Term 2 School Closure Day

The Term 2 School Closure Day will be held on Monday 27th May

Learning Focus -The staff team will continue focusing on our Curriculum Development. We will welcome Madeleine Kelly, Learning Consultant, Melbourne Archdiocese Schools, to lead the staff in their understanding of recent curriculum innovations.

Out of School Hours Care - the Out of School Hours Care program will operate

from 6.30am - 6.00pm on Monday 27th May.

2025 Prep Enrolments

HAVE YOU ENROLLED YOUR CHILD FOR PREP 2025?

If you have a child ready for Prep 2025, we encourage you to please put in an enrolment form as soon as possible. This will help us with organisation purposes. To access an enrolment form:

Visit the enrolment section of our school website and download an enrolment form

Drop into the school office to collect and enrolment pack
Email office@saclaytonsth.catholic.edu.au

Pentecost People

Dear Families,

Mother’s Day/Special Friends Event - Thank You, A Huge Success

We hope that all mums/special friends enjoyed a relaxing Sunday being spoiled by your children!

Our thanks to all mothers and special friends who joined us last Friday for our morning of dance and for your shared art time with your children in their classrooms. It was delightful to see so many of our mums/special friends so greatly enjoying the fun of the morning with their children. We’re always delighted to provide an opportunity for our children to share their school life in such a precious and joyful way with their loved ones.

We thank all mums/special friends for taking the time in your busy lives to be there for your children. We as a staff greatly appreciate the partnership that you share with us. Thank you!!

A huge thank you to Nicole Black and Emma Strom for their efforts in coordinating the events of the morning.

Please find below some photos highlighting the fun had on the day!

$400 School Saving Bonus

You can read the MACS media release - here

Last week the Allan Labor Government announced a $400 School Saving Bonus for all school students in Government schools regardless of income, but only for Health Care Card holders in Catholic schools.

This is deeply unfair. We believe the payment should be means tested for all students or apply to all students. It should not be based on which school you attend.

This policy punishes families for choosing to send their children to a Catholic school.

St Andrew’s School and the peak body, the Victorian Catholic Education Authority, are working hard to oppose this policy and we need your help. We need to show the Victorian Government that punishing families who choose a Catholic school is unacceptable. Please consider contacting your local Member of Parliament to express your concern.

Either the payment should apply to all students, or it should be means tested for all students, as has been the case with programs like the Camps, Sports, and Excursions Fund.

Prep 2024 Family Evening - Wednesday 22nd May (6pm - 7.30pm)

We invite all Prep 2024 families to an evening where we aim to celebrate the learning of your child/ren. We look forward to welcoming you into your child's Prep classrooms to take the opportunity to view the learnings of each child in Literacy and Numeracy. Families are invited to join their children and their teacher in the classrooms from 6pm.

Class teachers will provide a brief insight into the experiences and teachings of Literacy and Numeracy in the Prep curriculum. Our Prep children will then have the opportunity to share their learnings with their parents.

At the end of the classroom sharing parents will have the option to remain onsite for a chance to socialise with some light finger food and refreshments, before returning home.

We warmly welcome all Prep families to the evening to gain an insight into the learning of your children and to also make connections with fellow Prep families.

Child minding - We will provide child minding for siblings throughout the evening

Prep Family Operoo Notice - Prep families have been sent an Operoo notice last week. Please respond to this by 19th May for catering purposes.

First Eucharist Information evening Thursday May 16th (6pm - 7pm)

The First Eucharist information evening for parents and children is on tonight, Thursday 16th May from 6-7pm in the 3/4 area.

All parents and students in Year 4 who are Catholic and wanting to make the Sacrament of Frist Eucharist this year, are expected to attend. If you have any questions please contact Nicole Black at nblack@saclaytonsth.catholic.edu.au or call the office on 9551 5094.

Eucharist Commitment Masses on Saturday 18th May & Sunday 19th May

Eucharist Commitment Mass for 2024 candidates and families will take place this weekend Saturday 18th and Sunday19th May. Where possible we encourage all families to attend the Saturday evening 6pm Mass, joining the parish community in making a commitment for the preparation of each candidate for the sacrament of Eucharist.

Families who cannot attend the Saturday evening Mass can attend the Sunday masses.

Please email me if you have any questions or clarifications.

Nicole Black - nblack@saclaytonsth.catholic.edu.au

Staff Absences

We unfortunately have had a number of staff on sick leave throughout the past fortnight. We’re most unfortunately experiencing a new wave of COVID that has impacted significantly on a number of staff. Where possible we employ staff who are our regular relief staff and therefore have an awareness of our programs and our children, but there are times where the school will employ agency staff. All staff new to the school environment are heavily supported by the level staff team members and school leadership when onsite.

A big thank you to Nicole Black for her expert organisation in the busyness of our school days most of which is done at 6.30 am in the morning and late into the evenings. Thank you also, to our parent community for their understanding in these very trying times of a critical teacher shortage.

Camp Levy $350 - Due Tuesday 21st May

We request that payment for the Camp levy is made by Tuesday 21st May.

St Andrew’s School Advisory Council (SAC) (Formerly Education Board) Nomination for SAC Vacancies

The School Advisory Council has vacancies for a three year term, September 2024 to July 2027 inclusive.

The School Advisory Council provides a forum for discussion and discernment, where the parent/guardian voice and perspective are available to inform and support the decisions made by the Principal and Parish Priest for the good of School and Parish where the wellbeing and outcomes for students is paramount.

The main duties of the School Advisory Council are to:

Support the Catholic ethos of the school.
Assist in planning for the future development and direction of the school in consultation with the Parish Priest and Principal.
Assist on the setting of priorities through the use of the school's Annual Action Plan and School Improvement Plan.
Assist with policy development and review.
Assist with the process of School Review which occurs on a four year cycle.
Advise on finance-related matters such as school fees and building/maintenance programs.
Assist on issues such as enrolments, School improvement plans and enrolment trends
Giving advice about the school Master Plan
Assist with activities that promote the school within the parish and the broader community.

The Council meets on a minimum of 6 occasions per year.

Your commitment requires:

Membership for 3 years.

Please note that membership on the School Advisory Council ceases once a Council member no longer has children enrolled at the school.

Attendance at scheduled Advisory Council meetings for each year

The aim of the SAC is to provide advice to the School Leadership and Parish Priest in order for them to provide the optimum educational and spiritual environment for our children. The Council meets at regular intervals during the school year to discuss and address a range of relevant issues pertaining to the school

The Parish Priest and School Principal formally appoint Council members. Careful consideration is given to the formation of Council membership so as to reach the best possible outcome for the school community.

St Andrew’s School Advisory Council

Nomination for Council Vacancy

I _________________________________ (full name) am interested in becoming an School Advisory Council member.

Children enrolled at St Andrew’s School (include Grade level):

__________________________________________________________________

Contact no. ___________________________________

Date. ___________________________________

Signature: ____________________________________

When applying for a role with the Council, it is important the following questions are answered:

My reason/s for applying to be a member of the School Advisory Council is/are:

The personal and professional skill sets I have which will assist in performing my role as a School Advisory Council member include:

Additional involvement I have with either the School or the Parish includes:

If you are interested in nominating for the role as a Council member please fill in the form and return it to the school office/or email to principal@saclaytonsth.catholic.edu.au

by Friday 14th June 2024.

Regards,

Father Joe Shibu Paul Wakeling

(Parish Priest) (Principal)

Working Bee

We look forward to welcoming families to our Term 2 Working Bee on Saturday 25th May from 8.30am - 10.30am An Operoo form has been sent out, to register your attendance.

Parents are requested to sign in at the desk outside the school office on arrival and to sign out when you depart. Families who attend one Working Bee per year, will have the $75 maintenance fee credited from their statement.

A job list providing outlines of the various tasks to be covered on the morning will be available.

We encourage parents with wheelbarrows, shovels, brooms, rakes etc to bring them along for the morning.

We hope to see you there!

Student Free Day

Please book online at https://ylv.com.au/

2024 School Calendar

The 2024 School Calendar is available on the School Website. It can be found mid-way down on the front page under the heading ‘WHAT’S ON’. We will endeavour, where possible, to remain true to the dates on the 2024 calendar. We would recommend that parents make a regular visit to the school website to see updates on all school events.

Paul Wakeling

(Principal)

Kiss & Go

No U-turns