Principal's News
The Child Safe Standards are a set of 11 requirements that organisations must follow to create a culture and environment that is safe for children. These standards aim to prevent, respond to, and report child abuse by requiring organisations to implement policies, procedures, and practices that put children’s safety and well-being first. They were developed in response to inquiries and recommendations from Royal Commissions and aim to drive cultural change within organisations that provide services or facilities for children.
Organisations that are responsible for implementing the Child Safe Standards include:
- Education & Care: Registered schools (government and non-government), TAFE institutes, universities, and registered overseas student exchange organisations.
- Early Childhood: Kindergartens, preschools, and long day care services.
- Health Services: Public and private hospitals, community health services, maternal and child health centres, and drug and alcohol treatment services.
- Recreation & Sport: Sports clubs, coaching and tuition services, dance schools, and gyms.
- Community & Youth: Girl Guides, Boy Scouts, youth theatre groups, and cultural/recreational groups.
- Human Services: Adoption service providers, designated agencies for out-of-home care, and Aboriginal community-controlled organisations.
At OHR, we have been implementing the Child Safe Standards since their introduction in 2016. We have a dedicated Child Safe Standards page in every edition of the school Newsletter. The Child Safe Standards page features one of the 11 Child Safe Standards every month from February through to December. This month we focus on Child Safe Standard 4: 'Families and communities are informed and involved in promoting child safety and wellbeing.'
Assistance with Traffic Control
The school requires the assistance of two or three parents to help with traffic movement and parking in Barton Street between 8.30am - 9.00am on the morning of Grandparents & Special Friends' Day. We need to ensure our special guests are aware of the parking restrictions posted in Barton Street, and that no one parks on nature strips or across resident's driveways.
Hi Vis vests will be supplied!
NCCD
Please refer to the Student Wellbeing page to read a parent information sheet explaining the Nationally Consitent Collection of Data (NCCD) on School Students with Diasability.
Working Bee
This is a friendly reminder that our next Working Bee is scheduled for Sunday 31 May from 8:30 - 10:30am. Within that time we will also have a sausage sizzle.
We have had fantastic attendances at every working bee over the past few years, and are hoping that this one will follow suit. It's a great morning for the kids, so make sure that you bring them along, too.
Please bring along wheelbarrows, shovels, trowels and leaf blowers.
For task planning and catering purposes, please confirm your attendance to our wonderful Working Bee coordinator, Laura: lauradinicol@gmail.com
The Children's Wellbeing Continuum
Make sure that you head to the Student Wellbeing page to learn about The Children's Wellbeing Continuum.
MACSEYE
As Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) prepares OHR's transition of OSHC providers, from Camp Australia to MACSEYE, we know that families are likely to have questions during this period of change. MACSEYE will be hosting online information sessions where families can meet the team, learn more about MACSEYE OSHC, and ask any questions you may have.
MACSEYE have arranged two online sessions. The first was held on Tuesday evening, with second to be held on:
• Wednesday 10 June, 6.30pm – 7.00pm
The sessions will also be recorded and shared with you, so families unable to attend can access the information.
Details can be accessed in the below flyer.
Only one more week to go until Grandparents & special Friends' Day. This special event will be celebrated on Friday 29 May. On this day we would love for either the grandparents of the children, or other special persons in their lives, to come to the school for the morning.
The day will commence with a very special whole school mass in the church, celebrating the place of these important people in the lives of the children. The visitors will then be invited to partake in various activities within the classrooms. Following the classroom activities, our special guests are warmly invited to stay on for a delicious morning tea in the Hall.
Please remind our special guests of the parking restrictions in the streets surrounding OHR.
CSPV
Catholic School Parents Victoria (CSPV) is the statewide representative body for parents and carers of students in Catholic schools.
CSPV has developed a new website that serves as a central hub of information and resources for parents.
Supervision Before and After School ... repeated
The children are supervised before school by teaching staff from 8.25 – 8.40am. Commencing at 8.30am, the children may enter their classroom and begin setting up for the day as long as their teacher is in attendance. In the interest of child safety, we request that children are not dropped off at school any earlier than 8.25am. Teaching staff are not scheduled for playground supervision until 8.25am as prior to this time they are regularly involved in meetings, preparation and administration.
The children are dismissed at 3.15pm, with staff supervision in the school grounds extending from 3.15pm – 3.30pm. We kindly request that all children be collected at dismissal time of 3.15pm, and no later than 3.30pm, as staff are often involved in a variety of meetings commencing at this time.
We appreciate the fact that so many parents and/or guardians have been prompt in picking up their children at the end of the school day.
Please note the following:
Children are allowed to play on the Junior Playground equipment between the times of 8.25 – 8.40am and 3.15 – 3.30pm, but not in the sandpit nor on the Middle/Senior Playground Equipment at the Northern end of the grounds.
In the interest of everyone’s safety, ball games are not to be played before or after school between the times of 8.25 – 8.40am and 3.15 – 3.30pm.
Children should never wait to be picked up in York Street. They should always be collected by an adult from within the school grounds, if they are not exiting through the Barton Street kiss and drop-off.
School Closure Day
Our next school closure day for staff professional learning will take place on Friday 5 June, which immediately preceeds the King's Birthday long weekend. The staffs from our three parish schools will gather together on this day where the focus will be on Staff Faith Formation.
Wishing everyone a great weekend,
Frank Dame