Dear Families,

RETURNING INTENTIONS FOR 2021: If your family is not returning to St Laurence's in 2021, please let us know as soon as possible so we can arrange transfer information and not include students in class structures for 2021.

REMINDER REGARDING ABSENCES

Absences need to be submitted via SimonEverywhere/PAM by 9:30am on the day of student absence.

If you are leaving an absence message on the phone, select option 1, please say the your child's name, surname and reason for the absence. If no reason is given, the absence is recorded as 'Parent Choice'.

SCHOOL START TIME: A reminder that school begins at 8:50am. Please have your children in a great routine so that they are at school on time for line up and the beginning of lessons.

EARLY DEPARTURES FROM SCHOOL: We remind parents to please make appointments outside of school times. If you must make an appointment during the school day, please be mindful that at recess 11 - 11.30am and lunchtime 1.40 - 2.10pm it is difficult to get children up to the office as they sometimes don't hear announcements when playing. Children also need to find a teacher to open the doors to get bags (for the juniors).

ST VINCENT DE PAUL CHRISTMAS APPEAL

This year, Christmas will be like no other. After the year that no one saw coming, many families are without jobs and under increased financial stress, some for the first time in their lives. With more families facing uncertainty, no one knows what to expect for Christmas Day. Family feasts, presents and festive gatherings with loved ones will all look incredibly different for many people this year as we celebrate Christmas. But Vinnies is committed to making Christmas a time to renew hope. Vinnies continues to provide shelter, food, clothing, financial support, friendship and care for tens of thousands of people requiring assistance, but the need is still great and we need YOUR help.

Together, we can renew hope this Christmas. Students, teachers and parents can contribute. We are asking for donations of non-perishable Christmas items to go in hampers.

Items can be brought to the office and placed in the the basket there, or, children can pop them in the gray trays which come down to the office each morning.

To uphold the dignity of those receiving the goods, please ensure that all food items are not due to expire for 6 months. All items must be non-perishable.

Ideas could be: Christmas pudding, Bon-bons, Long life Custard, Tea, Coffee, Milo, Long life milk, Sweet biscuits, Candy canes, Fruit cakes, Jams, Christmas cake, Pancake mix, Lollies, Couscous, Cereal, Fruit mince pies, Savoury biscuits, Tinned fruit, Pasta, Pasta sauce.

Items can be accepted up until Monday 14th December. St Vinnie's will collect our items on this day and will be making up all the hampers on 17 and 18th December ready for distribution.

SCHOOL FEES

School Fee Intention Forms are to be returned to school by 30th November please.

School Fees Discount - Due to COVID19, under instruction from DOSCEL, there will be a rebate on the Student CSE levy in term 4. All discounts have now been applied. Letters have sent home or emailed families who are in credit. Please respond to our correspondence so we can finalise the discounts in our system.

For families not on a payment plan, unpaid school fee payments would be appreciated by 30th November.

School fees are not meant to be a burden on your family budget and we understand during COVID19, some families have been affected and are really struggling. If your family is experiencing difficulties in meeting your school fee commitment, we wish to hear from you. Please contact Liz O'Loughlin on principal@stlleongatha.catholic.edu.au as soon as possible as there are concessions available to those who need it.

HEALTH CARE CARD/PENSION CARDS AND THE CSEF (Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund): Do you hold or have recently been allocated a HeathCare Card/Pension Card? If you have recently been allocated a HCC/Pension Card, a claim can be made on your behalf and you may be eligible for the school fee subsidy.

If you already hold a current HCC/pension card and have not claimed before, please contact the school or fill out the application form that is attached below and send back to school with a copy of your card as soon as possible. Having a HCC/Pension Card gives you access to a considerable subsidy off your school fees.

Please contact the office if you have any questions or request a hard copy of the application form.

PRAYER

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