Dear parents, students and families,

Last Friday our Foundation students celebrated 100 Days of Preps. It was a fun-filled day and I greatly enjoyed hearing about their experiences.

Our Year 5/6 students had the opportunity to play against Kananook PS. They have started their season well playing Netball, Soccer and T-Ball, with all teams undefeated and proudly representing our school.

Last Sunday was our final group of our students to receive their First Eucharist. Those students, as well as all who received Eucharist for the first time during the previous weeks, can be very proud of the respect and contributions they made during the Mass. We pray that the Holy Spirit helps all to develop their gifts as they move to becoming full members of the Church. Please keep Luke B, Lola T, Lawson C, Kevin C, Grace F, Oscar L, Jasper H,

Logan P, Chantelle B, Oliver H, Edward K, Ziggy P and Lilith T in your prayers.

Special congratulations to Chantelle B, Oliver H, Edward K, Ziggy P and Lilith T who received Eucharist for the first time last weekend.

Be careful though or Fr Martin might turn you all into Bulldogs supporters!

On Tuesday we celebrated Science Week by having a Science Celebration Day. We were joined by John Paul College Students and Staff including some of our past students including Emily S, Hazel A, Steven E and Sydney D. Have a look at the New Page for some really lovely photos.

Today we have joined together to give thanks for Mary as a whole school to celebrate her Assumption. We can all learn from Mary's willingness to listening to God's word and living an exemplary life.

Tomorrow our Year 5/6 students continue their Winter sport program playing Netball, T-Ball and Soccer against Belvedere Park PS at home.

Next week we have Mahogany Rise PS at home.

We will hold an Emergency Drill at approximately 11am so if you are dropping off students at around that time come in either 15 minutes before or after if this is possible for you.

Looking ahead to next week, our African Drumming continues.

It is Book Week and our Book Parade is on Tuesday and our Foundation- Year 2 students will be going on an excursion to Seaford Library next Friday as part of their Book Week activities.

Please note that our staff are on duty until 3.40pm at the end of the day. Their priority is to ensure students are safely picked up to head home. Knowing that many families like to continue to stay in the yard after this, the supervision of your children is your responsibility. No child should be in our yard after 3.40pm without a parent or organised carer looking after them. This is very important from a safety aspect.

I would also like to thank our families, as part of the wider Seaford Parish, on their contributions towards the Frankston Winter Shelter. Fr Martin and Sumitha are very appreciative of this as we endeavor to follow the lessons of the Gospel. It enables our students to be part of a 'lived faith' experience which is so important in forming the adults they will be and their support for their community.

Kind regards and God Bless

Rod Shaw

Principal

School Attendance and Unexplained Absence

Please contact the school if your child is going to be absent by leaving a message on

9786 4736 and press 1. Please give details of your child’s name and class with a reason for their absence such as: unwell, appointment, holiday or family reasons. Alternatively an email can be sent to office@saseaford.catholic.edu.au with cc to the child’s teacher.

If you are running late, (after 9:00 am) please attend the office to sign your child into school and collect a late pass.

If you are picking up your child early you will need to collect them and sign them out from the office.

As per our policy this will be our morning routine for absences:

Parents will be contacted as soon as practicable on the morning a student is absent via a text message.

If parent does not contact the school after receiving the text message, the school will contact the parent by phone. If the parent is unreachable the emergency contacts will be contacted by the school.

If there is still no response, and the school feels that the child is in danger, the police will be contacted.

Ongoing unexplained absences or lack of cooperation regarding student attendance will result in a formal conference being organized. Unresolved attendance issues will be referred to D.H.H.S.

This is a legal requirement.

Democratic Principles

The six (6) principles of Australian democracy include:

(a) elected government; and

(b) the rule of law; and

(c) equal rights for all before the law; and

(d) freedom of religion; and

(e) freedom of speech and association; and

(f) the values of openness and tolerance

Wellbeing

Day 1: Challenge stereotypes

Day 2: Promote empathy

Day 3: Embrace diversity

Day 4: Foster positive relationships

Day 5: Provide support