Dear Parents/Carers,

Welcome back to Term Three. The first newsletter of the term is always a long one, with lots of details regarding various events happening in the school community, so I recommend you grab a cup of tea and ready your family calendar. Term Three is always a solid term of learning, with no public holidays and minimal interruptions. Following on from assessment, reporting and parent/teacher interviews completed in Term Two, our teachers have an in-depth knowledge of your child, their learning needs and motivations, so they are able to hone in on the areas for improvement. For the children, there are some wonderful events to look forward to, culminating with the School’s performance of Cinderella and Rockerfella in the final week of the term at Kilbreda College. As we move into the second half of this term, there will be significant time dedicated to the rehearsal of this show and there will also be calls for assistance from the parent community with things like costumes and make up. Please be on the lookout for communication from our production directors Anna Gugliucciello and Amanda Baker. It is also vital that we have all students at school and present for our production nights in the last week of term. It is a very exciting time for our school.

New Staff

This term we welcomed Judith Barton to our staff and school community. Judith will be in the Year Six classroom three days per week, working alongside Julie Grace. Judith has significant classroom experience and also has children of her own, who attend another local Catholic School. At the beginning of this term, we also extended our welcome to Jane Barry, who is working in Year 4 two days per week with Josie Miller. Jane started at our school before the end of Term Two, releasing Amanda Baker from the Prep classroom on a Wednesday. Please join me in making these staff feel welcome.

Changes to school operations

It feels like I am sending out updates regarding changes to school operations very regularly at the moment, but the conditions are constantly evolving, as we have seen this morning with new Covid-19 cases in Victoria. Below is an outline of the key conditions for schools, as it stands today:

Parents and visitors are welcome on school grounds and inside school buildings.
Face masks must still be worn indoors by all visitors to the school, including parents.
When entering a school building, all parents are required to check in using the VicGov QR codes at all of the entrances.
Assembly will remain as staff and students only until further notice.
All students and parents must adhere to the public health advice regarding returning from holidays from interstate; testing and isolating when required.
Please keep your child home from school if they are unwell and get tested, even with the mildest of symptoms.

School Fees

An updated Fee Statement will be sent out by the end of this week. Term Three School Fees are due by Friday 6th August. Please contact the office to arrange payment.

Drop off in the morning

The school’s duty of care starts each day at 8.30am, when our playground is supervised and the classrooms are open. Please ensure your child is not arriving at school before this time.

School Canteen

The St Agnes’ School Canteen is resuming as normal this week. Orders can be placed online at salutecatering.com.au.

Events for Term Three

PSG Meetings - Monday 19th to Wednesday 21st July

Program Support Group Meetings are due to commence on Monday 19th and run to Wednesday 21st July. Families affected will have been contacted directly by our Learning Diversity Leader, Mrs Janine Moulton, to schedule these meetings.

Beachside Girls Soccer - Wednesday 21st July

Our Year 5/6 Girls Soccer team is headed to the Beachside Division Championships on Wednesday 21st July at Bailey Reserve in East Bentleigh. An Operoo form has been sent to parents with further details for this event. We wish the girls well in this competition; it is always more difficult at the next level, but we know they will try their best.

Regional Cross Country - Tuesday 20th July

On Tuesday 20th July, we have four students heading to the Regional Cross Country, after placing at the District event. Massimo C (Y6), Chloe C and Sophie L (Y5), and Callan Duddy (Y3), will represent our school. The event is being held at Hastings Foreshore and further information has been sent via Operoo. We wish these students well for their run next week.

School Advisory Council Meetings

There are two School Advisory Council Meetings this term. The first is Tuesday 20th July at 7.30pm and the second is Tuesday 17th August. Covid-19 restrictions will determine if these meetings will be online or in person.

Year 5/6 Interschool Sports vs St Catherine’s - Commences Friday 23rd July

Our Year 5/6 students continue Interschool Sport this semester, competing against St Catherine’s Moorabbin in a range of activities on Friday afternoons. This commences with an ‘Away game’ on Friday 23rd July. The students should wear their Interschool Sports top for these days.

Fete Committee Meeting - Thursday 22nd July at 7.30pm

The first Fete Committee meeting for the term is on Thursday 22nd July at 7.30pm. All parents are welcome to attend this meeting. Covid-19 restrictions will determine if the meeting will be online or in person.

Prep Prayer in Pyjamas - Wednesday 28th July at 7pm

On Wednesday 28th July at 7pm in School Hall, we have the Prep Prayers in Pyjamas Family Faith evening. We ask that all Prep children attend this evening with at least one parent. The aim of the evening is to give parents and children the opportunity to sit together and talk about prayer as part of our faith.

P&F Social Night - Music Bingo - Saturday 31st July 7pm

Tickets are now on sale for the P&F Social Event - Music Bingo. This event is being held in the School Hall on Saturday 31st July and will be a great night. I encourage all parents to book in a babysitter and get involved in the fun. After a lacklustre 2020, it is important to seize these social opportunities whenever we can. Further information can be found on the Social Events page of this newsletter.

Hooptime Basketball

In the first two weeks of August, our Year 3-6 students will head off to compete in a basketball competition called Hooptime. The Year 5/6 day is on Thursday 5th August and the Year 3/4 day is on Tuesday 10th August.

Sacrament of First Eucharist Masses

Our Year Four and Five students who are yet to receive the Sacrament of First Eucharist will do so on Saturday 7th and Saturday 21st August. Booking details for these masses were communicated via Operoo last term. We will need to comply with density limits at the time of these masses and more information will be provided as these dates get closer. The students completed their preparation for this in Term Two.

Family Maths Night - Tuesday 10th August

On Tuesday 10th August, we will be holding a Family Maths Night. This event is for parents and children and we ask that all families are represented on the night. At this evening, there will be presentations from teachers and also opportunities for you to engage with your child in learning activities in the area of Mathematics. It is a fantastic opportunity for you to spend time with your child(ren) and demonstrate the value you place on education/learning. Further information regarding session times will be communicated in upcoming newsletters.

Walkathon - Friday 13th August

On Friday 13th August, the P&F will hold one of it’s major fundraising events for the year, the St Agnes’ Walkathon. On this day, all students from Prep to Year 6 head down to Peterson Street Reserve to run/walk laps of the oval. The students can obtain sponsorship from friends, family and neighbours to incentivise them to run and walk as many laps as possible. There will be prizes for the individuals and class who raises the most money for the school. All funds raised will go towards furnishing our classrooms after the upcoming capital works.

P&F Bunnings Fundraising Sausage Sizzle - All day on Saturday 14th August

The P&F have managed to secure a date for our school to run the Bunnings Sausage Sizzle, with all proceeds going to the school. The P&F are looking for assistance to turn sausages on the barbeque and serve customers. Thank you to Sally Forbes for her organisation of this.

Sacrament of Confirmation

The Year Six students will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation at the Saturday evening Parish mass on the 4th September. The Family Faith Night is on Wednesday 18th August at 7.30pm. The students will prepare for the sacrament mass on the Reflection Day, scheduled for Monday 30th August.

Italian Day - Friday 20th August

Our Whole School Italian Day is on Friday 20th August. The students will come dressed in line with the theme of the day and participate in activities related to Italian culture.

School Closure Day - Monday 23rd August

The school will be closed on Monday 23rd August for staff to undertake professional development. The focus of the learning will be on mindfulness and meditation and will be facilitated by Georgina Manning.

Year 1/2 Family Faith Night - Wednesday 25th August at 7pm

On Wednesday 25th August at 7pm in School Hall, we have the Year 1/2 Family Faith Night. We ask that all children attend this evening with at least one parent. The aim of the evening is to give parents and children the opportunity to sit together and talk about storytelling as part of our faith.

Father’s Day Stall - Friday 27th August

The P&F will be running a Father’s Day Stall on Friday 27th August, providing our students with the opportunity to buy a small Father’s Day gift for their Dad. More information will be provided closer to the date.

Father’s Day Breakfast and Liturgy - Thursday 2nd September

On Thursday 2nd September, we will hold our annual Father’s Day Breakfast and Liturgy to celebrate the dads and father figures in our school community. All welcome, with further detail to come.

School Production - Wednesday 15th and Thursday 16th September

St Agnes’ performance of Cinderella and Rockerfella will take place at Kilbreda College in Mentone, using their new Performing Arts facility. There will be two performances - opening night on Wednesday 15th September and closing night on Thursday 16th September. At this stage, we are unsure what the venue capacity will be and therefore we will hold off ticket sales until we have some level of certainty regarding this.

Footy Colours Day - Friday 17th September

On the final day of Term Three, we will celebrate Melbourne’s sporting culture with a Footy Colours Day. The Year Six Sports Captains will lead the students through a range of fun activities and games. All children can come to school dressed in the colours of their favourite team.

Last Day of Term Three - Friday 17th September (1.30pm dismissal)

Term Three concludes on Friday 17th September at 1.30pm. Term Four commences on Monday 4th October.

Assembly

Assembly will take place at 2.40pm on a Wednesday afternoons in the Hall. At assembly, there will be presentations from classes, student awards, birthday acknowledgements and special announcements. At this stage, assemblies will remain as students and staff only.

Wed 14th July - Year 5

Wed 21st July - Year 2

Wed 28th July - Year 3

Wed 4th Aug - Year 1

Wed 11th Aug - Year 6

Wed 18th Aug - Prep

Wed 25th Aug - Year 4

Wed 1st Sept - Year 2

Wed 8th Sept - Book Week Performance

Wed 16th Sept - No Assembly - School Production

Enjoy the rest of the week.

Kind regards,

Lachie

WELLBEING