Dear Families,

Ash Wednesday Mass/Lent

It was wonderful to have our Year 3/4 students and School Leaders join parishioners and school leaders from St Francis Xavier and Holy Trinity for Ash Wednesday Mass. Ashes were provided to each school to take back to their respective communities. Fr Michael led our COVID safe celebration and it was a fitting way for us to begin our Lenten journey.

Project Compassion

Our School Leaders and I encourage all families to contribute to Project Compassion during Lent. Caritas Australia does a wonderful job of supporting those in need. Across the six weeks of Lent I will share with you a story from Caritas Australia’s website that illustrates the work they do to assist the vulnerable. This is an important time of learning for our students as members of a Catholic faith community.

Catholic Social Teaching principles, with human dignity at its centre, is a holistic approach to development and is what Pope Paul VI called ‘authentic development’. You can explore the Catholic Social Teaching principles and how they guide Caritas’ work here.

Click on the image below to listen to Anatercia’s story

Our School Leaders, Lottie, Xavier, Louise and Francesca will promote this worthy cause with our students and school community.

PFOL, Volunteers and Class Helpers

Thank you to those who responded to our survey for PFOL, Volunteers and Class Helpers. It is never too late to be involved, so the survey is here again for you to indicate your willingness to participate if you didn’t have the chance to respond last time.

If you would like to be a member of our PFOL, or assist at the Twilight Sports (see the section below) please contact Sarah Medawar (SMS: 0400 265 266 or email sarah.a.medawar@gmail.com).

Twilight Sports

We are also looking for volunteers for our Twilight Sports on Thursday March 10. A Google form to assist on the evening will be sent via email in the coming days.

Information about Twilight Sports was shared in the last newsletter which you can find here as well as key points in today’s version.

This is our first major whole school event for some time, so it promises to be a wonderful community celebration.

Families are asked to pick up their children at 1pm from school on the day so staff can prepare for the event. If this is not possible we will have teachers onsite here supervising any children that need to remain. Please refer to a school email to indicate your intention for this day.

COVID Protocols for Twilight Sports

We would ask everyone in our school community to consider and apply all the usual COVID safe practices that we are asked to observe. We are fortunate to be able to use the wide open spaces of the CLC sports ground which will allow us to spread out. We also have a staggered events calendar which will likewise assist. We thank all our families for continuing to follow protocols and for testing children at home with the tests provided. Please ensure your child stays home if they are presenting with symptoms. Sometimes RA Tests have been negative and subsequent PCR tests have revealed a positive.

Masks

This is a gentle reminder to ensure your Year 3-6 child brings a mask each day. We only have limited supply as extras and it will stop the steady flow of students to the office seeking a mask. It would be helpful for students to have a few as spares in the bag for such occasions.

Warm regards

Patrick Green

DIAMOND CREEK POP UP CLINIC

We'll be offering COVID-19 vaccinations

Friday 4 March and Saturday 5 March in Diamond Creek, in partnership with Nillumbik Shire Council, Banyule Community Health and Your Community Health.

When:Friday 4 March, 2.30pm-6.30pmSaturday 5 March, 9.30am-1.30pm

Where: Diamond Creek Community Centre, 28 Main Hurstbridge Road, Diamond Creek

First, second and third doses will be available. Novavax and Pfizer will be available for adults, and paediatric Pfizer available for children.

Walk-ins and bookings are accepted for all age groups.

Book online via the Victorian Government portal or by calling the Victorian Coronavirus Hotline on 1800 675 398.

Please refer to our School google calendar for events throughout the year.

Links

COVID Safe Plan
Enrolment Form Link
Please click here for link to Asthma plan and/or Anaphylaxis plan and allergy form.
CDFpay link
Bicycle Paths
Parish Bulletin/Parish Website

Open Day March 17