the envelope and bring to school.

Book Club Due 18th March 2021

How to Pay:

The school will no longer be accepting cash payments for book club orders.

Please visit scholastic.com.au/LOOP to pay via Credit Card.

You can also download the LOOP app to make payments.

Your order will be electronically linked to the rest of our school's order. You do not need to complete the order form on the back of the book club catalogue.