From the Deputy 

National Walk Safely To School Day

The St Mary's community should be proud of the way they turned up enthusiastically last Friday! Parents and students met staff members at 3 meeting locations in the surrounding suburbs, with each point allowing for an approximately 1km walk.

Walk Safely To School Day gave us the opportunity to discuss ideas about pedestrian and road safety, including how to use shared footpaths and etiquette, hazards to be aware of and how to use designated crossings. It was wonderful to have so many parents walk with us, especially when many have commitments in the morning. It was was fantastic to hear from the children in the morning and back in the classroom, that some had walked to school for the first time. Thank you to the many students who designed art work and logos to celebrate the day. These were turned into stickers which were issued to all walkers.

A survey we conducted on that Friday showed more than 100 students walked. The impact on car traffic was evident to anyone standing in Westbury street between 8:45 and 9:00... it was very quiet indeed!

Initiatives like Walk Safely To School Day in Term 2 and Ride2School Day in Term 1 remind us of the benefits of active travel. We hope that last Friday was enjoyable for all and perhaps it might kickstart a few new healthy habits.

Our bike rack storage is in the process of being relocated to a more spacious and orderly section of the school and might further encourage active travel to school. We will let parents know when the bikes can be stored in the new area.

Visit from St Mary's College students

It was a privilege to have the Year 12 Religious Music ensemble from St Mary's College eagerly perform for our students last Friday at assembly. The group played and sang two songs for us (Let It Be by the Beatles, and I'm Still Standing by Elton John) and we were told about their passion for music as a way of understanding human values and morals. The students were also treated to a live rendition of Happy Birthday to celebrate the birthdays for that week! We look forward to having the college students return a few times each Term.

A reminder to parents that you are always welcome at our assembly, which is each Friday at 10:30am

Semester 1 Reports and Parent / Teacher Interviews

Teaching staff are in the process of writing student reports for each child. The aim of this document is to provide parents and carers with a formal documentation of their child's progress and achievement against the Victorian Curriculum, based on the teaching program in Term 1 and Term 2, by using a range of assessment data.

These reports will be sent home on Friday 17th June.

In the last week of Term we will be holding Parent / Teacher Interviews. We strongly encourage all parents to attend the interview, as it allows parents to ask questions about the report, celebrate successes in partnership with the teacher and discuss next steps for their child. There will be interview appointments available on Tuesday 21st June between 1:30pm and 6:00pm and Thursday 23rd June between 3:40pm and 5:00pm, with further information to come in the next newsletter.

Rapid Antigen Test and COVID update

RATs will continue to be distributed as they have been throughout this school year for the remainder of this Term. 

However, from Monday 23 May 2022, we do not recommend that your child complete a RAT twice a week as previously advised.

RATs will continue to be required by students who are household contacts in order to attend school (five negative tests over a seven-day period).  Students in this category who are 8 years and older are required to wear a mask indoors when attending school.

RATs are also recommended to be used at any stage when students have symptoms.

The ongoing supply of RATs to families in our school will ensure that parents and carers have tests should they need them if their child is a household contact or has symptoms.

Families must continue to notify the Department of Health and the school if their child returns a positive RAT result. Additionally, you should inform us if any of your children are household contacts.

Thank you to all families who have had their child vaccinated. Vaccination continues to remain the best way to protect students and staff in our school.  Getting vaccinated is easy and bookings can be done via the Department of Health’s website https://portal.cvms.vic.gov.au. If you have any questions about the vaccines, I encourage you to speak to your GP or a health practitioner.

Over the last few weeks, our school has been impacted by staff shortages and student absences. Whilst our situation is not as bad as some other schools, there is clearly community transmission of not only COVID but also influenza and other respiratory viruses. Therefore, even if you or your child tests negative for COVID but have symptoms, please stay home and avoid contact with others.

Thank you again for your ongoing cooperation and support during this time.