From the Office

School Fees and Levies

*Please note that 2023 Swimming fees, 2023 School Camp and Grade 6 ‘Big Day Out’ fees will be adjusted according to the fees charged by facilitators for Camp, Swimming Pool, along with bus fees etc.

For concession card holders CSEF eligibility will be subject to the parental/legal guardian’s concession card being successfully validated with Centrelink on either the first day of either Term One, (27 January 2023) or Term Two, (24 April 2023).

We kindly ask that applicable forms are returned to the school office by Wednesday, 

8 February 2023 to enable the forms to be processed accordingly.

• 2023 Payment Options
• 2023 Direct Debit Form
• Direct Debit Request (DDR) Service Agreement
• Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) Application Form
• MACS School Fee Concession Program Application

Updating Student/Family Personal Information 

We thank all parents who have advised Sharan or Gabrielle in the office of any changes to family personal details.  This includes changes of email addresses, home/work/mobile phone numbers, emergency contact details/phone numbers etc.

We ask all parents to advise the office of any changes to personal details.  

Gabrielle & Sharan

Mobile Phones 

We remind all children, and their parents, that any mobile phones brought to school by children must be handed to Sharan or Gabrielle at the front office. Children will access their phones at the end of each day. Phones are not to remain in school bags. 

Apple Watches/watches linked to phones etc 

In so many ways the schooling experience of our children is greatly enriched by the advances in technology.  But perhaps not always! We are aware that a number of our children have access to Apple Watches and other ‘watch technologies’ eg. Fitbits, which have the capacity to alert children to incoming messages and internet access. We advise parents that children should not be accessing messaging/phone services at any stage throughout the school day.  Any children who would access devices for that purpose are at risk of losing access to these devices during school times.  We request that parents please advise any children with access to these devices about the expectations around the use of them whilst at school. Parents we ask that if you would like to send your child a message during the day that you do so by calling the office on 9584 9488.

COVID Safety & Sick Children

We request that any children who show signs of being unwell must remain at home.  Parents please note that children will be isolated in the sick bay and we will call parents if we identify that your child is unwell. This protocol is in place for the safety of all children and members of our community. 

COVID Safety

COVID-19 isolation requirements

It is strongly recommended that students:

• who test positive for COVID-19 should stay home and isolate for five days
• should not attend school after five days if still symptomatic
• who are symptomatic but have not tested positive should not attend school.

Where students become symptomatic at school, they should:

• be collected by their parents/carers
• undergo testing for COVID-19.

COVID-19 reporting requirements

Parents are requested to inform the school if their child has tested positive to COVID. Schools will continue to report positive COVID-19 cases to Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS).  

Communication with families

We will communicate any positive cases with only the classes impacted to avoid inundating the whole community with notifications that don't directly affect those students and families. 

COVID Safe Measures at OLA

Please be assured that as a school, we are implementing COVID Safe measures such as:

• Hand sanitiser is available in all learning spaces
• All children wash their hands with soap and water before eating
• Windows are open
• Air purifiers are on in classrooms
• Desks are disinfected at the end of each day.

RATS

RAT Kits are avaiable for free at the front desk.

Face masks

Staff and students who wish to wear a face mask will continue to be supported to do so. Masks will be made available at school for staff, students and visitors.

The Department of Health recommends that masks should be worn by a person who is a close contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 when leaving home.

Additionally, the department recommends that masks should be worn by a person who has COVID-19 for 10 days after a positive test when they need to leave home.

We thank you for your ongoing support with these matters. If you have any questions please email principal@olacheltenham.catholic.edu.au

Ways of Working

At the beginning of the school year and throughout the school year we provide reminders to our community on ways of working at OLA. This is one way that we work together to create a respectful, inclusive and safe environment for all at OLA. These reminders are provided at parent workshops, assemblies, newsletters and in Operoo communications. 

Our OLA website is also a great platform to locate important documents and Policies and Procedures for OLA. These policies can be found under two tabs on the website: Our School and Child Safety. These documents were updated on 1 July 2022 with the guidance from MACS to include all Child Safety Standards.

Reminder:

A reminder to families that when there is a friendship/relationship issue or any kind of issue between your child and another child or family at school that you are to contact the school directly via a phone call or email.  We ask that the emails be two sentences or less and we will be back in touch within 24-48 school working day hours.  For example, 

“Dear X, 

My child has come home today feeling really sad about a friendship at school.  

I am available on xx to meet or speak with you about this. 

Kind regards. X”

The school will then manage the situation.

The following is reiterated in the Parent/Guardian/Carer Code of Conduct (see attached):  

Unacceptable conduct includes, but is not limited to:

• approaching a child that is not your own with a view to disciplining that child for their behaviour (such matters are only to be dealt with by school staff)
• approaching other school parents to resolve issues arising between students at school (such matters should be referred to school staff)
• any form of threatening language, gestures or conduct
• language or conduct which is likely to offend, harass, bully or unfairly discriminate against any student, employee, contractor, volunteer or other

Thank you for working in partnership with us at OLA to create the safest and most respectful community that we can. 

Richard & Caitlan