Principal's Update

Dear Families,

What an incredible Mission Day last Friday was. Raising a total of  $2760.65 was an amazing effort. While the hour of activities is always fun, so much learning happens before the day. The Grade 3-6 children plan and collaborate together before the day. These are lifelong skills the children are learning. In addition, our school is strongly committed to Catholic Social Justice. Our Mission Day is belief in action. Thank you to all our families who supported the day.

Our next big school function is the disco to be held next Friday, November 6th. The children are getting ready to put on their dancing shoes, and I know Dallas and her team of helpers will organise a great night. Please see the attached flyer for details.

After much discussion and an increasing number of incidents, we will no longer allow any type of smartwatch during the school day. Student privacy and a focus on learning are our priority. Please see the attached note; we have also emailed it to you. 

Today is World Teachers Day.

I am incredibly lucky to have such committed teachers who always put the children first. Their dedication, professionalism and drive to ensure our children learn, grow and are loved and supported is outstanding. 

Every day, I am in awe of everything they do.

They are not only my colleagues, but also my family.

And today we celebrate them. 

A reminder: this Monday, Nov 2nd is a Closure Day, and Tuesday, Nov 3rd is the Melbourne Cup public holiday.

Enjoy the long weekend, and we look forward to seeing the children back at school on Wednesday.

Warm regards

Louise

CONCUSSION

Concussion – Important information to be aware of parents and carers

If your child has experienced a concussion outside of the school setting it is important that they rest for a period of 24 to 48 hours and then gradually return to activities after this time. Returning to school can be a graduated approach with the aim of increasing tolerance to a full day, the same situation could occur with sporting activities. It is always important to check with your doctor and seek medical treatment after a child sustains a concussion.

It is important to inform the school if your child has sustained a concussion outside of school; this is to ensure the school can monitor your child’s wellbeing and adapt activities as required.

--This factsheet from the Royal Children’s Hospital is valuable to read and understand.

There is also a great evidence-based app from the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute that walks you through what to do in the result of a concussion.

SMARTWATCH UPDATE LETTER FROM LOUISE

Dear Families,

At SMJ, we are dedicated to creating a safe, focused and engaging learning environment for every child.

To support this goal, and given the growing number of incidents, we are updating our personal electronics policy.

Beginning next Wednesday, November 4th, smartwatches will no longer be permitted during the school day. 

While we recognise that wearable technology offers convenience and peace of mind for families during the commute to and from school, smartwatches during the school day have created many challenges. 

To ensure the safety and wellbeing of all students, we will be implementing new guidelines for all smartwatches and phones.

Off and Away: Place all phones and smartwatches in the message bag at the start of the day, store them in the office, and return them before children leave at the end of the day.

Communication: As always, the office is our point of contact for families during the school day.

Health Exemptions: We understand some children may require wearable devices for essential health monitoring, eg: diabetes and this, of course, is permitted.

We understand these devices are now part of daily life, but we believe it is crucial to create a safe learning environment. 

Please ensure you discuss these changes with your children.

If you have any questions, please reach out.

We appreciate your support in creating a safe and secure environment for our children.