Hi everyone, we have a fantastic Wellbeing Team with me, Sally and Libby. We can help with any parenting worries or support your family with home or family concerns. The Wellbeing Team are on before and after school duty and we can help with any questions or queries you may have.

In the mornings I love hearing the grumbles from students that parents are “making them” put on a jumper. Well, it has been quite cold lately and I see there has been some improvement. However, don’t assume that older students are prepared for the day. Little steps parents and keep up that nagging!

We’ve noticed some older students are coming into school out of uniform. We all know how difficult it can be to be on top of the washing during the cold weather. For parents who are struggling with this, please know the welfare team can lend your child a jumper or hoodie for the day. If you are needing to purchase an extra hoodie or jacket, please email the welfare team.

Next Wednesday, the 29th of May at 2:30pm we will be having a second-hand uniform sale outside the Grade 1 area (Community Pantry location).

Thank you to the families who have sent in clothing donations. We accept school uniform donations from families, and we are in desperate need of spare socks and boys’ and girls’ underwear to change children. If parents have any spare clothes they no longer need, we are desperate for boys’ shorts and tracksuit pants in size 4-8 and socks. When a child has a toileting accident or gets wet, having a supply of spare clothes means we don’t need to call parents to come down to change their child.

Now that winter is on our doorstep, we are aware that families are feeling the financial strain. Please keep in mind we have our Community Pantry for and hardship we can apply to State School Relief for school uniform, underwear, socks and school shoes and runners.

We have some children complaining that they are hungry at break times. If children are hungry this really impacts on their concentration, moods and their learning. Lunch flasks are a great way for children to have a warm meal and you can pick them up cheaply from department stores. This week, Kmart is selling these kids flasks for $6.00. Lunch flasks are a great product, they are small in size and it really holds temperature well.

Across the week we have several opportunities for students to feel supported with their friendships whether it’s during break times out in the yard/electives or speaking to our welfare team. If you have any questions or are looking for tips, please speak to staff. We really hope your children come home from school happy to talk and share their day with you.

For any enquiries, please email the Wellbeing Team at-

Andre.Campbell@education.vic.gov.au

Sally.Marshall@education.vic.gov.au

elizabeth.martin3@education.vic.gov.au

Community Pantry Accepts Donations

If parents wish to donate any non-perishable items to our pantry, we are really grateful. The Welfare Team prepare hampers for families in need. We kindly ask our school community, if you are in a position to do so, donations can be dropped off at the school office or placed into our Community Pantry. Items which will help families include-

Rice & pasta
Pasta sauce
Tomato/BBQ sauce
2-minute noodles
Stock - liquid/cubes
Tinned vegetables
Cake mixes, pancake mix and jelly
Muesli bars, biscuits and crackers
Cooking oil
Tea, coffee and milo
Shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, liquid soap, tissues and toilet paper
Laundry liquid, paper towel, cleaning sprays, sponges and wipes
Dog and cat food including tinned and dry

Playtime-Co-operation & Arguments

We all have arguments from time to time and when this happens it does not mean the end of a friendship or having enemies. Point out to children that in all arguments both people think they are right. Sometimes, an argument can be resolved when it occurs. At other times people need to avoid hurting the other people’s feelings too much at the time by going away to calm down, and then try to resolve it later. Dealing well with arguments protects friendships and reduces bad feelings.

Tips-

Do try to stay calm and talk through the problem using a respectful voice.
If you or the other person are getting upset say, “We’re getting too angry. Let’s talk about it later,” and walk away.
Make sure you do talk about it later.
When you have calmed down, recognise that allowing the bad feelings to continue is not a good thing. You are responsible for dealing with them.
When you feel calm, go and talk to the other person.
Share your point of view and tell them about your feelings eg: “I felt bad when you did not include me in your game”.
Let them tell their point of view. Listen without interrupting until they have finished.
Try to find a way to be friends again. Remember to give and take and compromise.

Health Update

The autumn weather has recently changed where we’ve had icy temperatures at school drop off time. This past fortnight, we’ve had reports of colds, asthma, throat infections, COVID-19 and vomiting. I encourage parents to check in with their children and talk through any health complaints or worries.

Remember, we do have Maddie, our school nurse working in sick bay and parents can speak to Maddie about any health concerns. I encourage parents to please investigate any potential sickness complaints. Please encourage your child to practise good personal hygiene by washing hands regularly. It isn’t fun to be sick at school and there are exclusion periods for some health conditions. Don’t forget to tell us of any phone or emergency contact changes so we can reduce your child’s concern if they need to be picked up. In case of a toileting accident please supply a change of underwear in your child’s bag.

Infectious Diseases

To help prevent and control the transmission of infectious diseases in schools, a child must be excluded from school if he or she has any of the following:

Gastro/Diarrhoea - until there has not been a loose bowel motion or any symptoms for 48 hours.
Chicken Pox - until fully recovered and blisters have dried.
Measles - at least 7 days.
German Measles - until fully recovered and at least 4 days from the onset of rash.
Whooping Cough - four weeks.
Hand, foot and mouth - until all blisters have dried.
Hepatitis - medical certificate needed.
Impetigo “School Sores” - until treatment has commenced and sores are healed.
Ringworm - until treatment has commenced. Medical certificate may be required.
Mumps - until fully recovered.
Scabies - medical certificate needed.

Importantly, children who have been vomiting should not attend school until 48 hours after the vomiting ceases.

While these are some common diseases, please refer to the Better Health School Excursion Table* for a comprehensive list and updated information. Please contact the office if your child contracts any of these. Please refer to the Dept of Health for further information:

https://www.health.vic.gov.au/infectious-diseases/school-exclusion-table

Head Lice

Great job parents! We continue to have low numbers of live head lice cases in the school. We ask parents to work with us to keep our reports low and to continue to treat and monitor your children’s hair. Please notify the office or tell your child’s teacher when you treat your child so lice alert notes can be issued on COMPASS.

Reminder-any child found with live lice will be excluded from school until they are treated.

Activities Breaktimes

Free play Lego Club & Finger Knitting Club at lunchtime-Monday & Thursday.

Craft Club at lunchtime-Tuesday & Wednesday.

This term, our activities at recess and lunchtime have been extremely popular. For children who can’t go outside for any health reason, we do offer supervision at recess including colouring and doing jigsaws. As the weather has turned, in craft club we have been learning finger knitting and early crochet skills. The kids are really keen to come along! Also the kids are really enjoying their diamond art projects. If families have any wool or crochet hooks, they are no longer using then please donate these items. It will really help our students if they can practice their skills. Also, Lego Club is a great way for the children to hang out and build their favourite projects.

Attendance & Absences

We encourage parents and carers to refer to COMPASS for information happening at school. Schools are required to work towards IMPROVING THE ATTENDANCE and PUNCTUALITY RATES of our students. When your child is going to be away parents and carers need to notify the school through COMPASS. This really helps us as we are able to communicate effectively with all relevant staff early in the school day.

Attendance Data-It’s Cool to be at School!

This past fortnight we have celebrated 10 out of 11 students who came to school on their special day. When your child comes to school and it’s their birthday, we are bringing the buzz to make their day even more special. When they arrive at school in the mornings, we are presenting them with a lovely birthday sticker badge. I must say the kids are really loving this!

Over the time a child attends school, having 1- or 2-days absence does not seem like much but it does add up and can impact on missed learning opportunities.

Chaplain Chat

Lunch can be such a tricky thing to organise on a busy school morning, especially when there is a fussy eater to feed. This week I thought it would be helpful to send everyone some tips to help with this difficult task. Many children across our country attend school with little in their lunch box and this makes it hard for them to concentrate in class and manage their emotions.

At home I have one child who loves to eat lunch and asks for more food to be packed and another who brings food home almost every day. Both cases have their challenges, it is frustrating to find lunch left at the end of the day and it is challenging to pack a big lunchbox full of variety.

I have attached a chart below that may help with ideas of simple foods that can be put in a lunchbox. I find that making baked goods in the school holidays and storing them in the freezer can make it much easier to prepare lunchboxes in the morning. This website has some encouraging ideas that could help us all fill our kids’ lunchboxes with food that will be eaten at school and will help them to grow up to be healthy eaters.

https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/healthy-eating-school-lunches

Breakfast Club Monday & Wednesday 8:15am-8:45am

If your student is in need of breakfast, please encourage them to stop by to pick up some food so there are no hungry tummies in the classrooms. Breakfast club runs on Monday and Wednesday mornings 'pop up' style from 8:15 – 8:45am down at the entry to the grade 1 - 2 classrooms. Students can enjoy a range of foods, including toast with vegemite, butter or jam, small UHT milk packs, fruit cups and fresh fruit. We are very thankful to our parents who help with the preparation of food at breakfast club.

Food Pantry

The food pantry is open on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday afternoons between 2:30 and 3:30pm. Please note the pantry will close early on Monday’s. We have a range of foods, including gluten and lactose free items and on Wednesday’s we have fresh carrots and fruit, apples/oranges/pears.

If you are in need of a pantry top up, please stop by and pick something up. We also have food hampers available that parents and carers are free to access from the entry near the pantry. These boxes have a range of food staples and weigh 11.6kg, so please prepare for that if you intend on taking one home.

Second Hand Uniform Shop

We will hold another Second Hand Uniform Shop this coming Wednesday 29th of May. Uniform will be available at $5 each and three items for $10, we will also be selling some unnamed uniform from our lost property collection. If you are missing any uniform, please check the lost property cupboard before next Wednesday.

Chaplaincy

Sally Marshall – Chaplain: is happy to catch up with your child if you feel they need that extra emotional support during school hours. Sally is available on Monday and Wednesday’s and can be contacted via email:

sally.marshall@education.vic.gov.au

or by phone call 5964 7258.

Art in Focus