News and Info
Mini Vinnies Conference
On Thursday, the 31st of October, 10 students from our Mini Vinnies group were given the opportunity to represent St Monica's at the Mini Vinnies conference at Marist College. Students loved listening to the other schools, we especially liked St. Mary's Inglewood. Each week they do a competition, if they win they get to have party pies for lunch and if they lose they eat a plain bowl of rice for lunch!
There was a lot of lovely kind staff and fun group activities that were about connecting and socialising with other schools there. We saw old friends and made lots of new ones!
We are proud of the positive impact that the Mini Vinnies have made so far and we are looking forward to great things for 2025.
Elodie and Emery grade 4.
"The brainstorming activity" - Arden & Sam C
"It was great , I loved playing 21 and making new friends" - Sam M
"Learning about what other schools do. They did such a variety of things and it was interesting to take inspiration from the other schools" - Caitlin
"Meeting people from other schools" - Sally
"The activities! They were so fun and got us to work as a group and think of ideas for Min Vinnies." - Bridget
"Receiving the showbag and meeting new people" - Treesa
"Meeting new people" - Remi
MultiLit Delivery
Last week Miss Christy unpacked a very large and exciting delivery of MultiLit resources.
Over the coming weeks our Prep-2 Teachers and Leaders will be completing their training in InitiaLit in preparation for the rollout of the Magnify Sandhurst in 2025.
School Saving Bonus 2025
The following is information as provided by the Victorian Government as at 28/10/2024 and is subject to change. All details are on the education.vic.gov.au website – click below.
School Saving Bonus Policy - Victorian Government Information
Summary
- The School Saving Bonus is a one-off $400 support for non-government school students who are enrolled in Prep to Year 12 in 2025 as at 18 October 2024 and who are receiving the Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) in 2024.
- The School Saving Bonus is provided to help with the costs of uniforms, textbooks and school activities (including camps, excursions and incursions).
- The School Saving Bonus will be provided to schools and families in late Term 4, 2024. Payment date has yet to be confirmed.
School Saving Bonus eligibility
Non-government school students receiving a payment from the means-tested Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) in 2024 are eligible for additional support through the School Saving Bonus. There is no application required for non-government school students to receive the bonus.
Non-government schools will receive funding based on the number of families eligible for the CSEF in November 2024, and are responsible for managing the distribution of funds to eligible students to assist with 2025 education costs.
Refer to Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund for further information on eligibility criteria and the application process for access to the CSEF.
Actions for parents and carers
Ensure your contact information is up to date with your school. Please email or see the office with any changes as soon as possible.
See letter below from Jacinta Allen - Premier of Victoria
Parent Notified Absence
If your child is going to be away, please remember to do a parent notified absence on Simon Everywhere App/PAM or phone the school office (even if you have mentioned the upcoming absence to the classroom teacher). If you are going to be away on a Friday and have placed a lunch order please let us know to cancel your order.
If you need any assistance setting getting SimonEverywhere on your phone or logging in please see the office.
We often send reminders via push notifications so if you would like to receive these please make sure your notifications are turned on for SimonEverywhere App.
Before School Care - YMCA
Please see the After School Care page for more information regarding changes to Before school care in Term 4. If your child arrives before 8:30 AM, please ensure they are booked in for before school care via the YMCA portal, "My Family Lounge."
For questions, contact the YMCA at 0400 160 933 or via email at stmonicasandkangarooflathp@ymca.org.au. More details can be found on their website.
Hats
We are a SunSmart School and hats will be compulsory for outside play in Term 4.
Please make sure a clearly named hat comes to school and is kept at school or in your child's bag.
If you need to purchase a new hat please click the link below to order through CDF Pay or pop into the uniform shop on Thursday afternoons or Tuesday mornings.
Thunderstorm Asthma
Please make sure you child's medical details are up to date, you can do this via PAM/Simon everywhere, click on your child's profile and select medical profile from the profile menu dropdown.
Everyone in the community should know the signs and symptoms of asthma, and know the four steps of asthma first aid so they know what to do if they or someone is having an asthma attack.
Thunderstorm asthma can affect those with asthma or hay fever - especially people who experience wheezing or coughing with their hay fever.
All people at increased risk of thunderstorm asthma should:
- learn about epidemic thunderstorm asthma and what you can do to help protect yourself and those in your care during the grass pollen season
- check the epidemic thunderstorm asthma risk forecast daily
- where possible, avoid being outside during thunderstorms from October through December – especially in the wind gusts that come before the storm. Go inside and close your doors and windows, and if you have your air conditioner on, turn it to recirculate
- have an asthma action plan (if you have asthma) and have practical knowledge of the four steps of asthma first aid
- have reliever medication appropriately available in grass pollen season and be aware of how to use it with a spacer.
- be alert to and act on the development of asthma symptoms as explained in your asthma action plan (if you have one), or if you don’t, use asthma first aid.
- If you have asthma symptoms see your doctor for advice.
More information about protecting yourself if you have asthma can be found on the Better Health Channel.
Fresh Fruit Friday
Thank you to Mckern Steel Foundation for our weekly delivery of fresh fruit.
Canteen
Orders must be placed by 9am Thursday Morning on CDF pay or cash in lunch order bag and lunch order bags placed in class tub.
Please note: the office cannot accept late orders over the phone.
Absent on lunch order day
If your child is going to to be away on a Friday and you have ordered a lunch order please call or email the office by 9.30am on Friday to notify of absence and to hold lunch order.
Absences are not automatically communicated to the canteen so lunch orders get made and will be wasted.
Please remember to supply a lunch order bag/container when you place a lunch order. Students place these bags in the lunch order tub in the classroom by 9am Thursdays and their lunch order will be packed in it on Friday. Please make sure it is clearly labeled with students name and class.
Lunch order wallets are available through the Uniform Shop for $12.
Uniform
Term 3 is Winter uniform.
Football/Netball Club hoodies are not part of our uniform. Please do not wear them to school.
There are lots of bomber jackets in lost property both at school and YMCA after school care. Please check lost property and be sure to label uniform items clearly so they can be returned to owners.
School Phone Numbers
It has been noted that calls from the school number are often coming up as unknown and are therefore going unanswered.
Please add both of these numbers to your contacts in some way to be St Monica's
(03) 5447 7832 and (03) 4433 2719.
Reminders:
