February 24th 2022

Acknowledgement of Country

The St Pius X Parish School Community acknowledges the Gunditjmara / Marr Nation people who have educated children on these lands for thousands of years.

Prayer

God of Understanding,

Give us insight into ourselves and others as we navigate our relationships.

Help us to recognise our shortcomings before we make judgements about others.

AMEN

A Note from our Principal

Ngata Families & Friends,

This week our Yr 3/4s travelled to Kangaroobie to experience one day of what would normally be a two day camp. While the day was a lot of fun for students and staff, the highlight for me was the persistence and resilience that the students showed throughout the day and also the care and empathy they showed each other. 

In the coming week we will observe Ash Wednesday which is the beginning of Lent. Lent is the time of preparation before Easter. Mass will be offered in the parish on this day / evening, however owing to COVID restrictions our classes will observe Ash Wednesday separately with a special class liturgy in each room.

We are looking forward to our school athletics carnival on March 7th.  Information is included in today’s newsletter around the timing of events.

Joe Ewing,

Principal

COVID 19 Regulation Changes

You will be aware of announcements made by the Premier this week about changes to state regulations from tomorrow evening. At the time of publication, we have not been supplied with new detailed school regulations, so the listed regulations at the end of this newsletter are the most current advice we have, although we expect a number of points around quarantining and close contact requirements to be superseded soon.

We do know that two elements of the current regulations will remain in place until at least the end of Term 1; mask wearing for Yr 3-6 and adults within school buildings, as well as ongoing rapid antigen testing twice weekly..

New RAT kits will be sent home tomorrow in student school bags - please check and retrieve these. This box should see each student through to March 21st.

Hot Off the Prep Press!

Changing my Reader

Watch Arlo as she completes her daily task of changing her reader. Everyone is really trying hard to remember to do this important job in the morning - you can check each night when reading to your child that they are reading a different book with you. Well done, Arlo!

Pastoral Care Day

Last Friday the Preps began learning all about the 4 Zones of Regulation. We watched lots of fun clips and played a Sesame Street game called ‘Name that Emotion’. We then learnt all about using a safety plan to help us when we are feeling a bit sad, tired, silly or angry. Check out our excitement as we sang ‘if you’re happy and you know it’. We finished the day playing with our Show and Tell toys that make us happy. We love to learn when we are in the Green zone and we are happy!

Names on ALL things

Last week we had several jumpers and a couple of containers that were lost items BUT none of them were labelled with a name. Don’t forget to label everything and then you’ll be sure to get it back.

Easter Raffle

Our Parents and Friends will again run the annual Easter Raffle. Families are asked to assist this raffle in two ways:

1. We are asking for you to donate Easters treats (chocolate eggs, chocolate bunnies, lollies etc) so that these can be placed into Easter hampers and baskets. These can be dropped at the school administration office.
2. Families will receive raffle tickets that can be bought or sold to friends and family.

This annual event is a great fundraiser for our P&F and we ask all families to get behind their efforts.

School Advisory Council Meeting

Members of our School Advisory Council are invited to attend our first meeting for the year tonight (February 24th) at 7.30pm. This meeting will be held remotely. An agenda with a link will be shared soon.

Ash Wednesday

As already mentioned, this coming Wednesday 2nd March is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. Usually this day would be observed by our whole school attending Mass in our church during the morning. Instead this observance will be through a special prayer in each classroom. As part of the prayer, we place (or have placed) a cross of ashes on our foreheads. The ashes are a symbol that we are human, and as humans we have limitations and we make mistakes. They also signify our commitment to change and grow.  In ancient times people seeking forgiveness in their community would be required to dress in sackcloth and ashes as a sign of their penitence. As well as being the remains of something, Ashes are also the beginning of new growth either from a burnt tree or from the soil. 

For families who would like to join a parish Mass on Ash Wednesday, there will be a service at St. Josephs Church at 10am and also one at St. Pius X at 6pm.

Yr 3/4 Kangaroobie Trip

Some memories of a fun day at Kangaroobie.

Kangaroobie Camp Fees.

A note from Anne regarding Camp Fees. 

The trip to Kangaroobie, including bus, meals and activities cost a total of $8,476.00 (Bus $1980.00 and Kangaroobie $6,496.00).  This equates to $117.75 per child.  I appreciate that your camp fee was $200.00 and I assure you that the teachers are working on another adventure day for all students.  I am keeping an eye on expenses and assure you that we will reimburse any funds not accounted for.  Any questions or queries please contact me on 55 62 2506.

Car Seat Fittings & Checks

On Friday March 25th, the Warrnambool Neighbourhood House will be runinng a free car seat fitting and check service in the St Pius X carpark. The times will be confirmed closer to the day. We urge all families with children who require a car seat to take up this free offer.

School Athletics: March 7th

Our school athletics will be held at Brauerander Park on Monday March 7th. We are looking forward to a great day with families free to attend. Following is some key information:

Consent

All families will be required to give consent for their children to travel to Brauerander. Yr 3-6 students will walk the short distance, while our Prep, Yr 1 and Yr 2 students will travel by bus. Families will receive an email notification to give consent though PAM.

Family Attendance

We are delighted that families will be able to attend the athletics in person. We encourage families to bring something to sit on and to consider sun safety, as the fixed shelter will be taken up by the children. Families are not permitted beyond the track fence.

COVID Safe

While parents will be welcomed as spectators, the tiered concrete section will be for students and staff only. However students will be able to leave this section to meet their family and share food throughout the day. Hand sanitiser will be provided at different points also. Masks will not be required by any students at Brauerander.

Sunsmart

All children must have a school hat and sunscreen applied before school. Sunscreen will be reapplied during the day.

Program

The order of events for each age group is below.

End of Day

The day will end at about 3.00pm. At this time families are welcome to take children directly from Brauerander, but must communicate this with their teacher prior to departing.

Canteen

A simple canteen will be provided at the athletics, selling fruit boxes, icy poles and sausages.

Sausages - $2.00 ea.

Fruit Boxes - $2.00 ea.

Zooper Doopers - 60c ea.

Canteen Volunteers

Thanks to those who have volunteered to assist in the canteen during the day. We are still seeking parents who would be able to assist for short periods of time between 10.30am and 2.00pm. Please use the link below to register.

School Fees and CSEF Aplication for Pension/HCC

School fees were sent out to all families last week.  Thank you to families who have already paid their fees and also to families that have commited to regular payments.  Late last year  ALL families should have received an envelope with fee information and an application for Camp, Sport and Excursion Fund (CSEF).  To be eligible for this concession we require a copy of your pension card/HCC.  On the left hand side of the this Newsletter you can download a copy of the application.  Please return to school asap with a copy of your concession card.

Pupil Free Day: March 18th

Families are reminded that our next pupil free day will be held on March 18th. This day will enable all staff to continue their training in trama-informed ReLATE teaching practices in partnership with MacKillop Education.

Their Care can be assessed on this day.  Families interested should book at https://theircare.com.au/ 

Photo & Media Consent

A reminder about the note that was sent home last week seeking consent for the use of children's photos in a small number of school contexts, visible to the wider community.

• The school website
• The school app
• Promotional materials
• Newspapers & media

This consent can be amended if needed throughout the year. Please return this consent to the office if this has not been done already.

Please note that Prep students and other new students to the school have already indicated this consent on their enrolment form.

Sacramental Dates

A meeting of the schools within the Star of the Sea Parish was held last week to determine Sacramental dates for 2022. The dates for St Pius X are below:

Confirmation (Baptised Yr 2)

Family Evening: April 28,  7.00pm

Family Program: April 28 - June 3

Celebration: June 6, 7.00pm

Eucharist (Baptised Yr 4)

Family Evening: July 20,  7.00pm

Family Program: July 20 - August 19

Celebration: August 21, 10.30am

No Sacrament of Reconciliation will be held next year. From 2023 Baptised Yr 6s will celebrate this sacrament as part of their final year of primary school.

School Canteen Price Adjustment

A new Canteen Price List is attached to today's Newsletter.  The Dixie Ice-Cream Cups that are being supplied now are Peter's and not Bulla as sold previously, hence they are costing us more.  They will now sell for $2.50 at the Canteen.

Footy Tipping

The P & F footy tipping competition is now open for entries. Simply go to the link below to join up!

The cost of entry is $10 for an individual entry or $20 for a family (multi entry with up to three individual family members). We ask adults to assist children in this process to ensure information shared is appropriate. Entry fees need to be paid at the administration office as soon as possible.

Last year we had 50 tippers - it would be great to get to 75 this year!

There will be a fantastic prize for first place thanks to Bojangles, and we would love to hear from any other potential sponsors too.

Vinnies Reading Club

Another reminder that our Vinnies reading club has returned. This important initiative is run free of charge by St Vincent de Paul and staffed by volunteers. The programme runs every Wednesday afternoon from 3.30pm to 4.45pm. Any student from Yr 1 - 6 is welcome to take part. An enrolment form is available at the link below or from the school office and must be filled in for all interested families regardless of past participation.

Please support this initiative.

Breakfast Club

While the return of Breakfast Club is still some while away, we are pleased to announce that Maddy O’Shannassy (Mum to Indie) and Tracey Williams (Mum to Ruby) will be taking on the coordination of this important school service.   More information soon.

Parent Access Module (PAM)

A vital part of school communication is the Parent Access Module (PAM). All families should now have their login details. Please call the administration office if you are having difficulty with this.

PAM can be accessed at the following link:

https://pam.spwarrnambool.catholic.edu.au/Login 

or by using the link on the Skoolbag dashboard.

Student Medical Details

At the end of last year we asked parents to use the Parent Access Module (PAM) to add and adjust medical details.  This information is vital to the wellbeing of our students and we ask parents to prioritise the maintenance of this information.

Whats happening in the Arts this week?

Grade 3/4 Recorder Practice.

Grade 1/2 performing the Cup Song.

Sight & Insight

I learnt some time ago that I needed to hide my screen from my own view during online meetings. I had begun to find my own image staring back at me distracting! Is my hair sitting right? What does my background look like? 

I have the same problem listening to a recording of my own voice. All at once it sounds familiar and yet strange. 

For better or worse, I think we can be uncomfortable looking inwardly, and perhaps this is most true when it comes to our own behaviour and attitudes. We don’t always have insight into ourselves or the way others see us.

Throughout the Gospels Jesus often uses sight / blindness as a metaphor in seeking truth and goodness. In Sunday’s Gospel Jesus warns the disciples against pointing out the splinter in the eye of another person, without noticing the plank in our own eye. In other words it can be easy to recognise someone else’s shortcomings and not recognise our own.

In the coming weeks, we will begin the season of Lent, the period of preparation for Easter. Lent is traditionally a time when we are asked to examine our lives honestly and to make a change. Jesus reminds me this week that I need to look inwardly and honestly at myself before making judgements about others.

COVID 19 Arrangements

No changes to our current COVID settings. We are grateful to everyone for keeping to the rules and also for double checking requirements when unsure.

Managing Suspected or Confirmed Cases

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

1. The suspected case is required to leave the school site, or be isolated on-site until they are able to leave.
2. The suspected case is required to be tested with a rapid antigen test. A positive test result must be reported to the Department of Health using the RA portal and the school (notification on the VicED COVID tool).
3. Positive cases must be isolated for 7 days before returning to school. Another RAT test is not required.

In the event that school receives notification that a staff member or student was infectious while onsite:

1. All staff must use a rapid antigen test if they have symptoms.
2. All students must use a rapid antigen test if they have symptoms.
3. Close contact staff and students will be strongly encouraged to use rapid antigen tests for the following 5 days if they don’t 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.

Close Contacts

A close contact is now defined as a person who has spent more than four hours with someone who has COVID 19 inside a house, accommodation or care facility. Students fitting within this definition must access a PCR or RAT test and follow quarantine protocols if the result proves to be positive.

Rapid Antigen Tests

RATs have been supplied to all families for each child. We are encouraging families to test children on Monday and Wednesday mornings. Positive tests are considered confirmed cases.

Please note that students who have been confirmed cases should not complete a RAT for 30 days after a positive test as the result will not be accurate.

Adult Entry

Visitors must:

• Wear a mask
• Scan QR code.
• Show vaccination status (double vaxxed or exempt)
• Complete school sign in.
• Carry a visitor pass.

Parents who need to briefly speak with teachers, or pick something up from a classroom before or after school,  can enter classrooms before 9.00am and after 3.30pm, but must:

• Wear a mask.
• Scan QR code at the building door.
• Keep visit brief (5 minutes)

Face Masks

Face masks for P - 2 students remain optional but are encouraged.

Face masks for Yrs 3 - 6 are required while students are indoors. These masks must be supplied from home and need to be managed by the students themselves.

Students whose physical or mental health will be impacted by wearing a mask may be exempt from this regulation, but we ask parents to contact the school to confirm this. Medical certificates and letters from doctors are not required.

We have listed all students with asthma or known respiratory conditions as exempt. Adults are no longer required to wear masks outdoors.

Masks are required to be worn on buses to and from school also.

Student Illness and Symptoms

Students and staff who are unwell should not attend school.

Students displaying symptoms that are beyond what they normally experience with a known existing condition (ie hayfever) will be sent home.

Assemblies & Liturgies

Special whole school gatherings such as liturgies and assemblies cannot be held for at least 4 weeks. A special effort will be made to continue online assemblies that can be shared with families through the Skoolbag app.

Visiting Therapists and Allied Health 

Visiting therapists and allied health may continue to visit, but must be double vaccinated. We have encountered a minority who believe this does not apply to them - they are incorrect.

Canteen

Our canteen is open Tuesday - Friday for lunch orders and also for small items at second recess.

Parent volunteers must be double vaccinated and follow sign in procedures.

Hand Cleaning

Students will be prompted to sanitise or wash their hands at key times across the day.

We ask that children not use their own hand sanitiser, unless this has been discussed with the school.

Progressive Cleaning

The school will continue to be progressively cleaned throughout the day, with our teaching staff ensuring surfaces are wiped down during school hours, complementing the work of our cleaning contractors after hours.

Sharing Food

Food sharing will continue to be avoided unless individualised portions can be organised (ie. birthday celebrations).

Camps, Excursions, Interschool Sport

Many offsite school events can still go ahead, but must be assessed carefully for infection risk. These will be looked at on a case by case basis.

Before and after school care available at St Pius X

Book at: https://theircare.com.au/

Recycling Initiative

As part of a recycling drive, the Warrnambool City Council has provided us with a station which will be used to collect items that can be recycled.  These include amongst other things; bread tags, batteries and pens.  If you have any of the items listed in the picture below, you are welcome to deposit them in the recycling station which will be sitated in the office.

Children's Book Library

The Stuckey family have started a free book library which can be accessed at 22 Hoddle Street.

Everyone is welcome to swap books or just take one to read. 

St. Pius X Recipe Book

This is your last chance to submit your recipes for our school cook book. 

For those  families who are new to our school;  this is a Parents and Friends initiative and we would love to receive your favourite family recipes to include in our publication.   

Please send to:

principal@spwarrnambool.catholic.edu.au with the subject: ‘Recipe Book’.

Parish Mass

Sunday Mass at 10.30am at St. Pius X Church.  School families are always welcome.

Second Hand Uniforms

Families seeking uniform items are welcome to contact Angela Verspay (Mum to Dylan and Finn) who has stock of many donated uniform pieces.  Ph: 0477660119.

School Canteen Roster

Tuesday, 1st March - Anna McKenzie

Wednesday, 2nd March - Aliesha Williamson

Thursday, 3rd March - Lauren Johnson

Friday, 4th March - Rebecca Maglaras

Term Dates