Principal's Report

Dear Parents and Friends

Welcome to the 2024 school year!  I trust you have had a restful and wonderful break with your family and loved ones.

We have had a sensational start to the school year. It is great to be back at school and I am really looking forward to a fantastic year of learning and fun at St Carlo’s!  All classes are very settled and working so well and have quickly established their classroom routine. 

Welcome to our new students and families. I would especially like to welcome our Preps who commenced last week. They were all sensational - so settled and all very ready for school! It was terrific to see so many parents attend our Prep morning tea last Friday. 

It is very important that parents take the time to read our fortnightly newsletter, which is contains important information and reminders.

Student Health

We still need your help in keeping our community safe and well. Please remain vigilant, keeping an eye out for symptoms of any illness, including COVID. Please do not send your child to school if they are unwell.  

Welcome to our new staff members

• Luisa Ivanovski - Year 1
• Jaston Soares - Year 5
• Graham Troy - Year 6
• Lisa Valastro - STEM
• Aveleen Gomes - STEM
• Esther Materia - Learning Support Teacher

Staffing News

• Mr Peter Marinucci will continue on Long Service Leave this year, and once this is completed, Peter has made the decision to retire.
• Mrs Rose Grech (Italian) will be taking long service leave during terms one and two and will then retire from St Carlo's.
• Mrs Rose Stolarak will continue working with us this year as a CRT.
• Caroline Nedanovski has commenced her parental leave and she and Alex are almost ready to welcome their first baby in the coming weeks!
• Congratulations to Jaston Soares (Year 5 teacher) who married his fiancée Karen during the holidays. We wish you both a lifetime of happiness!

New Assistant Priest - Fr Sam Pearson

Fr Sam was recently Assistant Priest at Rowville and Scoresby. I know that Fr Sam will be very welcome in our Parish and at St Carlo's.

Christmas Thank You

Thank you for supporting the St Vinnies Christmas appeal. Last year we collected a record number of gifts for those in need in our local area. St Carlo's families are well known for their generosity and support of our local community.

Our School Rules

Every member of our school community has a right to fully participate in a Catholic learning environment that is safe, supportive and inclusive. Everyone deserves to be treated with respect and dignity. We believe students learn best when they feel safe and happy in a caring, supportive and engaging environment. We foster positive, tolerant and respectful relationships.

Last year our staff and students revised and redevelop our school rules. This week, all year levels will be learning about our school Values and Behavioural Expectations:

Parent Code of Conduct

At St Carlo’s, we want what you want - and that is the best for your child! Please trust us and know that we always follow up and respond to any incident and we will always do what is right for your child. When you enrolled your child at our school, you accepted and agreed to respect and follow all school policies and procedures. 

At St Carlo’s we believe that everyone:

• has the right to be safe
• has the right to be treated with respect and be valued even in disagreement
• has the right to participate within a secure environment without interference, intimidation, harassment, bullying or discrimination
• is encouraged to be respectful, polite, courteous and considerate of others
• has the right to be supported and challenged as ongoing learners

Please note that is it never acceptable for a parent to:

• approach a child that is not your own with a view to disciplining that child for their behaviour
• approach other school parents to resolve issues arising between students at school (such matters should always be referred to school staff)

I encourage you to read our Parent Code of Conduct below which outlines the schools’ expectations. 

School Routines 

Mornings - “Drop and go”

• Gates open between 8:30 and 8:50 a.m.
• Staff will be on duty at all gates to support and direct students
• No parents on school grounds in the morning, students will come into the school independently and walk directly to their classrooms
• Prep parents can walk their child to the black internal gates where staff will meet you

Afternoons 

• Please make sure your child knows where to meet you
• In the afternoon, gates will open at 3:10 p.m. 
• Parents are welcome to wait in the entrance courtyard or school grounds to meet their child at 3:15 p.m. (The entrance courtyard is open for parents who arrive early and is a great place to wait)
• This year, the 3/4 shared area is being used as a classroom for our new STEM Program. This area can no longer be accessed or used for parents to wait in. The students will be using their external classroom doors to enter and exit.
• The end of the day is very busy with parents picking up students. I ask that parents keep the building exits and paths of travel clear for students to exit safely. In the Prep and Year One area, I ask that when the end of the day bell goes, that parents stand away from the concrete area and wait on the court behind the flag pole. This way students can exit safely and quickly.

Road Safety

• Please be very careful when dropping off and collecting your children and observe the parking restrictions around the school. Traffic Officers patrol this area and issue parking infringements, so please follow the rules.
• The ‘drop-off’ zone in Haddington Crescent is for drop off only. Cars cannot be left unattended during drop off time. Haddington Crescent opposite the school, has no parking - this is a no standing zone between 8:00 - 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 and 4:00 p.m. 
• On Haddington Crescent on the school side there is no parking in the morning - this is a 2 minute drop off zone between 8:00 - 9:00 a.m.
• Your cooperation in keeping this ‘moving’ by not delaying when you drop children off will ensure that this is safe and effective for the children. I would especially ask that you do not double park and have children weaving around cars, as often, simply by their size, they are hard to see. Also there is a 40km speed restriction that applies around the school that needs to be adhered to for the safety of our young people and families
• The school car park is strictly for staff parking only. We ask that parents do not park in the staff car park area
• Again, for the safety of everyone, please use the school crossings in both Haddington Cres and Drummond Street. Thank you for your support in ensuring the safety of our students.

School Uniform

Thank you for ensuring that your child is wearing the correct summer uniform which includes the school hat and correct school shoes - no black runners

• The school uniform is compulsory for all students
• As a Sunsmart school, hats must be worn at all times when outdoors during the warmer months. We encourage all students to wear sunscreen daily during times of high UV ratings. You are welcome to send sunscreen with your child in their bag. Sunscreen is available in all classrooms for students to reapply during the day.

Beginning of the School Year Mass

This Wednesday all parents and friends are invited to our Opening of the School Year Mass at 12:00 p.m. Following our mass, our 2024 Year Six Leaders will be presented with their leadership badges. 

Parent Teacher - 'meet and greet'

Parent teacher conversations will take place on Tuesday February 20 and school will finish at 1:00 p.m. on this day.

• All interviews will take place in person so that you can meet your child’s teacher and visit the classroom
• Instructions on how to book an interview time were sent via Audiri today
• Teachers won't be reporting on student progress. The purpose of this catch up is for you to meet your child's teacher and for you to talk about your child so that the teacher can gain an understanding of their interests and how best to support their learning

School Fees

School fees were emailed to families today. Our School Fee Policy and Concessional School Fees Policy can be found on our school website. The school is reliant on all parents paying their school fees in full to enable us to meet our financial commitments, so it is essential that all school fees are paid in full by the required date.  

Term One Curriculum Overviews

Next Monday you will receive a copy of our term one overview which contains information about your child's class routine and the curriculum content of what your child will be learning this term. I know parents really appreciate receiving this information so that they can support their child's learning at home. 

Student Mobile Phones 

Students do not need phones or smart watches at school. 

• Mobile phones are not permitted for use at any time at St Carlo's
• If parents require their child to bring a mobile phone to school for a particular reason, the phone must be turned off and handed to their classroom teacher as soon as they arrive at school.
  • (Please note - just because your child has a phone and they want to bring it to school is not a valid reason).
• Phones will be securely stored in a locked drawer during school hours. 
• This also includes smart watches with network connectivity.
• If you need to pass on a message to your child, this can be done by phoning the office.

Building Works update

We are extremely excited to commence our Staff Carpark and Playground redevelopment soon, hopefully early to mid March. (Unfortunately, we have been delayed by the Department of Transport and Planning not issuing the building permit within the expected timeframe).  If you have not had the opportunity to review our plans, please click this link. 

No Dogs at School

A reminder that under no circumstances should dogs be brought into the school grounds, nor are they to be tied up and left at the school gates. This is for the safety and wellbeing of both families and the pets themselves! We also have students with allergies to dogs and some who are very scared of them. I ask for your support with this matter and to leave the dog at home or wait away from the school grounds with your dog. 

Birthday Treats

It is not an expectation or requirement, but some parents like to send in a birthday treat to share with your child's class. Please note: 

• Items will need to be individually wrapped and not require refrigeration or special care
• They will be given out at the end of the school day

If you have any concerns, queries or feedback, please do not hesitate to contact me or a member of the leadership team. For classroom matters, please email your child's teacher. For general information or inquiries, please email the office

office@scgreenvale.catholic.edu.au

We are all looking forward to working with you and your children and to having a wonderful year at our fantastic school - St Carlo's! On behalf of Father Dishan and all the staff, I would like to wish everyone in our community a very happy, safe and successful year. 

We ask St Carlo to continue to bless our wonderful Parish and School Community.

Kevin Gleeson