Dear parents and carers

Welcome to the first newsletter for 2023. What a wonderful start to the year it has been. The children looked so excited as they came through the gates for the first time last week and have settled smoothly into their new hubs with their 2023 Educators.

During last Friday's assembly we presented the Year 6 students their leadership badges and polo shirts. I hope they wear these with pride as they complete their final primary school year. I look forward to seeing the great contributions and ideas this group of leaders share with us throughout the year.

Our new school captains, Ellana, Angus, Adut and Zoe, did a phenomenal job leading assembly for the first time.

Next we will elect Term 1 Village Leaders and share what project they will be working on this term. They will receive their badges at the next assembly.

This year we have a reintroduced "Engaging with Place" led by Erin and will incorporate the Farm and love for the land. All children will engage in a specialist program one day a week and consists of PE, Innovation, Japanese, The Arts and Engaging with Place. Please see image for the days each hub has their Specialist program. We will also ask children to wear their hat during PE lessons outside due to they high levels of UV at this time of the year.

Just a reminder that all children are required to wear a school hat when outside otherwise they will need to play in designated shaded areas. School hats can be purchase from RHUniforms. We have also placed an order to have a small supply at school for parents to purchase from the office that will be available soon. We also encourage children to apply sunscreen at home every morning. While we don't have a supply of sunscreen for children to access, staff are happy to assist children who need to reapply cream supplied from home prior to going outside if required.

Families who have a child due to start Prep next year are invited to join one of our 2024 Prep School Tours on:

Thursday 23 Feb at 9:30am
Monday 6 March at 9:30am
Friday 10 March at 9:30am or 12pm

If you know someone who is looking to enrol their child in Prep next year please encourage them to join one of our tours. To secure a spot at one of the tours please book in via the link on our website - https://www.sjfootscray.catholic.edu.au/enrolments or email admin@sjfootscray.catholic.edu.au for more information.

Our Welcome Picnic for 2023 will be held on 21 February. We have some exciting things booked. Families will be able to purchase drinks from Miss Fluer Coffee van and we will be hosting a Smoking Ceremony at the Farm. Educators are working with children to explore the significance in preparation of this sacred indigenous ceremony. We request anyone joining us for the Smoking Ceremony does so with respect by listening and being still while the Elder leads us during this time. More information will be shared about the Welcome Picnic and the Smoking Ceremony in the next fortnight but there is a save the date info on the Family Engagement page.

While we seem to have started in a new 'normal', COVID is still very much present in the community. To help us protect each other we do ask that any child who is unwell does not come to school whether it might be COVID or another illness. Any child feeling or presenting unwell or with cold like symptoms while at school will be sent to the office to go home. I have also provided information around mosquito bites and our COVIDSafe practices on the Health Updates page of this newsletter.

Absences and Family Holidays

It has been great hearing stories of people's holidays and experiences during January and we have been notified of some families who have planned holidays coming up during the school terms. Please be aware that parents need to contact school to give reason for any type of absence or we will have to mark your child unapproved. Please refer to the Office News page for ways to communicate absences with the school.

Parents are required to ensure their child attends school and to provide an explanation for their child's absence from school, and the principal must record in writing the reason (if any) given by the parent. The principal must be able to determine from the records if the excuse given was reasonable in terms of the parent meeting their legal obligations.

Parents should promptly inform the school of the reason for their child's absence so that the school can:

determine if the child's absence needs to be excused by the principal, in line with school policy and these guidelines
determine the appropriate follow up to ensure the child's education and wellbeing is supported
record if the parent has a reasonable excuse for not meeting their obligation to ensure their child attends school each day

Where possible, parents should inform the school in advance of upcoming absences to ensure a child's education and wellbeing are supported, parents are encouraged to communicate openly with the school where a child has an ongoing medical condition that may result in extended absences or medical appointments during school hours.

Family holidays will be approved if notification in writing to the Principal has been received in advance.

Hoping you have all had a smooth return to the year and are looking forward to what 2023 brings,

warm wishes

Emily

Family Engagement

Community and Family Engagement