From Our Principal
St Mel's is a proud Catholic Education Community, striving, learning
and achieving together through Christ our light.
Newsletter ~ Term 4, Week 4, 2024
Principal's Message:
Dear Parents, Carers, Families and Friends of St Mel’s Primary School,
'Magnify Sandhurst'
Every Student - Every Teacher - Every School - Every Day!
Last week and this week members staff have continued participation in the online diocesan-wide professional learning in preparation for implementing the Magnify learning and teaching reforms.
The training will continue in coming weeks with teachers accessing the next round of MultiLit Literacy professional learning and familiarising themselves with the OCHRE online 'low-variance curriculum' resource. Danae Napier (Deputy Principal), Di Walker (Leader: Lerner Diversity and Pastoral Wellbeing) and myself will attend professional learning days for school leaders focussed on the new Positive Behaviour and OCHRE Education online 'low-variance curriculum' resources.
As previously indicated, I am grateful for the enthusiasm and interest of our Staff Team to engage in the training schedule, the flexibility of staff in rescheduling Specialist Program days and other timetabling needs and to members of our Executive Leadership Team for releasing teachers to access the training.
The efforts of parents and carers in supporting the need to reschedule Specialist Program days (and support children to wear correct sports uniform when required) as we plan for staff participation in the required professional learning program is also appreciated.
Year 3/4 Kookaburra Camp:
The children and staff of Year 3/4 enjoyed a wonderful overnight camp experience on Wednesday and Thursday at Camp Kookaburra, Corop. Across this two day activity camp children enjoyed archery, rope swing, initiative problem solving tasks, canoeing and orienteering amongst other designated activities. The children have been congratulated on their proactive, enthusiastic and wonderful participation in this experience.
Celebrating Diwali:
Some of our children and families will be celebrating Diwali this week.
The Diwali festival takes place over five days. It started yesterday 30 October and will finish on Monday 4 November.
Diwali, short for Deepawali, is one of the most popular celebrations in India celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, Jain’s and some Buddhists.
The word translates to “row of lights”. The multi-day Festival of Lights includes fireworks, food, gifts, coloured sand, and special clay lamps.
*Traditionally, the first day is often devoted to prayer and preparation.
*The second day is spent beautifying homes with decorations and lights.
*The third day is the main day of the festival which consists of fireworks & feasts.
*The last couple of days of Diwali are reserved for spending quality time with loved ones.
Happy Diwali to everyone in our School Community who are celebrating!
Foundation Transition for 2025:
We look forward to welcoming the Foundation students enrolled for next year as they experience primary school as part of their transition program as follows:
Session One: Wednesday 6 November 12:30pm to 1:30pm
Session Two: Wednesday 12 November 9:15am to 10:15am
Session Three: Wednesday 27 November 12:30pm to 1:30pm
Session Four: Wednesday 4 December 9:15am to 10:15am
Prep Information Night: Wednesday 4 December 7:00pm
(Parents / carers only - No students attend)
Statewide Transition Day: Tuesday 10 December 12:00pm to 1:45pm
Long Weekend:
Reminder - this weekend is a four day weekend for students with Monday's Report Writing Day a Student Free Day and the following day being the Melbourne Cup Public Holiday.
2025 MacKillop Art Exhibition:
The annual diocesan MacKillop Art Exhibition commences with the Opening and Awards Ceremony on Friday 15 November 2024 inside Sacred Heart Cathedral, Bendigo from 6pm to 8pm. The exhibition runs from Friday 15 to Saturday 30 November 2025.
Year 6 learner, and skilled artist, Addyson Almond has entered her beautifully created watercolour entitled "Butterflies in Bloom" in the Spiritual category. This piece (pictured) has inspiration from the diocesan theme for this year 'Behold! I make all things new!'
'My artwork has a girl with a butterfly on her finger and the butterfly is spreading the bright colours across the page. This is a symbol of the message “Behold I create all things new.”
I have used lots of bright colours separating the two sides with different mediums to create a brand new effect in my artwork. I have used watercolour on the left hand side creating washes and layering colours and on the right I have used markers to also create dark and light shaded effects. I am inspired by nature and the butterfly is an insect that is both beautiful and mysterious. I love my garden at home because when the flowers bloom the butterflies get busy pollinating. Nature is full of amazing things if you take the time to look.' Addyson
We wish Addyson all the very best for this year's exhibition.
Staff Leave:
Laura Emanuelli (Year 3/4) will be on leave Wednesday and Thursday of next week. Lauren's class will be taught by Classroom Relief Teachers (& leadership) who have supported the children across the year.
3/4 and 5/6 Camps & Year 1/2 Sleep Over [Repeat]:
As many parents and carers will know from last year, in mid-2023 the new Catholic Education Enterprise Agreement was passed and introduced into our school system. Along with many changes to employment conditions for school staff this agreement included the introduction of Time In Lieu for teachers and support staff and a reduction in the allowable formal meeting hours.
This has had a significant impact on 'out of school hours' participation of staff, especially in relation to school camps and overnight stays (ie Sleep Overs).
Subsequently, the day/s following these activities now involve staff receiving their 'Time in Lieu' (ie not attending school for the overtime incurred on camp!)
As in 2023, Acquitting the 'Time in Lieu' involves running an alternate program on the day, or days, following each activity with minimal staff supporting the children who come to school on the day following a camp or sleepover. Again, as in 2023, families electing to keep children home after these activities supports our arrangements. This option will again be offered in support of the Year 3/4 and Year 5/6 camp and the Year 1/2 Sleepover this term.
Given challenges in accessing classroom relief teachers (CRTs) and our Leadership staff already taking on additional teaching roles this term, your support of post-activity day arrangements is greatly appreciated.
Planning for 2025 [Repeat]:
Planning for the approaching new school year is well underway, as we continue to focus on the current year. With enrolments in Foundation and higher grades being finalised and families departing our school community informing us of their intentions, we are seeking to finalise our arrangements for 2025 prior to Transition Day in December, including placement of students in Learning Areas. The composition of learning groups and allocation of teachers (and Learning Support Staff) is a complex process based on many variables including: needs of individual and groups of students, communication with parents and carers across the year, Parent/Carer/Student/Teacher Learning Conversations, student behaviour and social needs, enrolment numbers, teacher availability and expertise, etc... We look forward to continuing to finalise arrangements for the approaching school year along with our implementation of Magnify Sandhurst.
Leaving at End of Year? OR... Know of Families Yet to Enrol? [Repeat]
Thank you to the families who have indicated they will be leaving the St Mel's Community at year's end. This information is very helpful as we continue to make plans for the approaching new school year.
Also, if you know of families yet to approach us for enrolment, please encourage them to do so NOW! We have received interest in the holidays and last week and approaching capacity in some areas.
'Kiss & Go' Reminder: [Repeat]
A reminder the 'Kiss and Go' area along Hamilton Street is designed for a safe, efficient and smooth departure of students at the end of the school day. Parents and carers are reminded to remain in cars when collecting students at the end of the day. Moving cars South along Hamilton Street to support the safe, free flow of vehicles supports the process. Reminder - Do not park your car and leave your vehicle to enter the school yard to collect children or meet with teachers during this time. (This year staff have been asked to park in the street or parish car park and not in the tennis area car park to free room for parents and carers across the day, including after school.) Thank you in the interest of student safety.
Duty of Care & Ambulance Support: [Repeat]
A reminder in the event of emergency an ambulance may be called when attending to injured students as part of First Aid response. The costs associated with ambulance responses is borne by patient or in the case of children and young people, the family. Ambulance call outs can be costly so it is advised families maintain current ambulance coverage. Some health funds include this within their cover. Currently ambulance coverage in Victoria is around $100 per family.
Parents and carers are urged to check their ambulance coverage to avoid potentially large fees in the event an ambulance is called in response to an emergency situation involving your child/ren. For more information contact https://www.ambulance.vic.gov.au/membership/
or your relevant Health Fund provider.
Volunteering at St Mel's PS and/or St Mel's Parish: [Repeat]
We are grateful for the support of our parent, carer and parishioner volunteers.
A reminder to parents, carers and parishioners interested in being 'volunteer ready' to download the Volunteer Application information from the school website or contact the school office to commence the registration process. Volunteers also need to apply for a Working With Children Check as part of the process.
Parents / carers with current Working With Children Checks are prompted to visit the online portal and LINK their Working With Children's Check to St. Mel's PS, St. Mel's Parish and any other location you volunteer at or may volunteer at in the future. The portal then contacts the school, parish or entity with your WWCC information automatically.
This in turn supports our management of volunteer documentation.
Visit the Service Victoria site to register your volunteering OR apply for a digital WWCC:
https://www.service.vic.gov.au/find-services/work-and-volunteering/working-with-children-check
Student Free Days 2024 [REPEAT]:
Please find following a list of our remaining allowable Student Free Days for 2024 to support your planning for child minding:
Term Four:
Monday 4 November - Report Writing
Monday 18 November - Planning Day for 2025
Thursday 19 December - First Aid Professional Learning for 2025
Friday 20 December - Last Day for Staff Team
Notes: The last day for students for the 2024 school year is Wednesday 18 December.
Thank you for ongoing support of our learners and Staff Team.
Stephen 'Steve' Hicks
Principal
Did you know? ~
