Principal's Message 

Dear Families,

Storm Damage

We’ve all had many stories to share throughout the past days after Tuesday afternoon's storms.    Thankfully the storms took place at 3.30pm and not 3.15pm as children were leaving classes for the day!    

We have spent the past 48 hours assessing the impact of the storm and liaising with external providers.  We appear to have classrooms that will have a long term impact with the carpet remaining waterlogged and requiring replacement.  For the time being Grade 5/6 Polites will relocate to the Conference Room and 3/4 Howe will relocate to the Italian room.  There's minimal disruption to the daily routines of our children or our learning and teaching programs through this movement to alternate learning spaces.  We have had a number of other areas eg. bag lockers and corridors where flooding has made an impact.    The glasshouse is the area most significantly affected. Our Out of hours care has relocated to the 'B Building'.  The ‘B Building’ is the brown brick building located at the end of the basketball court at the front of the school.  

We have been in contact with Melbourne Archdiocese Schools (MACS) and have been successful in having Pattersons Building company reappointed to us. Pattersons worked with us in 2022 and most recently completed our junior school project. 

The grounds are all clear with trees/shade cloths etc appearing to be safe.  

Given the increased frequency of the storms and heavy downpours we'll work with MACS infrastructure to look at how our school site can be better 'storm prepared'. 

We'll keep the community updated on further developments as we liaise further with Pattersons and our Insurance company.

School Assembly - Presentation of Year 6 Leadership Badges 

Friday 16th February - 9.00am - 9.30am 

We congratulate our 2024 Year 6 student leaders who at tomorrow’s 9am school assembly will be presented to our school community.  We thank our year 6 leaders for taking on the challenge of leadership and wish them a successful year as they contribute to our community and experience their growth as young leaders. 

Shrove Tuesday/Ash Wednesday 

Children across all classes greatly enjoyed their pancake morning held as our Shrove Tuesday celebration.   We also attended our whole school Ash Wednesday Mass where we warmly welcomed Fr Joe back from his beginning of the year period of leave.  We have been very proud of the manner in which our children have presented themselves at our 2 mass celebrations in the past fortnight.   

Thank you to our Pancake chefs/parent helpers for your combined efforts to cook a mountain of pancakes on Tuesday morning!  

Sacrament of Reconciliation 

New Date for Reconciliation Parent Evening - Tuesday 20th February (6pm) 

We congratulate all of our children who will receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation on the evening of Thursday 14th March, 2024.  We unfortunately had to postpone our Reconciliation Family evening last Tuesday due to the storms.  We have rescheduled this forum to Tuesday 20th February. 

Reconciliation Commitment Masses - This Weekend 

We invite all Reconciliation candidates and families to participate in Reconciliation Commitment Masses held this weekend.   Masses are held on Saturday evening at 6pm and Sunday morning at the following times - 8am, 9.30am and 11am. 

2024 Sacramental Program Dates - Refer to Religious Education Tab 

We recommend that all families refer to the attached ‘Religious Education’ tab in today’s newsletter where the full Sacramental Program calendar for 2024 can be accessed. 

Please refer to the details relating to the Reconciliation Program.

Lunar New Year

To the many families

who are observing and celebrating the Lunar New Year this we wish you every blessing for  your family and loved ones.  Happy New Year!  We offer you our gratitude and wish you a year full of prosperity and good fortune. 

Prep Students Rest Days

Prep parents please be aware that Prep Rest days will be held on the following Wednesdays: 

Wednesday 21st and Wednesday 28th February. 

Swimming Squad - Congratulations

Final Training Session on Thursday 22nd February

We congratulate those children who have attended swimming squad training sessions throughout the past fortnight.  The final training session is scheduled for Thursday 22nd February.    A squad of children will be chosen to represent the school at the Bentleigh District Swimming Carnival on Tuesday 27th February.  

Please contact Beth if parents require further details.  bkromer@saclaytonsth.catholic.edu.au)

We thank our staff volunteers for their support of our children. 

St. Andrew’s Open Days for 2024                                   

Prep/Foundation Children and new Enrolments from Year 1 to Year 6

Icy Pole Sales - Friday Zooper Dooper Sales - 50 cents 

Children can bring 50 cents to school to purchase a Zooper Dooper on a Friday - a maximum of 2 zooper doopers can be purchased. 

All profits raised from the sales will go to our Kadasig Social Justice fundraising efforts.

SchoolPix will be coming to photograph our students on Tuesday 19th March. Please try to avoid making appointments on this day, so your child can be included in their class photo.

‘No Hat - No Play’

 Our school has a ‘No Hat – No Play’ SunSmart policy, therefore all children are required to wear their school hat to school, at all outdoor sessions and home from school. 

Please note that with the additions of the blue shade structures outside the Prep classrooms and the church we now have greater capacity for children to play in areas providing shade.

Child Safe Practices - Working with Children Checks 

St Andrew’s School is committed to providing a child safe environment and takes active steps to ensure any person authorised to conduct ‘child connected works’ does not pose a risk to their safety or welfare. To achieve this, the school implements screening processes, including Working With Children Checks (WWCC), to assess and verify their suitability. 

St Andrew’s School ensures that non-teaching staff, contractors, volunteers and visitors are of suitable character and do not have a relevant criminal record that poses an unjustifiable risk to children. 

Teaching Staff & Casual Relief Teachers who are registered with the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) undergo criminal record checks via their annual registration.

Volunteering to Assist with School Programs- WWCC

Parents would be aware that to assist with any of our school programs that all volunteers, parents/guardians/family members are required to have a current Working With Children Check on our school records.

Please refer to the following site for details on accessing a WWCC.

Family members are to provide a copy of the WWCC to the school office. 

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.

Audiri School App– Please ensure you download the Audiri App to get alerts for weekly newsletters, important announcements and reminders.

Paul Wakeling

Principal